Tipping housekeeping.
Aug 28, 2015, 8:38 pm
#91
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,544
Sorry for resurrecting this old thread, but since there was already one I didn't want to create a new one.
I realize in recent experiences of staying in hotels in the US (NYC, San Francisco, Chicago) that housekeeping didn't replenish one item of my amenity suite (usually, shower gel). This happened daily for my usually week-long stays.
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item? Usually, when I do so I find that instead of just bringing me a bottle, they bring a couple of bottles.
Is this a way that housekeeping can solicit tips more directly? (I'm genuinely interested to find out and not trying to be cynical here...)
I realize in recent experiences of staying in hotels in the US (NYC, San Francisco, Chicago) that housekeeping didn't replenish one item of my amenity suite (usually, shower gel). This happened daily for my usually week-long stays.
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item? Usually, when I do so I find that instead of just bringing me a bottle, they bring a couple of bottles.
Is this a way that housekeeping can solicit tips more directly? (I'm genuinely interested to find out and not trying to be cynical here...)
Aug 28, 2015, 8:38 pm
#92
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
I realize in recent experiences of staying in hotels in the US (NYC, San Francisco, Chicago) that housekeeping didn't replenish one item of my amenity suite (usually, shower gel). This happened daily for my usually week-long stays.
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item? Usually, when I do so I find that instead of just bringing me a bottle, they bring a couple of bottles.
Is this a way that housekeeping can solicit tips more directly? (I'm genuinely interested to find out and not trying to be cynical here...)
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item? Usually, when I do so I find that instead of just bringing me a bottle, they bring a couple of bottles.
Is this a way that housekeeping can solicit tips more directly? (I'm genuinely interested to find out and not trying to be cynical here...)
Aug 28, 2015, 11:10 pm
#93
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,857
If it is, it never works with me. If I need amenities that were not provided, or anything else that should be in the room, I ask for them and would never think of tipping when they arrive.
Aug 29, 2015, 3:42 pm
#94
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Tucson AZ
Programs: Global Entry, United Silver, Marriott Platinum Premier, Hilton Gold
Posts: 380
I realize in recent experiences of staying in hotels in the US (NYC, San Francisco, Chicago) that housekeeping didn't replenish one item of my amenity suite (usually, shower gel). This happened daily for my usually week-long stays.
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item?
Is housekeeping expecting me to 'notice' that I've run out of the item, only to trigger a call to replenish, and 'expect' a tip when they deliver the item?
Nov 25, 2015, 10:20 pm
#95
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG gold; otherwise just base in everything so far, but learning!
Posts: 489
So I normally leave a few dollars a day for the housekeeping staff. Perhaps not on a single night's stay where I may have made up the bed, etc.
However, what is the protocol when you decline daily housekeeping.
I stayed five nights in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Swan. Some issues there, but that's not relevant to this thread.
In the room, there was the standard card stating the environmental benefits of not having daily housekeeping. It offered 500 Starpoints a night or a 5 dollar food and beverage credit for each night I declined housekeeping. We took the offer.
So would I just leave a small tip seeing as we have them only one night during our stay?
Just curious...
However, what is the protocol when you decline daily housekeeping.
I stayed five nights in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Swan. Some issues there, but that's not relevant to this thread.
In the room, there was the standard card stating the environmental benefits of not having daily housekeeping. It offered 500 Starpoints a night or a 5 dollar food and beverage credit for each night I declined housekeeping. We took the offer.
So would I just leave a small tip seeing as we have them only one night during our stay?
Just curious...
Nov 26, 2015, 3:16 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871
If it is common practice then one would be more inclined to conform to this social norm.
Before reading FT it never occurred to me that this was (fairly) common practice. In fact I'd never even considered it at all.
(Today i still don't tip @ hotels unless I have spare change at the end of a stay...which is rare as I avoid cash a.m.a.p.... , despite being a generous tipper in every other sense)
Nov 26, 2015, 8:55 am
#98
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club (Silver), Le Club Accor (Silver)
Posts: 680
Maybe this just isn't a "thing" in the UK. I would never ever even consider tipping housekeeping in a hotel. I pay for a nice clean room and that's what I get when I check in. The "do not disturb" sign then goes on the door, and remains there until I check out.
Nov 26, 2015, 9:51 am
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
I would only tip if I made a particularly great mess and it was cleared up for me. Otherwise, having a room cleaned daily is part of the room rate.
Nov 26, 2015, 10:08 am
#101
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
Agree....
But for regular business stays...nope I expect a clean room to be included in my rate.
Nov 27, 2015, 1:28 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 4,921
I find this thread fascinating. Do the folks who refuse to tip housekeepers also refuse to tip bellmen and doormen? I often see folks in hotels tipping for these services and have wondered if it was because the guest was visible as opposed to the housekeeping staff who rarely have any interaction with the guest. @:-)
http://www.oyster.com/articles/44331...kers-get-paid/
I figure if I can afford $200 - $300 for a nice room, then it isn't going to kill me to be nice and leave a $5 tip each day. They work hard. It's the resort and parking fees that bug me. Those should be included in the room charge.