Originally Posted by
Often1
There is a huge difference between an employee who sits at the entrance of a lounge which has free muffins in the AM and someone who actually does concierge work, e.g locating theater tickets, good table at restaurant and the like.
The latter is a professional. No tip for simple routine questions and answers. But, when the concierge gets you that table by the window for your anniversary at the restaurant which is booked into 2018, something really substantial is appropriate. If you're spending $1K on dinner, spending $100 on the person who got you in is appropriate.
Just to be clear, I do tip the professional who helps me, but not the CL attendant, unless there is extenuating circumstance. My CL time is usually quick in, quick out.
My first time at a certain non-US property I was not familiar with the currency/economics, had been awake for hours and accidently tipped the Concierge the equivalent of two weeks' good salary in that particular country. It wasn't an obscene amount by US standards, but I later learned it was too much. The Concierge's immediate reaction was a dead giveaway. During the stay, the Concierge couldn't help me enough. The couple times I've been back, he emails me and asks if there is anything he can do. If he isn't there to greet me, he makes sure someone tells me he prepared for my stay. It turned out to be the best couple hundred bucks I ever spent.