Tipping housekeeping.
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,382
[rant]
This may sound harsh, but the tipping culture in this country has gotten woefully out of hand. I understand that some of these professions are criminally low paying and that bartenders' and servers' salaries are designed to rely on tips. However...
Servers at even low-end restaurants demand at least 20% for the bare minimum of service.
Cab drivers--who tend to be serial ripoff artists in the first place--openly sneer at a $2 tip on a $6 fare.
Horror stories are floating around about skycaps putting garbage in people's luggage if they don't tip over $5 (personally, I'll never use a skycap).
The sense of entitlement among some service personnel has become extremely disproportionate to the value of the service that they provide. A line has to be drawn, and housekeeping is where I draw it.
[/rant]
This may sound harsh, but the tipping culture in this country has gotten woefully out of hand. I understand that some of these professions are criminally low paying and that bartenders' and servers' salaries are designed to rely on tips. However...
Servers at even low-end restaurants demand at least 20% for the bare minimum of service.
Cab drivers--who tend to be serial ripoff artists in the first place--openly sneer at a $2 tip on a $6 fare.
Horror stories are floating around about skycaps putting garbage in people's luggage if they don't tip over $5 (personally, I'll never use a skycap).
The sense of entitlement among some service personnel has become extremely disproportionate to the value of the service that they provide. A line has to be drawn, and housekeeping is where I draw it.
[/rant]
I order a beer. It's tapped, it costs $4. I give a $10 and get 6 $1 bills back. Really? I'm being encouraged to tip more than $1 on a poured tap beer?
#32
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: United, American, Southwest, Alaska, Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Hawaiian Air
Posts: 2
Housekeeping
I consider housekeepers to be the hardest working and often times lowest paid workers in the entire industry. If I find my room in tip-top shape, I always leave two dollars on the bed. I often find extra amenities, a thank you, a verbal thank you in the hallway when returning to my room, some gesture of appreciation. I don't see that most places I tip a couple of dollars.
Yes, it's their job. But it's a hard, dirty job, and I wouldn't want it. If you tip a waiter for bringing your food, you could share a couple of bucks with the person that makes the bed you sleep in. Seems fair and logical to me.
Yes, it's their job. But it's a hard, dirty job, and I wouldn't want it. If you tip a waiter for bringing your food, you could share a couple of bucks with the person that makes the bed you sleep in. Seems fair and logical to me.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,132
Most of my business travel is longer term (6 - 15 days). IF I can see that I am getting the same housekeeper or if there are only 2 housekeepers, I tip (and well).
I get the same results as squeaker, without exception.
#34
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA, Bonvoy, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,582
Yep. It's absurd. And I have two or three close friends (including one standing up in my wedding) who are bartenders/servers and routinely complain if a customer leaves a tip below 20%. Have even heard them bashing customers for leaving 18%. However, most only expect $1 per drink if you're at the bar only and paying cash drink-by-drink. On a tab...that's a different story, strangely.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,382
Yep. It's absurd. And I have two or three close friends (including one standing up in my wedding) who are bartenders/servers and routinely complain if a customer leaves a tip below 20%. Have even heard them bashing customers for leaving 18%. However, most only expect $1 per drink if you're at the bar only and paying cash drink-by-drink. On a tab...that's a different story, strangely.
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,382
#39
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I consider myself to be a good and frequent tipper but I've never tipped the housekeepers. A big part of this is that the vast majority of my stays are one night stays and I never feel like I reap the benefits of housekeeping I'd guess. Otherwise, it never struck me as something necessary.
#40
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
I consider myself to be a good and frequent tipper but I've never tipped the housekeepers. A big part of this is that the vast majority of my stays are one night stays and I never feel like I reap the benefits of housekeeping I'd guess. Otherwise, it never struck me as something necessary.
#41
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
for name calling. Leaving a tip is personal business. If we were responsible for paying their salary, it would have been illegal to not tip. It's employer's responsibility to pay his/her employee and the employees should expect to paid by their employer not hope for a handout from customers. How is that for a perspective?
Many employers try to shift the fiscal responsibilityfor their workers on to their customers or the workers themselves. It was in that context I had mentioned that my company paid me only $60 per diem for meals and incidentals in London while the Govt rates were $160 plus. I also said something about the break fast being 30 pounds. Some one suggested that I should have looked for cheaper breakfast and another gave thumbs up.
Unfortunately contrary to mis-perception of some, tipping does not make one superior or holier, or compassionate, nor not tipping inferior, or compassionless. .
So what if I don;t get towels turned into animals or extra amenities. Do I need that? If folding a towel into an animals is hotel policy, why aren;t they doing it for every one. If it's not, I don't consider that "service" worthwhile to pay for it. Buying and selling is voluntary. If I needed extra amenties, I would go and buy some, I already by stuff from a convenience store instead of agreeing to being gauged by the minibar.
#42
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS-GoldMVP,Hilton, Hyatt, Hertz
Posts: 907
I consider housekeepers to be the hardest working and often times lowest paid workers in the entire industry. If I find my room in tip-top shape, I always leave two dollars on the bed. I often find extra amenities, a thank you, a verbal thank you in the hallway when returning to my room, some gesture of appreciation. I don't see that most places I tip a couple of dollars.
Yes, it's their job. But it's a hard, dirty job, and I wouldn't want it. If you tip a waiter for bringing your food, you could share a couple of bucks with the person that makes the bed you sleep in. Seems fair and logical to me.
Yes, it's their job. But it's a hard, dirty job, and I wouldn't want it. If you tip a waiter for bringing your food, you could share a couple of bucks with the person that makes the bed you sleep in. Seems fair and logical to me.
#43
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
Programs: AA Gold, WN A-, UA S, HH ♦, IHG Spire, Hertz Prez O, TSA Disparager
Posts: 2,159
My stays are usually M-Thurs or Fri and I leave the DND on the door. On check out day I'll leave $3-$5. If I stay longer and need service I'll leave $2 each day and the $3-$5 at check out. More if I leave a mess.
#45
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
At some hotels there is, complete with a little envelope with the maids name on it that says your tip is appreciated.
Though I don't know if that would be considered off topic as there was no request solicited for hotels where the maids leave tip envelopes.