Hilton HHonors - Tipping? Executive Lounge?

I'm sure there's a thread on this somewhere but I'd like advice from BMs on tipping Executive Lounge staff. I've just had a staff member in a lounge give me really good service and get some set-up in the hotel that saved me money. She knows I'm a frequent guest of this hotel and has given service accordingly. Other staff in the hotel gave my staff inconsistent service on this set-up and seemed more interested in how much revenue they could extract than in really serving some-one who says here a lot and will likely continue to stay here a lot.

What advice can those with similar experiences give me on how to recognise this lady's great service. For those interested in national differences in tipping, I'm in Canada.

I highly recommend tipping especially if this is a hotel you frequent. I always tip on the last day of my stay. I use the hotel stationary in the room and envelope with a "thanks for everything" note. Just slip the envelope over to the employee on the lounge when you are saying goodbye. They will know. I'm sure they get it all the time.

After a stay in London where husband and toddler got sick and the hotel really assisted us with many different things, upon departure we tipped several of the Executive Lounge staff, Concierge and other employees, I received an email from one of the lounge employees stating,

Greetings from London,

First of all I would like to thank you from all the members of staff, i
hope you enjoyed your stay with us.

Hope everything is well with you, do contact me directly for your next
stay via email or phone and i will try my best to make your stay as
comfortable as possible.

Regards to your family and lots of love to darling daughter.

Thanks

Kind Regards,"

Last month, I stayed a week at the Waldorf Hilton in London. I wanted to tip 2 of the employees. One was not there. I asked that he pass on the envelope to the other lady. As I was leaving, I saw that he was giving it to the manager in there and the manager noted "she left a tip."

I find I do in some places and not others. Also, generally front/office/exec/management staff often won't accept, yet concierge, etc do.

I learned years ago to leave a dollar (two these days) on the pillow for housekeeping, and that's been good. I leave more if I've had a party/leftovers/mess more than usual in the room.

Mosly I'll do similar to jzafar and write a note with tip enclosed,but usually for the exec floor staff, as I find it's often more than one person. The amount varies by my experience/benefit/their kindness/length of stay. Also by country.

Some hotels, like Conrad Tokyo, at all levels refuse, even the "pillow money" being left beside the bed.

In hotels where breakfast is in the lounge I will leave a couple of shekels (dollars/euros/pounds) on the table when leaving. Ditto evening cocktail service if I am having more than 1-2 drinks.

In hotels where breakfast is in the lounge I will leave a couple of shekels (dollars/euros/pounds) on the table when leaving. Ditto evening cocktail service if I am having more than 1-2 drinks.

+1 ^

I also take the 2 mins to fill out a customer service satisfaction card and specifically name the employee for the outstanding service.

I think tips are almost always invited and appropriate for service staff, they're not exactly working service because they're independently wealthy.

+1 ^

I also take the 2 mins to fill out a customer service satisfaction card and specifically name the employee for the outstanding service.

+1. These are highly valued by hotel employees and worth much more than the tip itself.

The exec lounge personnel are fully paid by the hotel to do their job. Pouring a drink or removing used tableware is part of that job. Of course if they REALLY go out of their way to perform a job or service or REALLY save you money or money then an occasional tip may be nice. Otherwise lets continue to eliminate the nasty disease of tossing a tip to everyone with a heartbeat and an outstretched palm. That tip money can be far better used by your favorite charity to fight hunger, disease or other really bad things in this world.

MisterNice

Well said.

Indiscriminate tipping = antisocial, petty corruption in my book, and encourages bad service in the long run.

Genuinely exceptional service is motivated by pride in the job and proper rewards beyond the transactional level, not jumping through hoops to get a buck.

The exec lounge personnel are fully paid by the hotel to do their job. Pouring a drink or removing used tableware is part of that job. Of course if they REALLY go out of their way to perform a job or service or REALLY save you money or money then an occasional tip may be nice. Otherwise lets continue to eliminate the nasty disease of tossing a tip to everyone with a heartbeat and an outstretched palm. That tip money can be far better used by your favorite charity to fight hunger, disease or other really bad things in this world.

MisterNice

it depends. We once had our entire family and friends in the exec. lounge in MUC (most of us were on the exec. floor, but friends had regular rooms) and we emptied pretty much the bar over the course of the evening ... left them 30 EUR. Otherwise I agree with the other posters that I wouldn't tip if someone just does their job.

It is just awful these tipping practices.

I am not a businessman and I do not have the expense account :rolleyes:

Comparing to many posters here who are probably well off, my Hilton membership is silver. If tipping is "appreciated", a complementary room upgrade or free breakfast for customers who actually pay out their own pocket would also be "appreciated". I am already doing your hotel a big favor by not booking my stays at priceline. Do something FOR ME, and I'll make sure you are tipped accordingly. Otherwise, I paid for it.

Thanks

Some hotels, like Conrad Tokyo, at all levels refuse, even the "pillow money" being left beside the bed.

