austin_modern

oh lord... the great tipping debate... again. (or as I look at it, "how to save a dollar off the back of a service industry worker making 2 bucks an hour.")


To put some real content here: http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm#foot1

Make sure you read the rates for states you are interested in along with qualifications for a tipped employee.

canyonleo

That's not true in U.S. where I worked. I worked years as a bellman and bartender, and on a slow night/shift if my tips were near $0 I didn't get any "draw" or compensation above my (then) $2.12/hour plus what little tips I earned that day. Of course, a huge Saturday night at a bar or the house turning over for a bellman can more than compensate

RichardInSF

That varies from state to state; in California, no reduction in the minimum wage level is allowed for anyone, whether or not they are tipped.

Andaz5

: FYI: These tipping rules are the norm from Miami to San Francisco not just Manhattan. Not tipping housekeeping...

gengar

I believe under the FLSA that the calculation period for tip credit is the pay period or monthly, whichever is shorter. Obviously it doesn't apply to any given day or any given hour.

bzbdewd

Don't forget the club/lounge staff - though since we are in a Hyatt thread I've noticed that there often isn't a tip container out and it is almost all do it yourself (get drinks, clear your table etc). At many of the Hiltons we stay at the lounge staff do much of that for you - and that merits a tip. Just being in the room while I do everything for myself really doesn't require tipping in my book.
I always tip housekeeping - a minimum of $3 but sometimes more if I didn't straighten up the room first (coffee cups, newspapers and such all over) or if the hotel is fairly empty when I figure a little bit more $ might help. Most of our stays are fairly long - usually a minimum of a week but often 3-4 weeks or more. Tipping the valet $5 seems a bit steep to me - usually we do $2-3. Bellman $5 (we always have just 2 bags). Doorman $1-2.

suite2suite

Are we becoming the employers of service personnel at hotels and resorts now?
Am I understanding correctly that we should be involved with what employees are paid and what the minimum wages are in each state?
If the amount of gratuities were so bad, less service personnel would take these jobs and employers would have to pay more.
In my opinion charges for service should be part of the bill and nothing more should be expected.

Milesbuilder

Glad to see this, after traveling most of June, I was wondering as well.

Here is my take;

• Bellman: If it is just me, I carry my own bags but if family, a minimum of $5 and up to $10 if we have a cooler and a bunch of shopping bags. I will tip when bags are dropped in room OR when they are loaded in car. I will not tip when they pick up bags from room but I will tip the guy who unloads the car $5. I prefer to make my daughters carry as to make the younger generation work so they don't become too spoiled by status stays.
• Concierge: Never use so I never thought much about this. I'm a boring date.
• Doorman: Seldom relevant for me but seems about right - $2 for hailing a cab in rush hour or in the rain; $1 for each bag.
• Housekeeping: If it is just me, I am not that messy or demanding so probably $1 to $2 a day but if the entire clan is with me in a multi room suite a min of $5 a day. We tip at end of stay. If you had to clean up after my girls you would never question tipping housekeepers ever again.
• Room Service: I am too cheap to order room service and I like the exercise of walking to someplace to overpay for food.
• Pool: Depending on amount of use, I will drop $5 to $10 on my way out at end of stay as I seldom have cash on me when going to the beach or pool.
• Valet: I do $2 to $5 for valet but now I am leaning towards one tip at end of stay. I get tired of trying to mess with my wallet every time I need to go somewhere. Many times my car is already up front and I get my keys from the desk so I don’t know who brought it up.
• Club: I never gave this much thought until a few years ago. Now I put $10 to $30 on my check out (if permitted by hotel) or drop by and cash tip at end of stay. I have found Hyatt staff is much more interactive and friendly than Hilton and seldom if ever tip at Hilton or when staff is not interactive.

For what it is worth, I have found that dropping big tips at end of stay seems to be much more appreciated than a few bucks here and there (assuming tip share).

I love showing appreciation for folks who go above and beyond but as I carry so little cash and usually in a hurry I hate the guilt of not being an ATM to every person who looks at me (guilt can be a powerful tip generator).

On the other hand, nobody tips me and as a self-employed person there are years I make less than a dishwasher.

suite2suite

Is anyone realizing how ridiculous Tipping has become in the US:
Bellman, Concierge, Doorman, Housekeeping, Room Service, Pool, Valet and now Club.

Let me tell you what I have been told about the Club. They are paid the same pay scale as front desk agents. Should we now tip front desk as well...?

duniawala

I only tip the valet because 1. He takes the car and parks it and brings it back. 2. It's like paying for parking. Other than that I only pay for service over and beyond.

I do not tip just so that the industries can get away with cheap labor and make more profits. Minimum wage should be enforced everywhere.

This obsession of tipping by Americans is getting obnoxious. And the horror, they are spreading it to other countries.

suite2suite

+1

Jaimito Cartero

I stay in hotels primarily in Asia. Most have a service charge added to the bill for service, so no need for any additional tips, unless special services provided.

peteropny

Please do not bicker about appropriateness if tipping - this subject becomes contentious. Feel free to report what you tip though.

Peteropny - co-mod - Hyatt

PS. I usually tip housekeeping $2 a day in regular rooms - more in suites or if the room is particularly messy. Valet usually $2 each time the car is brought up. Bellman $1-2 per bag but rarely used. Doorman perhaps $2 for hailing a cab in rush hour / rain or help in loading the car with the bags.

MSPeconomist

The list seems to have forgotten the valets, as opposed to valet parking people. For dry cleaning delivery or shoe shine (assuming it isn't charged with a service fee), I tip at leat dollar to the delivery person, more in a particularly upscale property or if prompt/off-hours shoe shine or last minute pressing was provided.

sensei

I would generally agree, except:

- Car valet: $3 (valet parking incurs a substantial daily charge and $3 as a thank you for doing their job and spending a few minutes on retrieving my car seems adequate)

- Housekeeping: Rarely at all. A clean room is what one pays for via the room rate. If there is something done out of the ordinary, it might warrant an occasional tip. While being a maid might not be a glamorous job they are compensated at least at minimum wage and not tipped employees like a bartender etc.

I would agree that staying in a US hotel can be somewhat uncomfortable as everyone but the front desk staff appear to expect a tip for doing their regular job. I don't mind the monetary aspect of this as much as the hassle that is associated with tipping all the time. Stays in Europe and Asia in comparison are much more relaxing as one gets the service one is paying for. I cringe every time I see someone asking how much to tip housekeeping in Asia or Europe. At best, the maids think "oh dear, another American"... at worst it is an insult.