Room Service Tips
Oct 26, 2007, 11:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Milwaukee
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Room Service Tips
I have a question. I order room service a lot as I do not like to dine out alone. Marriott puts a 20% SERVICE FEE on the bill. I have asked the server if that is their tip. I have had a couple say yes and I have had some say a very small part of that. It is divided up with the cooks and others.. What is the truth and should I be adding additional tip. It is ultimately the company's money so I don't really care. I just want to be fair.
Oct 26, 2007, 11:54 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 859
I have a question. I order room service a lot as I do not like to dine out alone. Marriott puts a 20% SERVICE FEE on the bill. I have asked the server if that is their tip. I have had a couple say yes and I have had some say a very small part of that. It is divided up with the cooks and others.. What is the truth and should I be adding additional tip. It is ultimately the company's money so I don't really care. I just want to be fair.
I would rather just pay higher prices for the food then have these chains openly tell me that I am subsidizing their labor force. Why do we in the U.S. feel that everyone everywhere deserves a 20% tip anyways? It isn't custom practice in most other countries...but that is another topic.
Oct 26, 2007, 12:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
How about a 20+% service charge and a delivery charge of $1-$2 on top of that, which I've seen.
Plus, if you compare, you'll see the same items on the room service menu that are in the restaurant are $1-$2 higher! Its all from the same kitchen.
And really you don't have the ability to "send it back" when the overcook your $13 hamburger.
Its an awkward situation when the give you the charges, there is an open spot for gratuity and he's waiting for you to complete. I've either added $1 or written "included" in that spot depending on my mood.
Plus, if you compare, you'll see the same items on the room service menu that are in the restaurant are $1-$2 higher! Its all from the same kitchen.
And really you don't have the ability to "send it back" when the overcook your $13 hamburger.
Its an awkward situation when the give you the charges, there is an open spot for gratuity and he's waiting for you to complete. I've either added $1 or written "included" in that spot depending on my mood.
Oct 26, 2007, 12:28 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicago
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I always put a little bit on - but never more than like 10%. Most of my in-room dining is later in the night so I figure if they deserve extra when dealing with people like me who are coming back from "fun" dinners with clients.
Oct 26, 2007, 1:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
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see message that follows
Last edited by USirritated; Oct 26, 2007 at 1:42 pm Reason: deleted as duplicate in error
Oct 26, 2007, 1:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
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How about a 20+% service charge and a delivery charge of $1-$2 on top of that, which I've seen.
Plus, if you compare, you'll see the same items on the room service menu that are in the restaurant are $1-$2 higher! Its all from the same kitchen.
And really you don't have the ability to "send it back" when the overcook your $13 hamburger.
Its an awkward situation when the give you the charges, there is an open spot for gratuity and he's waiting for you to complete. I've either added $1 or written "included" in that spot depending on my mood.
Plus, if you compare, you'll see the same items on the room service menu that are in the restaurant are $1-$2 higher! Its all from the same kitchen.
And really you don't have the ability to "send it back" when the overcook your $13 hamburger.
Its an awkward situation when the give you the charges, there is an open spot for gratuity and he's waiting for you to complete. I've either added $1 or written "included" in that spot depending on my mood.
At the hotels that charge both a service charge and a delivery fee, I will NEVER add a penny to what they bill me, because that is just disgusting naked greed! Nothing more needs to be said on that issue!
Oct 26, 2007, 2:07 pm
#7
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I totally agree, and never add anything to the tip line on a room service bill. I'm already paying 20% + about $2 at most places to have the food brought up to my room. There is no way it costs the hotel that much to offer room service, and if that service charge isn't going to the employee who delivered the food, then the food service employees need to have some serious discussion with the hotel's management about why they're not receiving the gratuity that the hotel is automatically charging to the guests who order room service. I don't see it as my problem to solve a compensation issue between the hotel and its employees.
