Automatic housekeeping gratuities?
Jun 27, 2021, 8:54 pm
#31
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I'm not real sure what a City Attorney does, but I was thinking, wouldn't this be something you would want to report to the state Attorney General office?
Jun 27, 2021, 9:44 pm
#32
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You could be right. The role of City Attorney probably varies from one municipality to the next. My thinking was that a more local complaint might be more effective.
Jun 28, 2021, 7:15 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 522
I want to be careful that this stays away from a discussion on tipping... I've seen those get out of hand! 
Having said that, I actually agree with you -- pay people a good wage and reserve gratuities for TRULY EXCEPTIONAL service with no expectation otherwise.
Additionally, I also agree that the ability to easily add housekeeping gratuities to the folio would be a great convenience -- probably for everyone involved (except for those employees who currently choose to underreport their gratuities to Uncle Sam).
Having said that, there needs to be some established, brand-wide policies regarding this:
1) Such a system would have to be opt-in by nature, with the ability for the guest to choose whether or not and how much to tip housekeeping.
2) Clear assurances, possibly with corporate audit, that the gratuities are actually going directly to the housekeeping staff, and are not merely used to supplement the hotel's payroll expenses.
3) An explanation as to whether these tips are pooled and divided among all service staff, or all housekeeping staff, or simply to YOUR housekeeper.
4) If a multi-day stay, an explanation as to whether the tips are divided among all housekeepers who served your room, or go to the housekeeper who serviced your room at the end of your stay.
5) Clear communication about whether or not gratuities added to the folio are taxable, and whether or not they qualify for HH points.
Having said that, I actually agree with you -- pay people a good wage and reserve gratuities for TRULY EXCEPTIONAL service with no expectation otherwise.Additionally, I also agree that the ability to easily add housekeeping gratuities to the folio would be a great convenience -- probably for everyone involved (except for those employees who currently choose to underreport their gratuities to Uncle Sam).
Having said that, there needs to be some established, brand-wide policies regarding this:
1) Such a system would have to be opt-in by nature, with the ability for the guest to choose whether or not and how much to tip housekeeping.
2) Clear assurances, possibly with corporate audit, that the gratuities are actually going directly to the housekeeping staff, and are not merely used to supplement the hotel's payroll expenses.
3) An explanation as to whether these tips are pooled and divided among all service staff, or all housekeeping staff, or simply to YOUR housekeeper.
4) If a multi-day stay, an explanation as to whether the tips are divided among all housekeepers who served your room, or go to the housekeeper who serviced your room at the end of your stay.
5) Clear communication about whether or not gratuities added to the folio are taxable, and whether or not they qualify for HH points.
Probably a step towards another mandatory fee similar to the resort charges the industry managed to introduce.
Look at what the cruise industry is doing. I see the same coming to hotels.
Jun 28, 2021, 9:43 am
#34
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It would take a lot of nerve for hilton to add a mandatoy tip for housekeeping seeing they don't provide the service every day.
Jun 28, 2021, 10:19 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,133
This actually has more interest than you think. This one hotel franchise says the solution to the current labor shortage is guests tipping more, and pre-authorizing tips at check-in is one way to do it. Adding a mandatory gratuity (which seems to be posed as a taxed service charge) without being disclosed up front is a whole different issue.
Hotel Chain CEO Wants Guests To Tip More | One Mile at a Time
Hotel Chain CEO Wants Guests To Tip More | One Mile at a Time
Jun 28, 2021, 10:22 am
#36
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This actually has more interest than you think. This one hotel franchise says the solution to the current labor shortage is guests tipping more, and pre-authorizing tips at check-in is one way to do it. Adding a mandatory gratuity (which seems to be posed as a taxed service charge) without being disclosed up front is a whole different issue.
Hotel Chain CEO Wants Guests To Tip More | One Mile at a Time
Hotel Chain CEO Wants Guests To Tip More | One Mile at a Time
Hopefully they disclose this at check in. If Hilton wants us to tip the housekeeping staff and then it should be the same $ amount for every guest and not based on number of stays or room rate since no one is getting daily service.
Instead of charging me more for housekeeping they should be giving us a discount since we have to go to the front desk and wait in line if we want fresh towels or more soap
Jun 28, 2021, 11:14 am
#37
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Is the $7.50 "Service Charge" my local Honda dealer is now adding to the invoice illegal also?
Last edited by KenH_Atlanta; Jun 28, 2021 at 11:15 am Reason: edited for clarity
Jun 28, 2021, 1:21 pm
#41
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Until this new fee is spelled out on the Hilton booking site and it is included in the summary of anticipated charges when booking (along with taxes, resort fees, and other stuff), the practice is a classic bait-and-switch.
Jun 28, 2021, 1:27 pm
#42
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Jun 28, 2021, 5:05 pm
#43
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Jun 28, 2021, 7:30 pm
#44
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City attorneys in the US generally only represent the city government in legal matters and sometimes prosecute misdemeanor crimes. I don't think they would get involved in something like this. The Bureau of Consumer Protection might be a better agency to report it to. If they get a number of complaints, they may look into it.
Jun 29, 2021, 3:54 pm
#45
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