The $20/$50/$100 gesture at check in?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 254
The $20/$50/$100 gesture at check in?
In your experience, has "greasing" the person at check in gotten you a better room?
I haven't done it before at a "luxury" hotel, amd was curious about your successes/failures.
I have to imagine a $100 would go much further than a $20 at a 5 star properties.
I haven't done it before at a "luxury" hotel, amd was curious about your successes/failures.
I have to imagine a $100 would go much further than a $20 at a 5 star properties.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
I did it at the Bellagio back in 2008. A $50 sandwiched between my credit card and my passport. We had booked the lead-in category of room and got a suite with a view of the fountains. I couldn't tell whether this was because of the tip or that we were on honeymoon.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
I classify this under tacky, and don't do it. Maybe people do it in vegas, but b vegas is tacky and everyone does it so I'm not sure how big of an advantage it is there
#4
I'm at a Four Seasons at the moment and imagain I had given them 100 $ at check in. Without being rude this would be the bedt way to blame myself or get a moron-tag on my file. Absolutely inappropriate.
#5
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,770
In some countries this would be seen as attempting to bribe someone (as you are clearly attempting to commit a bribe). This might not end well for you or the employee. It would almost certainly be a disciplinary issue for a hotel employee and could be a legal one for both of you.
In countries, where a tipping culture does not exhist, it will probably be met with complete confusion.
Try it in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or China and see what happens.....
In countries, where a tipping culture does not exhist, it will probably be met with complete confusion.
Try it in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or China and see what happens.....
Last edited by Kettering Northants QC; Apr 28, 2017 at 12:26 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
I would never try to "bribe" someone for an upgrade.
I do believe in tipping the right way. If a concierge or other hotel employee does something I really appreciate, I may discreetly give that person a huge tip, expecting nothing in return. It often does happen that those people remember me and make sure I am always extremely well taken care of, and given the best room allocations and possibly upgrades.
I also never count on upgrades unless they are confirmed in advance. I book at least the minimum category I am happy with, and then any upgrade I may receive is a pleasant surprise.
I do believe in tipping the right way. If a concierge or other hotel employee does something I really appreciate, I may discreetly give that person a huge tip, expecting nothing in return. It often does happen that those people remember me and make sure I am always extremely well taken care of, and given the best room allocations and possibly upgrades.
I also never count on upgrades unless they are confirmed in advance. I book at least the minimum category I am happy with, and then any upgrade I may receive is a pleasant surprise.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
Interesting watching this thread develop. I think there seems to be some consensus that in a hotel outside of Vegas this just wouldn't be appropriate. As a Brit, even one who spends a lot of time in the US, I do struggle with the tipping culture.
It seems like everything requires a tip in the US these days; valet parking (even if you've paid for it), housekeeping, bell service, servers, concierge - all on top of a ridiculous resort fee and service charge. I've never heard a convincing argument for resort fees. They're a complete rip-off and shouldn't exist. Why not just build it into the price of the room and pay everyone properly? It makes it so much more pleasant for the guest.
The argument that good service is encouraged by tipping is a misnomer. If staff are paid well, feel valued and enjoy their work then they will give good service.
It seems like everything requires a tip in the US these days; valet parking (even if you've paid for it), housekeeping, bell service, servers, concierge - all on top of a ridiculous resort fee and service charge. I've never heard a convincing argument for resort fees. They're a complete rip-off and shouldn't exist. Why not just build it into the price of the room and pay everyone properly? It makes it so much more pleasant for the guest.
The argument that good service is encouraged by tipping is a misnomer. If staff are paid well, feel valued and enjoy their work then they will give good service.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
It seems that 'greasing the wheels' goes on everywhere though. Before our stay at Chateau Saint-Martin last summer I asked whether sun loungers at the pool needed to be reserved each day. I was told that it was not possible and on a first come, first served basis. Sounded good to me.
A few days we went down in the afternoon and saw sun loungers without anything on them (no towels, books, personal items) but there was a small 'reserved' sign on the table in between them. We just sat down and claimed them. Once a member of the pool staff came over and told me the loungers were reserved. I told him that the concierge team had told me that wasn't possible. He apologised profusely and walked away. We were never challenged when we did it again. I can only surmise that people were tipping to reserve sun loungers - I didn't. And I didn't let myself be disadvantaged by it either.
A few days we went down in the afternoon and saw sun loungers without anything on them (no towels, books, personal items) but there was a small 'reserved' sign on the table in between them. We just sat down and claimed them. Once a member of the pool staff came over and told me the loungers were reserved. I told him that the concierge team had told me that wasn't possible. He apologised profusely and walked away. We were never challenged when we did it again. I can only surmise that people were tipping to reserve sun loungers - I didn't. And I didn't let myself be disadvantaged by it either.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,770
Interesting watching this thread develop. I think there seems to be some consensus that in a hotel outside of Vegas this just wouldn't be appropriate. As a Brit, even one who spends a lot of time in the US, I do struggle with the tipping culture.
It seems like everything requires a tip in the US these days; valet parking (even if you've paid for it), housekeeping, bell service, servers, concierge - all on top of a ridiculous resort fee and service charge. I've never heard a convincing argument for resort fees. They're a complete rip-off and shouldn't exist. Why not just build it into the price of the room and pay everyone properly? It makes it so much more pleasant for the guest.
The argument that good service is encouraged by tipping is a misnomer. If staff are paid well, feel valued and enjoy their work then they will give good service.
It seems like everything requires a tip in the US these days; valet parking (even if you've paid for it), housekeeping, bell service, servers, concierge - all on top of a ridiculous resort fee and service charge. I've never heard a convincing argument for resort fees. They're a complete rip-off and shouldn't exist. Why not just build it into the price of the room and pay everyone properly? It makes it so much more pleasant for the guest.
The argument that good service is encouraged by tipping is a misnomer. If staff are paid well, feel valued and enjoy their work then they will give good service.
Resort Fees work totally to the benefit of the operator, all the things you seem to pay for are things that used to be free or used to be things you would never have bothered about. I remember reading somewhere the Resort Fees brought tax benefits for hotel operators. Other benefits (in the days of internet price comparisons) are that it allows a hotel to demonstrate a lower headline rate. Something that causes problems in the UK as you can't advertise prices with compulsory hidden extras.
#14
That's excactly what I do except it's guaranteed like some Virtuoso-properties or hotel-programs.
#15
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
There's a similarly-stupid idea for gate agents:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...gift-card.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...gift-card.html