Club lounge bill and gratuity
Oct 16, 2018, 10:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite; UA MM
Posts: 325
I would speak to one of the managers and ask what is the purpose of this bill and what do they expect that guests should do. Why are guests being given a bill for a zero charge, are guests expected to sign it, is this a ploy to get tips for Marriott employees, what purpose does this serve for the hotel or for guests, etc. Tell them there is a thread on FT and suggest that the manager respond to it directly or that you will be glad to post their explanation. Put management on the spot to explain.
Oct 16, 2018, 10:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I would speak to one of the managers and ask what is the purpose of this bill and what do they expect that guests should do. Why are guests being given a bill for a zero charge, are guests expected to sign it, is this a ploy to get tips for Marriott employees, what purpose does this serve for the hotel or for guests, etc. Tell them there is a thread on FT and suggest that the manager respond to it directly or that you will be glad to post their explanation. Put management on the spot to explain.
It's a way to for people to leave tips without carrying cash. The tip is optional but appreciated by employees. That is all, guests need not act any differently.
Sure it's tacky but that is a matter of opinion, if I were a manager I'd simply say I appreciate the feedback and understand how it may come across that way, and I will continually re-evaluate this with my team.
That may not be the classiest response but it's the best you can expect in the circumstances. A truly classy hotel would be paying all employees a living wage and obviate tipping entirely,
Oct 17, 2018, 12:23 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Westin Resort in Cancun is also guilty of this practice. Staff will chase after you out of the lounge if you dare leave without signing the bill. Can’t imagine what they’d do if you tore it up!
Oct 17, 2018, 1:07 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Wow a whole list of hotels to make sure I never visit! Beyond tacky - should not be allowed. I've paid for lounge either with higher rate or lots of money to earn status - pay your staff hotels! Don't charge us a lot and then not pay your staff adequately!!!!!
Oct 17, 2018, 1:16 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Bonvoy LTTitanium, BAEC Silver
Posts: 591
If I could change two things about the States it would be gun laws and tipping culture (make that three if we include Trump). I would happily pay a bit more in restaurants if it meant the staff got paid more and any tipping would be discretionary based on the service received.
Oct 17, 2018, 1:49 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,233
could someone please make a list of hotels doing this?
i’ll never ever set foot on them.
Oct 17, 2018, 2:48 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,197
Sheraton Montreal and Westin Times Square (when it had a lounge) had us sign with spot for tip upon entering. Never stayed at either place again as I was perturbed that management would allow such behavior in a lounge. I tried to track too - it seemed if people tipped upon entering staff would help those people and semi-ignore/ give blase service to others.
Oct 17, 2018, 2:50 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: England - UK
Posts: 512
Not seen it in a lounge but had exactly the same bill passed to me at the breakfast buffet in Marriott Doha last week. I'm Plat prem so get free breakfast anyway. I just drew a line through the gratuity bit then signed.
Oct 17, 2018, 3:22 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
I've had to sign one of these once. I'm not American so I had no idea it was supposed to be about tipping. I just signed it. No tip. No comeback (that I noticed anyway). I just assumed it was for their admin of who was using the lounge.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:29 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver
Posts: 1,631
Although usually the breakfast is a buffet and the server does little more than bring coffee at the start, I still think it is the custom? I wonder if you declined coffee and juice, would you still be expected to tip the server? I'm not an American but I live here and I'm not sure I will ever fully understand the right amount and times to tip.
I would almost never tip a server at a breakfast buffet outside the US as this would almost definitely not be the norm or expected.
Oct 17, 2018, 5:52 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: DL, Marriott & IHG Platty; HH Diamonte
Posts: 861
True, but in the evening at the Royal Beach Club in Cancun (which you must be referring to), you order your food and drinks from the staff and they serve you, so I didn't mind the tip reminder. One thing to consider in a place like Mexico is that the hourly wages stink and in many cases, tipping is the lifeblood of the position.
Oct 17, 2018, 5:57 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
True, but in the evening at the Royal Beach Club in Cancun (which you must be referring to), you order your food and drinks from the staff and they serve you, so I didn't mind the tip reminder. One thing to consider in a place like Mexico is that the hourly wages stink and in many cases, tipping is the lifeblood of the position.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:29 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PHL, NYC, DC
Posts: 9,708
Had this before at several Hyatt properties. I just write $0....
If the server was good enough, I just tip them in cash. None of management's business on how much I wanna tip the staff.
If the server was good enough, I just tip them in cash. None of management's business on how much I wanna tip the staff.