Tipping at Hotel
 

Hello fellow FTs -

This had been a question that always strike me every time I stay at a hotel.

[1] I stay at hotels from Mon-Thurs for work and used the concierge lounge for just getting water bottles. Now I stay at hotels where they offer free breakfast and hors d'oeuvres at concierge lounge. The food is served buffet style. I usually serve myself and take my dishes back to the cart. In all previous hotels I stayed, there were more than one person in the concierge and they just sit in a corner. In this hotel he walks around and occasionally asks if I need anything. Of course, he does greets me whenever I enter the lounge. I have seen people who take booze, tip him. I don't take booze in the lounge, I prefer the bar. Do you think I should tip person at the lounge for that? There is no tipping jar. How much, if I had to tip?

[2] The other thing that confuses me is the complimentary shoe shine they provide here. I drop the shoe at the bell boy. Sometimes he calls me that the shining is done and I go pick up myself, but other times he just knocks on the door to deliver the shined shoe. Should I tip for shoe shine even if it is complimentary?

[3] How much do you tip for daily house keeping? For my room, the TV is turned ON with the lounge dress neatly laid in the bed with a chocolate with the next days temperature handwritten on a card, when I return in the evening.

[4] What is the tip for room service? They take about 45 mins for room orders and the food price starts at $20. They add a 20% service charge for room service. Should I add a tip on top of it?

Also my company does not reimburse me for any tips or gratuity, it comes out of my pocket.

Thanks and appreciate your answers!

what I would do in your situation is probably tip $1 for everything you mention, and occasionally $2 to the cleaning people if I made a big mess.

That's pretty cheap for your company not to pay tips.

1. No Tip
2. Probably $2 if delivered to the room, otherwise nothing.
3. Nothing for housekeeping. I keep my room in pretty good condition and never require any extra work on the part of staff.
4. If a service charge is added automatically to the bill, I do not add anything.

Here in the US, we have gotten out of hand on tipping.

[1] No tip if I serve myself. I might leave a $1 or $2 on the table if s/he does something special for me. I stayed at a Hilton a couple of years ago for several months and was on crutches for part of that time. Everyday the woman in the lounge helped me with the buffet and got me coffee, etc. I left her a tip everyday and also wrote a letter of commendation.

[2] $2 - especially if he brings them to my room

[3] No tip - I keep my room pretty neat and expect a clean room as part of the service

[4] If tip is already added (usually is 100% of the time as a "service charge") then no tip, otherwise, 15-20%

Agreed with most on here. However, housekeeping is always the one that gets me...If I stay somewhere for a few days especially, i am more likely to leave a tip than if it's just a couple of days. Especially if they do things like turn down service or leaving the weather report for you. Those are nice. As said, by some others, if the room is particularly tidy, you probably don't need to. But if you have trash everywhere, or leave a huge mess, then you probably should think about it. Especially if you are at the same hotel over and over again for work. This way, the staff may come to appreciate you and do a few extra things.

I used to work in a cheaper hotel, and we had several groups of guys who came in each week to do various different jobs in the area. One of the rooms had a guy that tipped the housekeepers. They always made sure his room had the newest and softest towels (some of them were pretty rough...but it was a cheap hotel) and if any of them had brought a cake or other dessert from home, they would always leave a piece for him! I know they did other things for him too but I can't recall them anymore. Point is, if you're there on a regular basis, get to know the staff and treat them good. They will return the favor.

I agree with these, although sometimes I'll leave a couple of bucks for the housekeeper.

This thread is still young, but normally hotel tipping threads will also see some posts from those with the "if it moves, throw money at it" opinion.

I think a lot of places have formal programs that track complimentary letters about employees, so I’ll bet that is much appreciated.

Oh...and to add to what I posted earlier, I think it also depends on the type of hotel. For instance, if I'm staying at a nice resort hotel I will definitely tip the housekeeper. Usually I'll ask the front desk to find out for me if I"ll have the same housekeeper each day too (one so I can treat her well, but also so if I only tip on one of my days, I tip the right girl!).

Do you receive a per diem that could be used to cover tips?

I don't believe you should be out of pocket (by way of tips for example) for services you are obliged to use by your employer because you are away over night.

i.e. Where mandatory Service charges are added (I'm not sure room service is something you're obliged to use, restaurant service maybe) I wouldn't add anything.

Housekeeping, again if your employer is requiring you to stay overnight at a hotel and doesn't provide you with a per diem why should you have to tip the housekeeper from your own pocket? It's plain wrong IMO.

As for services like shoe cleaning - I think if you use that service a tip is reasonable even if it is free. There is nothing stopping you putting shoe polish in your own bag and buffing your own leather - presumably that's what you would do at home.

Any and all tips I leave, I expense (when travel is not per diem). I have yet to get yelled at by my employer ;)

The OP states that Tips and Gratuity have to paid from their own pocket.

In the current financial climate this is, I would guess, likely to increase. Here in the UK we've had a bit of an expenses scandal and I think a lot of employers (certainly those who are funded by the tax payer) are looking very closely at expenses and I'm aware of a number who will only reimburse tips that were mandatory service charges and will only pay expenses for services that are an essential element of being away - i.e. you can expense £20-£30 for a meal and maybe £5-£10 for an evening of soft drinks, but try and claim £3 for a beer or 50p for a chocolate bar and expect to pay for that yourself.

I have a problem with those who tip excessively (in relation to local practice) when someone else is picking up the cost but are miserly when it's coming from their own pocket.

Here are my thoughts (for what they're worth)...

[1]Don't tip — I don't think you're really availing yourself of any particular "service" since you're serving yourself.

[2]I certainly wouldn't tip if you go and pick them up yourself. If they are delivered to the room, I suppose a small tip might be reasonable.

[3]I don't usually tip the room maid, especially since I keep my room pretty tidy and sometimes even make the bed. But if I do I make sure that I leave a tip each day rather than one big one at the end (since that way the person who happens to be on duty that day collects the lot). How much do you tip for daily house keeping? For my room, the TV is turned ON with the lounge dress neatly laid in the bed with a chocolate with the next days temperature handwritten on a card, when I return in the evening.

[4]I would certainly not tip if a service charge is already added to the bill.

No tip reimbursement from my company either. I guess spending 365 days a year in hotels has biased me toward the generous side. (I've convinced myself that "it all comes back...just not yet!") I'm not well-compensated, and I do my job more as "public service" than anything involving money.

Lounges, I usually tip $20 for a week.
Shoes, probably $5, whether delivered or not.
Room service, I often leave a bit over the included "service" - a couple of bucks.

Just one guy's view.

Here's a tip for the housekeeper:

Electricity costs money. I'm sure 99.99% of guests are able to turn on their TV for themselves.

Does that include restaurant tips?