Gratuities for front desk staff
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 26
WOW!
Well thanks for all the input everyone!
To clarify a couple of questions that were brought up:
- 3cforme - I am referring to North American properties in general
- the idea of the tipping FD staff was meant to be with regards to a provision of service in general
- JackE - the etc. was meant to include the myriad of other service staff that I didn't specifically mention
- LondonElite - this is part of the reason I posed this question - I mentioned my concern for being gaudy/tacky if tipping FD was inappropriate
It seems pretty clear I guess, with all the contrasting opinions, that there really isn't a definitive right or wrong, particularly with regards to etiquette.
Indeed, even front desk staff seem to have different opinions.
Well thanks for all the input everyone!
To clarify a couple of questions that were brought up:
- 3cforme - I am referring to North American properties in general
- the idea of the tipping FD staff was meant to be with regards to a provision of service in general
- JackE - the etc. was meant to include the myriad of other service staff that I didn't specifically mention
- LondonElite - this is part of the reason I posed this question - I mentioned my concern for being gaudy/tacky if tipping FD was inappropriate
It seems pretty clear I guess, with all the contrasting opinions, that there really isn't a definitive right or wrong, particularly with regards to etiquette.
Indeed, even front desk staff seem to have different opinions.
Last edited by rastaman777; Mar 18, 2017 at 3:56 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Not at all. I merely provided tales from my experiences working in hotels. I wasn't intending to speak for the entire industry. If your employer doesn't have policies against Front Desk staff accepting tips, you shouldn't feel badly for accepting them.
That said, it sounds like many of the things described sound like activities traditionally done by a Concierge. Those tasks were "tippable" where I worked.
That said, it sounds like many of the things described sound like activities traditionally done by a Concierge. Those tasks were "tippable" where I worked.
#33
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Amex Plat (UK)
Posts: 32
I may have an exception to the actual norm for not tipping FDAs.
You come down to the FD in the wee hours to retrieve your checked bag. The bell staff is gone until early morning. The FDA retrieves your luggage.
The one time this has happened to me, I considered the FDA to have two hats and tipped the one wearing the bellman's hat. She accepted.
You come down to the FD in the wee hours to retrieve your checked bag. The bell staff is gone until early morning. The FDA retrieves your luggage.
The one time this has happened to me, I considered the FDA to have two hats and tipped the one wearing the bellman's hat. She accepted.
#34
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I assume you don't live in any kind of large city, because if you have to drive anywhere, I assume you're out of money every week from "tipping" all the homeless people at the intersections. They certainly don't get "paid a fortune," and most of them seem to smile a lot, no matter what might be happening in their lives. @:-)
#35
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
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#36
Join Date: Sep 2009
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I assume you don't live in any kind of large city, because if you have to drive anywhere, I assume you're out of money every week from "tipping" all the homeless people at the intersections. They certainly don't get "paid a fortune," and most of them seem to smile a lot, no matter what might be happening in their lives. @:-)
And your assumption is wrong. I keep a pied-a-terre in Manhattan.
#37
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
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I wasn't aware that tipping was related to the grossness of one's job.
I still maintain that someone running a hotel has to pay the staff appropriately. If a hotel wants to provide better service so they can charge higher rates, then they need to pay the people providing that better service and not expect guests to pay twice (higher rate and more tips).
I fully understand if one tips a person for doing something completely outside their expected role, e.g. fixing the problem with the credit card as mentioned in one of the posts. I have tipped a hotel employee (in the US) for jump starting my car after letting the light on over night -- and he didn't even want to take it ("it's my job", he said) until I told him that I didn't think it was "his job".
But I will not pay twice for housekeeping, for being checked in, or for problems being solved that shouldn't have been occurring in the first place. Hotel stuff in a upper scale full service hotel that expect to be tipped for carrying my suitcase irritate me.
HTB.
I still maintain that someone running a hotel has to pay the staff appropriately. If a hotel wants to provide better service so they can charge higher rates, then they need to pay the people providing that better service and not expect guests to pay twice (higher rate and more tips).
I fully understand if one tips a person for doing something completely outside their expected role, e.g. fixing the problem with the credit card as mentioned in one of the posts. I have tipped a hotel employee (in the US) for jump starting my car after letting the light on over night -- and he didn't even want to take it ("it's my job", he said) until I told him that I didn't think it was "his job".
But I will not pay twice for housekeeping, for being checked in, or for problems being solved that shouldn't have been occurring in the first place. Hotel stuff in a upper scale full service hotel that expect to be tipped for carrying my suitcase irritate me.
HTB.
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Posts: 31,452
I tip in restaurants and taxis, mostly because it would be socially awkward not to unless there was a complete service failure, but I would much prefer it if (especially in the US) a normal living wage would be paid to waitstaff so that I don't have to make up their salary.
#39
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 853
Has anyone ever tipped a FD staff member who escorted you to the room, showed
you around, but carried no bags, etc. I haven't but I'm always feeling like it might
be a thing.
you around, but carried no bags, etc. I haven't but I'm always feeling like it might
be a thing.
#40
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Programs: Marriott Platinum - LT Gold
Posts: 688
Any extra expected tip should be included in the final bill. Period. When excellent service is given a review should be submitted at tripadvisor or somewhere else.
I love Japan for that. No fuss, no tip is accepted.
Read somewhere that some are even tipping housekeepers in america. And now this tipping FD. Why not tip police officers and doctors...
I love Japan for that. No fuss, no tip is accepted.
Read somewhere that some are even tipping housekeepers in america. And now this tipping FD. Why not tip police officers and doctors...
Last edited by joakgarp; Mar 19, 2017 at 6:02 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TPA/DFW/K15
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Posts: 1,647
Any extra expected tip should be included in the final bill. Period. When excellent service is given a review should be submitted at tripadvisor or somewhere else.
I love Japan for that. No fuss, no tip is accepted.
Read somewhere that some are even tipping housekeepers in america. And now this tipping FD. Why not tip police officers and doctors...
I love Japan for that. No fuss, no tip is accepted.
Read somewhere that some are even tipping housekeepers in america. And now this tipping FD. Why not tip police officers and doctors...
I tip my dog groomer.
#42
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jakarta
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Posts: 410
I usually give tip to the receptionist and Front office mgr, and they usually pay more attention my needs. Is it a coincidence? I think not.
#43
Join Date: Aug 2005
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What needs are you talking about anyway? You get assigned a room and housekeeping drops by once a day. If you need something else, give the hotel staff a call and they will take care of it.
HTB.
#44
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Is the system stupid? Of course. But, it is what it is and nothing short of government regulation is going to make hoteliers pay the Bell Staff more than minimum wage.
#45
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Mosaic
Posts: 1,048
I assume you don't live in any kind of large city, because if you have to drive anywhere, I assume you're out of money every week from "tipping" all the homeless people at the intersections. They certainly don't get "paid a fortune," and most of them seem to smile a lot, no matter what might be happening in their lives. @:-)
Then they go on to say how they'll be using the money for their...habit.