Tipping at Concierge Lounge
#18
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Of course, it's possible this is approved by management. In that case, you'd need to decide if it's bothersome enough to move your business elsewhere.
#19
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#20
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,258
I havealmost never tipped in a lounge.
I do leave tips for the servers at the Library at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, or at Bamboo Chic at Le meridien Bangkok for my happy hour drinks.
I do leave tips at restaurants when I am ordering breakfast off the menu in lieu of a lounge breakfast.
The only exceptions are when I have used a meeting room in the lounge, and the lounge attendants have brought coffee/water for all
my guests, I like to tip for " over and above service ", especially when they do not try to charge for the drinks.
I do leave tips for the servers at the Library at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, or at Bamboo Chic at Le meridien Bangkok for my happy hour drinks.
I do leave tips at restaurants when I am ordering breakfast off the menu in lieu of a lounge breakfast.
The only exceptions are when I have used a meeting room in the lounge, and the lounge attendants have brought coffee/water for all
my guests, I like to tip for " over and above service ", especially when they do not try to charge for the drinks.
#21
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
I havealmost never tipped in a lounge.
I do leave tips for the servers at the Library at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, or at Bamboo Chic at Le meridien Bangkok for my happy hour drinks.
I do leave tips at restaurants when I am ordering breakfast off the menu in lieu of a lounge breakfast.
The only exceptions are when I have used a meeting room in the lounge, and the lounge attendants have brought coffee/water for all
my guests, I like to tip for " over and above service ", especially when they do not try to charge for the drinks.
I do leave tips for the servers at the Library at the Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, or at Bamboo Chic at Le meridien Bangkok for my happy hour drinks.
I do leave tips at restaurants when I am ordering breakfast off the menu in lieu of a lounge breakfast.
The only exceptions are when I have used a meeting room in the lounge, and the lounge attendants have brought coffee/water for all
my guests, I like to tip for " over and above service ", especially when they do not try to charge for the drinks.
#22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 373
I tip at any lounge in the US where I feel the lounge attendant is friendly, caring and wants to help you. Cleveland Airport Marriott has 2 ladies at night, Kathy and Lynne and I always tip them. They bake fresh homemade cookies every night, are very friendly and go above and beyond. And it's my pleasure to tip them. They work hard.
#23
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
I tip at any lounge in the US where I feel the lounge attendant is friendly, caring and wants to help you. Cleveland Airport Marriott has 2 ladies at night, Kathy and Lynne and I always tip them. They bake fresh homemade cookies every night, are very friendly and go above and beyond. And it's my pleasure to tip them. They work hard.
I carry out my job functions every day while being friendly and polite. No one tips me, and I don't expect them to.
It seems like you're tipping not because they did something extra, or worked hard, but because you happen to enjoy the service they're required to provide. By this logic, you could tip your garbage man, local police officer, firemen, etc. Many of them work hard to provide services you enjoy at low pay too. Do you also tip the front desk clerks when they not only check you in, but go above and beyond by pointing out where the breakfast area is, which way to the elevators, or offer a map of the area?
I'm not judging you, it's your money to do with as you please, just pointing out the inconsistency.
I believe in tipping people whose income relies on tips (such as waitstaff in the US), or where there it's a standard, such as a bartender, bellhop, taxi driver. Not just anyone who is cheerfully performing the functions of their job.
#24
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However, I agree with you in that where it's standard, I try to be an average tipper for that situation. Not a miser, but also not the drunk American slinging abnormally-large tips around. On an individual level, I don't look for confrontations around tipping, with the possible exception of someone trying to inject tips into a traditionally non-tipping situation.
#25
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
And before someone misreads that, I'm not discouraging from tipping in all situations. Please do tip your server, bartender, etc. But starting to tip anyone and everyone just because you enjoy the service they provide encourages them to start begging for tips. I don't want to see a day where I have to walk into a board room meeting and put a tip jar out in front of me.
#26
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I don't think we disagree at all. But the problem is, I can't change the construct. The only thing I can do is try to contribute in a small way to prevent the spread of tipping to jobs that really shouldn't be tipped, by not doing it myself and by discouraging others from it.
And before someone misreads that, I'm not discouraging from tipping in all situations. Please do tip your server, bartender, etc. But starting to tip anyone and everyone just because you enjoy the service they provide encourages them to start begging for tips. I don't want to see a day where I have to walk into a board room meeting and put a tip jar out in front of me.
And before someone misreads that, I'm not discouraging from tipping in all situations. Please do tip your server, bartender, etc. But starting to tip anyone and everyone just because you enjoy the service they provide encourages them to start begging for tips. I don't want to see a day where I have to walk into a board room meeting and put a tip jar out in front of me.
"Can I tip the CEO in stock options?"
#27
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I don't, but have seen a post elsewhere that the person did leave an extra tip, because he felt that the Marriott included amount wasn't enough (he asked, and they told him it was something like $1.80 per voucher).
#29
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Three examples of where I've tipped in a lounge:
1. I don't eat meat with breakfast and the lounge has scrambled eggs mixed with meat. The staff offers to go to the restaurant and bring up a plate of meatless eggs.
2. I want something that the restaurant has but not the lounge, for example side of avocado, almond/soy milk, etc., and the staff goes to get it.
3. I want to work in the Lounge (possibly with colleagues) for several hours and staff brings water, coffee, etc.
1. I don't eat meat with breakfast and the lounge has scrambled eggs mixed with meat. The staff offers to go to the restaurant and bring up a plate of meatless eggs.
2. I want something that the restaurant has but not the lounge, for example side of avocado, almond/soy milk, etc., and the staff goes to get it.
3. I want to work in the Lounge (possibly with colleagues) for several hours and staff brings water, coffee, etc.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Three examples of where I've tipped in a lounge:
1. I don't eat meat with breakfast and the lounge has scrambled eggs mixed with meat. The staff offers to go to the restaurant and bring up a plate of meatless eggs.
2. I want something that the restaurant has but not the lounge, for example side of avocado, almond/soy milk, etc., and the staff goes to get it.
3. I want to work in the Lounge (possibly with colleagues) for several hours and staff brings water, coffee, etc.
1. I don't eat meat with breakfast and the lounge has scrambled eggs mixed with meat. The staff offers to go to the restaurant and bring up a plate of meatless eggs.
2. I want something that the restaurant has but not the lounge, for example side of avocado, almond/soy milk, etc., and the staff goes to get it.
3. I want to work in the Lounge (possibly with colleagues) for several hours and staff brings water, coffee, etc.
Numbers 2 and 3 are things you would certainly have to pay for in most circumstances. A tip seems appropriate in those cases.
For number 1, I guess I'd just expect them to not mix the eggs and meat or at least offer 2 egg options in that case. I'm not sure I'd tip for an employee fixing a situation to be what I consider to be a reasonable expectation of the lounge. I could go either way on that one. Unless they wanted to pick through the eggs with a fork and remove all the meat instead .