Sounds fantastic! So many people don't tip housekeeping staff because they don't carry cash. It's illegal to skim more than actual processing costs off the tips in this situation, so this helps workers whose income is explicitly based on tips in the American labor system.

I like this idea. The big hotels from what I've been told pay their housekeeping decently and have good benies but a little thank you with cash never hurt anyone. The qr code is good especially for those of us that rarely ever carry cash on us. I wish international hotels would do this. And yeah I know tipping is an American custom. But really who doesn't like a few extra local currency in their pockets?

I'd do this if I knew that all of the funds went to the housekeeper. We had a 8 night stay at a Hilton property a few weeks ago and they did a light housekeeping on most days (they missed a couple) and a full changeover of the sheets after night 4. The stay was across 4 reservations, so I requested the full service be delayed one day. I did wonder if the housekeeper that did most of the work was the one that received the tip I left on the final day.

FWIW, as someone that has worked in both limited and full service properties with both Marriott and Hilton, understand a few truths.

The amount of tips that the average housekeeper gets is so infinitesimally small as to be irrelevant. Sure at resorts where tipping is more of an expected practice they might get more but those types of properties are abnormalities. At big hotels housekeeping wages and benefits (if they have any) are still crap but in comparison to what most in that job get paid at the limited service level, they are better off. The job of housekeeper is easily the toughest at any property but it's almost always the job with the worst pay. As a desk agent or night auditor I can make 50-100% more than a housekeeper for doing 1/10 of the work they do.

I really wish they didn't. Keep your weird habits on your side of the pond.

I think it's important to note these aren't "habits" per se - not calling you out specifically, but rather something baked in to the structure of workplace law in the United States. Under federal law, and under most state laws, certain workers who "customarily" receive tipped are not required to be paid the full minimum wage. A lot of people who call bartenders in lounges or housekeeping staff "greedy" on Flyertalk do not realize this, or do not realize that there is no reason for bars/lounges/hotels to pay the non-tipped full minimum wage until and unless these laws are changed.

Culture and the labour environment. Until all employers are legally obliged to pay their staff the minimum wage, then I don’t see it changing (if ever tbh).

What I find even more annoying is when restaurants in places like LA add an ‘optional’ 4-5% to the bill for their employees ‘cost of living’. If they’re that concerned with cost of living then put prices up by 5% across the menu. By doing it the way they do, they avoid putting their prices up and just emotionally blackmail their customers into coughing up the extra. Really, really dislike this.

Yes, but what we don't understand is why do people think it's our job to make up their wage. Why do servers think it's ok even to ask guests.

Your post proves you do not understand.
The entire premise of the bifurcated system, codified in law, is that customers will "make up their wage."
To blame the servers is outrageous.
Workers have been the ones leading the charge to get rid of this dual system, but employers launch campaigns to get customers to vote against it, saying theyd be forced to raise prices.

Haven't had housekeeping in ages. Stayed at the Westin Times Square earlier this month for 4 nights, they never entered my room

You actually did have housekeeping-- before and after your stay.

Yes, but we didn't agree to it and neither is it legally binding. For us over in the UK tipping is for when someone has done something extra for us. It grates when all they've done is the bare minimum and their employer thinks it's our job to to pay their staff instead of them.

Many properties still don't provide housekeeping, or if they do it is upon request at much reduced service... I'm not going to give a tip for them to provide a couple fresh towels.

The QR code thing really bothers me, because I don't even know where that money is actually going. How do you know the hotel doesn't skim off a portion or keep most of it?

But that's not how it's done in the US. If you came here, this would be customary for restaurant servers. You're entering a country, the least you could do is adhere to its cultural expectations. To jam someone up on their wages because you don't agree with a policy seems unnecessarily punitive.

Edit: Unless you're referring to only the Uk, at which point I'm wrong and stand corrected.

Entirely agree with you. I wish everyone would do the same when they travel to other countries and respect their cultures.