CJKatl

Yes. And I'm answering this with knowledge from both the server side and the customer side. Failure to give credit for tips is stealing. You certainly don't think the hotels are systematically stealing from their employees, do you? If you know of a hotel that is stealing from its employees, turn the hotel into authorities. Otherwise, you are accusing hotels of a very serious offense without evidence. BTW, Jessica Biel was just accused of doing this.

On the server side, unless tips are pooled, each server adds up the tips from receipts at the close of each shift. Keeping track of your tips is important. You've likely never worked as a server if you are asking this question. It's standard restaurant procedure. On the customer side, when I leave a tip I make sure the server is aware. Back when you could leave all tips on your bill, the front desk would keep envelopes for each employee and hand the envelope to the employee at the end of each shift or immediately move the amount into the employees pay for inclusion in the next paycheck. 100% of the time when employees reported back to me later they received the tips, and I always checked when possible.

MSPeconomist

If the gratuity is included with the comped meal, which seems to be standard at hotels generally at the rate of a generous tip of 18% or more, I would leave an additional amount only for truly extraordinary service.

I like to charge the tip to my room (or credit card in restaurants) as a way to implicitly get a "receipt" for the tip, for example if I'm requesting reimbursement. Of course, this isn't practical always, for example for bellpersons and doorpeople in hotels, or generally for housekeeping tips, including what you give to runners who deliver forgotten toiletries, etc.

MSPeconomist

It's a huge problem and getting worse. Far too many people lack understanding of basic concepts, such as converting 0.5 to a fraction or understanding what percent means. A couple decades ago I noticed that a McDonalds in an inner city location had pictures of menu items on the cash register (so that their staff weren't required to know to read words like hot dog, hamburger, and French/freedom fries) and then pictures of the change to be given so that no one needed to know how to make change. Sad.

mahasamatman

Or CapitalOne. They reimburse both foreign and domestic fees.

GoPhils

I've never been a server but that's always been my understanding as well. But what about if the gratuity is included? I am a bit skeptical that the server is getting a tip for something the customer never actually gave money for.

CJKatl

That's actually what Biel is being sued for. There were large parties, 18% was included but never given to the servers. While it might just be a few dollars here and there, it totals up to almost a half million dollar lawsuit.

joshua362

Yet more reasons to scrap this ridiculous tipping system. If done "right" the customer is penalized as he spends more (as opposed to the usual quantity discounts) along with accounting nightmares and if done in "cash", well, the rest of us get cheated with the existing tax structure.

CJKatl

Cash does get taxed. When I was in college, I worked at a place called The American Cafe in Georgetown, DC. The restaurant did not report enough cash tips, so the IRS came in and charged the servers. One waitress, Dorinda, kept good records and was able to prove she didn't lie. All others (I was there when the IRS came in but not during the period covered) had to pay additional taxes and penalties. As did the restaurant.

swag

So is it typical for tip to be included? Though I've been Gold or Plat for the last 4 years (plus a stretch before that a decade ago), most of my stays are at limited service properties, and the rest at FS properties where the GLD/PLT breakfast is in the concierge lounge.

But for the first time I can remember, I stayed last month at a FS property without a lounge (Marriott Suites Dulles). The breakfast there was in the restaurant; they bill the room the regular price for the buffet, and then it's automatically deducted for elites. My first morning, I tipped a couple of bucks, and was surprised that it wasn't removed also. Not a big deal, just $2, but is this common?

Carpboy823

If the hotel gives you a voucher to bring to breakfast, check what it says - I think the standard corporate-issued voucher indicates that gratuity is included. If the property doesn't give vouchers (room number/name check or something else), then I don't think it's inappropriate to ask what the expectation is regarding gratuity for elite members. I guess just don't be surprised if they say it's the responsibility of the guest.

Jon Maiman

Typically I find for properties that include a restaurant breakfast (e.g. F.S. without a C.L. or Courtyard), gratuity is not included unless they explicitly state that it is. When I get my breakfast bill at these properties, I typically mark it breakfast included, put down a tip amount, and list the tip amount as the total. Usually shows up on my folio correctly with just the gratuity. Occasionally I don't get charged at all even though I had intended to pay for the gratuity I don't remember every being charged for the full breakfast plus gratuity. YMMV....

--Jon

mapleg

I always carry some cash, and I am not a luddite. What's so scary about having some cash in your wallet?

CJKatl

A couple things: If you are getting reimbursed cash is hard to track. Let's say I'm traveling four days a week, three weeks a month, meaning 12 days a month. Let's also assume between valets, room service, bellman, etc., I'm tipping $12 in cash. That's $144/month or $1,728/year. Second: Using cash means I need to plan and make sure I have cash. True story: the end of July I took $200 in cash from an ATM. I still have over $40 of that in my wallet. I just don't use cash.

sdsearch

You didn't explain how you added the tip.

At the Marriott Suites Garden Grove (Anaheim area) CA, when they give me a breakfast bill with the Platinum voucher, they write $0 for the amount due (after crossing out the normal buffet cost). Then I write in the tip and the total.

Is this how it worked for you, or was there a different way that you added the tip? Did you fill out a total llne, or only a tip line? Did the restaurant write in $0 for amount owed, or not?

joshua362

If you add something extra, for sure its going to be charged to your room.

Much like the "additional gratuity" line on room service AFTER the 18% AND fixed delivery charge. I used to add a buck to feel like less embarrassed while they watch you sign.