How to choose a concierge service in Aix: the 10 criteria that matter

Which is the best concierge service in Aix-en-Provence?

Searching for the best concierge service in Aix-en-Provence brings up dozens of answers, and almost as many promises. The reality is simpler: there is no best concierge service in absolute terms, only the one that suits your property. A studio near the cours Mirabeau, a family-sized three-bedroom flat in the quartier Mazarin and a villa with a pool in Le Tholonet do not call for the same kind of support. The right choice therefore starts with your home, your expectations and the time you wish to give it.

The differences between two concierge services rarely show in a brochure. They appear after a few months: a nightly rate that never moves, cleaning that falls short, a three-star review that pushes the listing down. In Aix, guests book late: across our reference properties in 2026, nearly one booking in two was made less than a week before arrival. A pricing mistake or a neglected listing is paid for straight away in lost nights.

We have gathered here ten concrete criteria, the ones we advise every owner to check, even when they do not choose us. They range from legal status to the standard of cleaning, by way of how the commission is calculated. Each can be checked with a simple question at the first meeting, and a vague answer is already telling.

Status and contract: the first two criteria

First criterion: legal status. The Hoguet Act of 2 January 1970 governs professionals who act on other people's property, holiday lettings included. A company that collects rent on your behalf or signs in your name must hold a professional licence issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with a financial guarantee and professional liability insurance. The CCI's online register lets you check a licence in a few seconds.

The other model is co-hosting. The listings stay on your account, the concierge service is added to look after guests, pricing and the property, and you receive your income directly. The two models are quite different: ask clearly who holds the listings, who receives the money from bookings and what happens on the day you stop. With a co-host, you leave with your listings and all their reviews.

Second criterion: the contract. Look at its length, the notice period and any upfront fees. Many concierge services charge a joining fee, often €200 to €300; others do not. A commitment of six months or a year, with one or two months' notice, gives each side time to prove itself without locking you in. Be wary of a long contract with no way out before its end: a concierge service confident in its work has no need to hold on to you.

Commission: compare what you are left with

Fifth criterion: what the commission is calculated on. Most concierge services quote a percentage, but everything depends on what it applies to. A commission on gross income is taken from the value of the nights before the booking platforms' commission; a commission on net income is calculated after it. At the same percentage, the difference shows every month, as the theoretical example below illustrates, excluding cleaning fees, property charges and tax.

Then ask for the list of everything that may be recharged. Cleaning is usually paid by the guest, on top of the price of the nights. Linen, toiletries and supplies, laundry, minor repairs or the photographer, on the other hand, may or may not be charged to the owner, depending on the company. Two offers advertised at the same percentage can therefore cost very different amounts by the end of the month.

The right reflex is to think in terms of what you are left with at the end, not the percentage. A concierge service that prices better, earns better reviews and fills the right weeks will often bring you more than a cheaper, passive offer. Finally, insist on a clear monthly report, showing the nights sold, the average rate, income and any expenses.

For €1,000 of nights booked	20% commission on gross	20% commission on net
Platform commission (18.6%)	€186	€186
Concierge commission	€200	€163
Left for the owner	€614	€651

Choosing the best concierge service in Aix: the final criteria

Three criteria remain to be checked before signing, followed by a word on how we work.

Eighth criterion: protecting the property

Ask how guests are selected and what happens in the event of damage. On Airbnb, hosts benefit from AirCover protection; on Booking.com, a security deposit can be requested from the guest, around €500 for a two-bedroom flat in the properties we look after. Beyond these tools, a serious concierge service reads every request, turns down stays that do not suit the property and stays in touch with guests throughout. It also helps you put together the file should a dispute arise.

Ninth criterion: regulations

A good concierge service knows the local rules and helps you comply with them. In Aix, every furnished holiday let must have a 13-character registration number, obtained online and displayed on every listing; the tourist tax is then declared on the city's dedicated portal, depending on what the platform already pays over. In a co-owned building, check that the building regulations allow short-term letting and inform the managing agent once you have the number (rules up to date as of 26 October 2026). Our article on short-term rental regulations in Aix details each step.

Tenth criterion: the evidence

Income promises prove nothing; reviews do. Ask for the average rating of the properties they look after, on Airbnb as well as Booking.com, their Superhost status, and real income figures rather than projections. Ask too how many owners have left, and why. A concierge service that visits your property and tells you frankly whether it suits short-term letting spares you an unpleasant surprise. To put the figures in context, our article on what a short-term rental earns in Aix details the income observed in 2026.

What EmiRise does

EmiRise is an upmarket concierge service founded in Aix-en-Provence in 2024 by two Aix natives. We look after a selection of apartments in the centre and villas across the Pays d'Aix as short-term rentals: presentation, prices adjusted every week, guest welcome, cleaning, linen and follow-up. As a co-host, the owner remains the holder of the listings and receives the income directly.

On these ten criteria, here are our answers: no joining fee, with only the photographer's session at your expense; a commission of 20 to 25% of net income, after the platforms' commission; a commitment of six months or a year; Garnier-Thiebaut linen washed in our premises above the cours Mirabeau; an average rating of 4.94 out of 5 across more than 140 reviews on Airbnb. To compare them with other offers, let's talk about your property.

And if you have the slightest question about your property or about Aix, write to us.