I agree. I carry so little cash these days that finding appropriate bills to tip housekeeping, bellmen, etc. is a real challenge. I welcome the opportunity to tip electronically. I’m talking mainly about the U.S, where such tipping has long been expected and forms a significant part of the staff member’s income, but I would have appreciated it even in Athens this fall, where the service rendered my husband, who broke his foot while on the trip, was far above the ordinary.

I have not seen this feature on the app yet, but saw some similar electronic tipping options in a couple of U.S. hotels last year. I learned from that to be careful to distinguish between general categories, like “housekeeping” and the name of the particular person you particularly want to tip, which may also be an option. If the housekeeper has left a note in your room with her/his name on it, or a bellman has given you his card, chances are pretty good that there would be an option to tip by name, rather than department.