Tonight I saw someone tip the concierge in the lounge. The concierge didn't do anything special - he was just friendly and cleaned up the plates and glasses.

I've never thought of tipping for "routine" service. Does anyone else tip for the routine services?

Tip for what? The concierge is more like a "lounge attendent" and not much more...

I have an additional question...I was in the PHL Airport Marriott this weekend and had room service. I do that every so often and usually it is on the expense report and therefore I always tip additionally. This time I was on a personal trip and it made me think a little harder on it.

I ordered soup, entree and desert...$25 total...plus the 20% "Service Charge" and tax...total was about $32 maybe...My question is -

Does the 20% go to the delivery guy? If so, then do you feel it necessary to tip above and beyond? I mean if it's Pizza Hut and the bill is $25 then a $5 tip to the delivery guy is pretty generous...and this hotel guy doesn't have to drive anywhere. Now, if the hotel delivery guy DOESN;T get that 20% or at least a reasonable portion, I will continue to tip accordingly...

Hope this doesn't make me come off cheap or unnapreciative...I pride myself on being a good tipper...but I'm a big fan of Mr. Pink - "This tipping automatically is for the birds" - Big thumbs up for those that get that reference ^ ^ ^ - I especially don't want to tip someone $8 for taking the elevator 15 floors...

ChazDawg

If I go down to the lounge for a bottle of water, dessert, and maybe a glass of wine-----$0 tip.

If the concierge arranges something special or comes up with some cost saving referral coupons then I will tip appropriately.

If I am on a vacation stay (paid or award) and the concierge is particulary doting on my kids and/or provides superior service to see that I am enjoying myself, then, I will tip significantly.

Sorta hard to get the "roach" out of the blood isn't it?

And my apologies to the rest of the forum for the inside joke. I couldn't resist

My ex-boss used to "glad hand" and get to know every cns. lounge person and to further "cement" the remeberance of him, he'd usually tip a five spot. Usually got him a "free" glass of merlot each night at the hotel.

My wife and I always tip a consierge that goes out of their way making difficult things happen, i.e.: restaurant resv's, show's, etc....lounge, no!

BTW, some hotel cons. staff are now outsourced, and do not work for the hotel they are standing in.

Oops. Never mind. I just realized I was "hijacking" this thread by going on about room service tips instead of conceirge lounge tips.

Apologies...

Tonight 2 more people tipped the guy. One person made 2 drinks for himself and tipped him $3 (and the ice bucket was 90% water - you had to hunt for a cube). Don't get me wrong, he's a nice friendly guy but he is only clearing plates.

Now I'm feeling cheap if I don't tip him but guilty if I do.


Edited to add:

The guy is good. He continually counts his tips infront of people to "plant the seed". It obviously is working.

Tipping the Lounge Concierge is something that I seldom do at most of the Marriotts, where this person really does not have an opportunity to do much for you other than be friendly and clean up the tables. However, at some of the Lounges, the Concierges do much more, including making restaurant reservations and helping with directions, etc. These services are deserving of a show of appreciation and I will not hesitate to tip at a place where I don't stay often. At my regular stops, where I generally know more about the town than they do, I will not tip the helpful Concierges, rather I will give them something substantial at Christmas.

Now, at the Ritz-Carltons where the Club Concierges can frequently turn a one night business stay into an overnight vacation, it is a completely different story. After four or five glasses of the Jacquart champagne which shows up in those clubs in mufti masquerading as Ritz-Carlton private label and a reservation to a sold out restaurant, tips are the least that I can do for these lovely people.

I've seen at least one Marriott Concierge Lounge where there was a bar set up for bartender service (even for the sodas) and a tip jar prominently displayed.

Most of the time the CL is self service and is tipped appropriately.

The lounges where I have been are self-service, so I have never felt the need to tip. Especially since the alcohol is charged to one's room; if the alcohol were complimentary - and served by a bartender (as it is at airport lounges) I would certainly tip.

:-) I quoted the same movie.

I usually tip $1 at breakfast, maybe $1 at drinks (and I don't buy anything). If I'm there for a while, and with my wife, we do a $5 once.

Should you have to? No. They should pay these folks more. (but then they would charge us more).

I am not keen on the American culture of continuous tipping. I would rather pay more so that the hotel can pay their staff more. Then if I get exceptional service I always make a point of writing to the hotel mentioning the person by name.

I guess its a cultural thing and talking to American colleagues they prefer waiters asking to provide more service every few moments and asking how the meal is and thereby working for thier tip.

I never tip in the Concierge Longe. Then again, I rarely drink in there, and I'm usually on a pleasure trip as opposed to a business trip, so my interactions there may be different.

However, I have very often received exemplary service, usually in regard to accomodating my family in some way. When this happens, I ALWAYS make sure to get the employees name. I make a point to inform the front desk of my satisfaction, and when I get home I write a letter to the hotel GM, and write or call Mr. Marriott's office.

I find that the hotel managers are always thrilled to hear when their employees provide excellent service, and I think that a letter from a Platinum member carries a bit more weight. On some instances, the GM has written back to say that we should contact them upon our next visit and they'll be sure to make our next stay as pleasant. Also, some hotels have special recognition they give to exemplary employees, and a letter such as this can get them the corporate acknowledgement they deserve.

My wife once received a plaque and letter from the chairman of marriott because a guest had sent his office a letter praising her service. she was thrilled, and her colleagues were a little jealous