I like that idea. I try to make a point of it anyway. The tip plate I first referenced was at the Nashville airport Marriott. Ironically, the night after the CMA's they were booked and I had to stay downtown. That CL attendant was one of the best I've come across.

I tip about 90% of the time if I'm actually eating, not just grabbing water. In all of the Marriotts/Ren's I've stayed in, there were either tip jars on the folding table, where you place your dirty dishes or plates on the desk.

I usually leave $2 bucks per visit.

That is, concierge employees, cleaning staff, bellmen, servers, valet, etc.

I've been blessed with a goodjob and a nice income. The people that serve us usually aren't all that well off and most do try to help us and make our experiences better where ever they are serving us. To leave a little bit in thanks can help their lives (especially if done by many customers) and doesn't greatly detract from my life so why not?

It makes me a little sad when people say they just don't believe in tipping or don't understand (or care) how it can effect those less fortunate than ourselves. I read a book called "Nickled and Dimed" where the author worked several low paying jobs and tried to live for a few weeks on the money. Her struggles and the impact of the tips her customers gave her helped to opened my eyes.

I was at the New Orleans Renaissane Pere Marquete last week. Concierge lounge had a tip plate.

The morning lounge attendant was AMAZING and I tipped her well. The evening attendant seemed like she had some unresolved personal issues...little to no service from her.

I agree. We should always tip. People on these job positions do appreciate tips and most of the time are counting on tips as their income is not enough. We should always treat others as we would like to be treated.

Absolutely not.

Haven't been in a property that had a tip jar. I guess I'm a bit mixed on this. On the one hand, if they really go out of their way then you want to help. On the other it seems a bit tacky to have a jar or plate out. I'm also pretty self-serve.

What I have done, however, is write the GM & Bill Marriott re: great exec lounge staff, mentioning them by name, saying how great they are, and asking that my letter be put in their personnel file. I know in 2 properties for staff that I've done this that the GM has made sure they know about the letter, either by providing a copy of it (one showed it to me on a subsequent stay) or posting it on an internal bulletin boad, or bringing it up in a meeting. I have no idea if they got pay raises or incentives, but I know the GMs appreciated their efforts/the kudos.

Cheers.

Trust me on this one.... the best tip you could give is putting their respective name and some positive words on a comment card. You can even go a touch further and ask the employee in question for a comment card and let him/her know you're going to put down what a wonderful job they are doing.

Most GM's or AGM's have an incentive set up for their employees when they get positive remarks on a comment card. Some places give a simple dollar or two, other properties give their employees a lot more.

At the end of the day who doesn't like getting some positive press when it's warranted.... it usually go's alot further then a few bucks.

Umm, why not do both? If the employee may or may not get some financial reward for the positive comment, why not leave a buck AND do the positve comment? 99% of the service folks I know will take $$$ over positive strokes anyday unless a cash reward is pretty much guaranteed for the stroke.

At the risk of turning the discussion into the OMNI variety (tip jars oriented), I guess for us it depends. We've known to tip at concierge lounges, but typically at European properties where they DO provide services, bring you more coffee/wine/food/goodies.