Oct 26, 2007, 2:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Posts: 578
Totall agree with most...I do not add anything else to it...
Oct 26, 2007, 2:39 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
I have been actively yelled at by staff for not adding anything extra. In the case in question, the service fee was even labeled as a gratuity of 18%+ that was automatically added, rather than a generic "service fee".
Oct 26, 2007, 2:39 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 915
A few weeks ago, a blog entitled "Tips on Tipping in Restaurants" appeared in the collection of blogs attributed to Mr. M.
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/defaul...85400#comments
I'd really be interested in learning his views about tipping in his hotels, specifically when and when not. in his opinion it is appropriate to do so in the Marriott family of lodging establishments..
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/defaul...85400#comments
I'd really be interested in learning his views about tipping in his hotels, specifically when and when not. in his opinion it is appropriate to do so in the Marriott family of lodging establishments..
Oct 26, 2007, 2:58 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posts: 52
I usually leave a dollar but never anything more. It is definitely an awkward situation, especially when the server is staring directly at the receipt as you contemplate their tip fate.
Oct 26, 2007, 3:07 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
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I totally agree, and never add anything to the tip line on a room service bill. I'm already paying 20% + about $2 at most places to have the food brought up to my room. There is no way it costs the hotel that much to offer room service, and if that service charge isn't going to the employee who delivered the food, then the food service employees need to have some serious discussion with the hotel's management about why they're not receiving the gratuity that the hotel is automatically charging to the guests who order room service. I don't see it as my problem to solve a compensation issue between the hotel and its employees.
Oct 26, 2007, 7:09 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
A few weeks ago, a blog entitled "Tips on Tipping in Restaurants" appeared in the collection of blogs attributed to Mr. M.
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/defaul...85400#comments
I'd really be interested in learning his views about tipping in his hotels, specifically when and when not. in his opinion it is appropriate to do so in the Marriott family of lodging establishments..
http://www.blogs.marriott.com/defaul...85400#comments
I'd really be interested in learning his views about tipping in his hotels, specifically when and when not. in his opinion it is appropriate to do so in the Marriott family of lodging establishments..
I'm sure he's all for very generous tipping as he can pay his employees less. Probably a reason he chose this topic for a blog?
Last edited by joshua362; Oct 26, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Oct 26, 2007, 7:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
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As far as what he pays his employees, that is a VERY COMPLICATED issue, since remember, he does not own the hotels anymore, remember? (Okay, he owns three or four of them, but by and large, MI does not own hotels!) Beyond that, the pay scales are so different location to location, as determined by minimum wage laws from state to state, and even city to city (there are living wage laws too), and that is just within the USA! Besides that there are also union issues to deal with, and so many other isses that we have no idea of. TO simply say that "he can pay his employees less" is so vastly oversimplified and unfair is putting it mildly to say the least. There are also circumstances where MI has the management contract and does have something to do with setting the pay grades of the employees in the hotels too, so it is sometimes more complicated, and sometimes less complicated (when MI does not have a management contract, etc.) I am sure that I could go on and on.
The story was an allegory, a fable, to teach us, to explain morals, and it was effective. We can choose to accept it, or we can choose not to, and move on, but why argue about it and be derisive?
Oct 26, 2007, 8:29 pm
#15
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I did too....except when we went past the 15% gratuity threshold. I actually don't mind the gratuity being a bit higher, but when the extended palm goes along with it, you can count me out.
I've pretty much given up on room service anyway. Too many overpriced, badly cooked, barely warm meals....even in the best places.
If I really, really want to "eat-in" (which isn't often), I'll bring something to the room with me. Either a carry out in the evening or a breakfast bar, cereal, etc. for the morning.
I've pretty much given up on room service anyway. Too many overpriced, badly cooked, barely warm meals....even in the best places.
If I really, really want to "eat-in" (which isn't often), I'll bring something to the room with me. Either a carry out in the evening or a breakfast bar, cereal, etc. for the morning.