That is because one simply does not tip in Japan. This is a wonderful custom that I wish the rest of the places in the world which have bad tipping culture would adopt.

it depends. We once had our entire family and friends in the exec. lounge in MUC (most of us were on the exec. floor, but friends had regular rooms) and we emptied pretty much the bar over the course of the evening ... left them 30 EUR. Otherwise I agree with the other posters that I wouldn't tip if someone just does their job.

What is the logic of that? You empty a self service bar (provided by the hotel) and tip the employees? :confused: I would have understood if you had paid an extra to tbe hotel :D

it depends. We once had our entire family and friends in the exec. lounge in MUC (most of us were on the exec. floor, but friends had regular rooms) and we emptied pretty much the bar over the course of the evening ... left them 30 EUR.

So you actually paid an employee for not enforcing the rules of his company (free drinks are for guests on the executive floor), and this generates an extra cost for the employer. There is a word for this, but it’s not “tipping”. :rolleyes:

That is because one simply does not tip in Japan. This is a wonderful custom that I wish the rest of the places in the world which have bad tipping culture would adopt.

I stayed at Hilton Osaka and Tokyo in Japan. I know very well that you don't tip in Japan, but what a heck, I figure there is a lot of rich business people who pass through these establishments, so I offered a 1000 yen note to a lady who carried our bags to our room. She politely refused by saying "Oh, I don't need that", while the guy in Osaka took it right away.

So, did the guy in Osaka take it simply so we don't loose our face or is there something else at play here. I'll never know, I guess.....:confused:

I always tip the staff in the lounge just like I tip the waitress at a HGI with a breakfast coupon, $2 good service. $1 average, my criteria is what is the food/drinks worth times 17/20%, so sometimes more for the lounge evening crew. In the lounges I always personally hand it to the staff, as we know those tables turn over fast.

There are too many people to tip at FS Hotel!

- Bellman
- Maid
- Executive Lounge staff
- Server
- Bartender
- Concierge

Not complaining, because for the most part, these people tend to do great work and do not earn a wage that equals their performance. But it is a little absurd.

And, tipping all the above at the traditional standards just not feasible if traveling 300+ days a year in a hotel. That would equate to thousands of dollars of cash (unrecordable) tips out of pocket.

As a rule we don't tip. However, at the Hilton in Dubrovnik we received excellent service from one lady who seemed to be in the lounge every time we went there. We left her a tip equivalent to about GBP 20.

What is the logic of that? You empty a self service bar (provided by the hotel) and tip the employees? :confused: I would have understood if you had paid an extra to tbe hotel :D

it was not a self-service bar, so they had a lot of work with us.

So you actually paid an employee for not enforcing the rules of his company (free drinks are for guests on the executive floor), and this generates an extra cost for the employer. There is a word for this, but it’s not “tipping”. :rolleyes:

Glad you 'ask' what the rules are :rolleyes:

The Hilton Munich Park allowed one guest per room and this exactly worked for our party, so we DID NOT violate any hotel rules (and yes, we asked).

However, for a party of 12 staying there for 3 hours and having some 'good time', we certainly used our priviliges very well. The staff was great and treated us well ... so I gave them a decent tip.

Well said.

Indiscriminate tipping = antisocial, petty corruption in my book, and encourages bad service in the long run.

Genuinely exceptional service is motivated by pride in the job and proper rewards beyond the transactional level, not jumping through hoops to get a buck.

Ah yes the typical rationalization for being cheap;)

mike

Be less bilious. You may live longer. :)

Ah yes the typical rationalization for being cheap;)

mike

It is just awful these tipping practices.

I am not a businessman and I do not have the expense account :rolleyes:

Comparing to many posters here who are probably well off, my Hilton membership is silver. If tipping is "appreciated", a complementary room upgrade or free breakfast for customers who actually pay out their own pocket would also be "appreciated". I am already doing your hotel a big favor by not booking my stays at priceline. Do something FOR ME, and I'll make sure you are tipped accordingly. Otherwise, I paid for it.

Thanks

I retired nearly five years ago but that has not stopped me from tipping for services rendered and on rare occasion the amount has exceeded 20%. In jimmac's example besides giving the young lady a tip I would also mention to the manager the exceptional service received and how her standards should be emulated by her peers.

The Hilton Munich Park allowed one guest per room and this exactly worked for our party, so we DID NOT violate any hotel rules (and yes, we asked).

Very kind and typical German interpretation of the rules. To my understanding the rules allow the member and one guest.

Be less bilious. You may live longer. :)
Save your tips they probably not worth very much.;)
cheep...cheep ... cheep..cheep.

mike

I always tip the staff in the lounge just like I tip the waitress at a HGI with a breakfast coupon, $2 good service. $1 average, my criteria is what is the food/drinks worth times 17/20%, so sometimes more for the lounge evening crew. In the lounges I always personally hand it to the staff, as we know those tables turn over fast.

Would you please explain your tip-math a little clearer and exactly why do you hand over your tip money ($1, $2 or 17/20%) in person.

MisterNice

I agree with Dakota.

It isn't being "cheap" to think that paying $150.00 (or likely more) per night includes housekeeping service, front desk service, and bag service.

That said, I have tipped for service that has been above-and-beyond, but standard service is clearly covered in the not-so-cheap room rate.