Regency-Grand had a club last time I was there.

The new HyattLex48 handed me a letter at check in Friday that specifically stated tax and tip were not included in the Diamond breakfast and my responsibility.

I had booked the AAA breakfast rate, so they told me to use that letter, as that breakfast was exactly the same but *did* include tax and gratuity.

Wow, the apparent lack of consistency is crazy, especially when it's actually written in writing. I'd take a photo of that letter and send it to GP Concierge.

How cheap can one be to worry about leaving $3 - $5 in cash if the service is good. To ask if the tip is included is TACKY unless you see it on the bill as included. You should stay at a motel 6 and not at a full service Hyatt if tipping the server a few dollars is an issue.

So I expect that you also pay for your Regency Club access, use the regular check in line, pay for your breakfast (along with the tip and tax), refuse the welcome amenity, and otherwise disregard the benefits provided by the Gold Passport program then?

No one here is proposing an innovation (ie. we demand the tip be included), but rather questioning why the current terms and conditions aren't being met. I also don't think anyone here is suggesting servers take it on the chin when they serve a Diamond member (and their party), but rather that they be properly compensated by the property (again in line with the existing terms and conditions).

I agree somewhat that asking if the tip is included is tacky, but that is actually a source of my/our complaint, that we should understand how this is meant to work to avoid having to argue with the front desk, or have to ask questions that seem kind of embarrassing all round.

Matt

Posted Sept. 28, 2011:

Posted yesterday:

All of which makes me wonder how much authority over franchisees Gold Passport really has. I'm guessing hotel general manager caught in the middle between earnest but lower-level Hyatt Corp employees trying to enforce what his or her manager at HQ says the policy is, and non-conforming ownership group, quite possibly offshore, who has chosen to dig in on some goofy little point. Manger follows their paycheck. Hyatt top management waffles when confronted by franchise owner insisting no such thing is specified in the management agreement or they would not have signed it.

It's an issue of (lack of) consistency. When inconsistency is an issue, management of customer expectation ends up being relatively poor.

My response is a tad softer, but I agree. I will never assume that a tip is included. I will always leave a few dollars, usually charged to the room, to make sure the server is taken care of.

The arrogance is amazing.

Let's mix conventional thinking with your stand.

A tip is optional, and everyone should agree on that ( I know they won't, but it is)

And, so without asking, I leave nothing.
If the hotel provides for it, fine. If they don't, fine.
Because, It would be too TACKY to ask if it is included.

Remember, many cultures do not tip.
I know, for decades it was my business be tipped.
Regardless of how many westerners want to lay a guilt trip, many guests do not tip. So, suddenly those few that want to ask if it is are out of line? I really don't get it...

When times are good, I throw money around like it's growing on trees. When times are tough, I pinch my pennies (where and when is at my discretion).
It is tough times for many, many people these days.

A tip is optional.
Those that depend on tips do quite well.
Asking for clarity an d consistency is not tacky.
Neither is not leaving a tip.

Those that choose to leave a double tip should be applauded.
Those that only want to leave one tip, and need to determine if the employer has already provided one, should be equally applauded.
Or did I miss something?

They are still trying to make their own rules there.

Please contact GP about the this.

Well, leaving an additional tip is your choice, and that's not the issue here.

The issue is that GP's official rule is that the Diamond breakfast benefit, when offered at properties without lounges, etc, includes tax and tip.

So if a property, like 48Lex, is telling Diamond members otherwise (and they are), they are violating GP rules.

So at a Hyatt with a breakfast benefit, there's no need to make the assumption you are making. It is supposed to be included, always.

If the rule was different, either that it wasn't included, or it was optionally included, that would be different, right? But that's not the rule.

We're venturing off topic here, Mr Sean.

But we're not talking about many cultures. We're talking about the USA, where waiters, etc make less than the minimum wage.

When you're in Bangkok, Japan, etc, of course you should do as the locals do. In the US, the locals tip. Yes, a tip is optional and if you think you received sub standard service, then don't tip.

-David

Yes, they make less than the minimum wage, unless you calculate the tips. As a waiter for 20 years in North America, I will tell you many people do not tip. Those that do, more than compensate for it.

Yes, I did likely deviate off topic, sorry. But the comment that put me off was that asking if it was included was tacky and the inference was that it was being stingy. Just as 'the weather' and 'cell phone technology' strives to keep people misinformed for their benefit, so does the tip receiving industry. If people knew how much money was ooozing in, they'd stop the practice in an instant.

But, you are right, that is better brought up elsewhere.

If a hotel gives me a breakfast, I will likely not tip. I think those that ask, and do leave a few bucks, are awesome.
My question was where does the "asking" part constitute bad behaviour.

yeah, I agree.

If you are going to be in BKK at the end of the year I will be more than happy to buy you a beer and not tip.

-David

So, I need to get the pic off my phone, and on here. Just completed a stay at the jersey city hyatt, with good and bad. Bad, on checkin, the fdc made it seem like he was doing this diamond a favor and giving me breakfast certs. The good, the certain had it boldly printed, "Includes tax and gratuity"

I don't tip when receiving my diamond breakfast. No discussion about that. An amenity (bonus) for the customer should not come with the obligation to provide tips for the staff.

If I visit the hotel restaurant for regular consumption and I have to pay, of course I will leave 10% as a tip. Everything beyond that is excessive.