We're staying on the Club floor at the Ritz Carlton. What do you tip the people in the lounge? When and how? I've seen the discussions on tipping the room maid, etc., but never anything about the lounge people who work just as hard or harder than the maids.

As these are real employees of the hotel - nada.

????

Do you also refuse to tip waiters because they are real employees of the restaurant??

I do know it's customary to tip a concierge, although I don't really know how much. Personally, I just do whatever feels right based on the service that was provided. If I don't use them at all, then I don't tip at all.

ClubChamp, FWIW:
Tips on Tipping
Guide to Tipping

[This message has been edited by UAL Traveler (edited 04-27-2001).]

I usually tip around $50US per week in the regency/exec level.When i return i always get the special coffees/extra refills at closing and my mum gets special service. i think its worth a little extra.I dont even know if thats enough but in Oz we arent big tippers and thats a lot at 50 cents in the $1

tinky: that's a lot of tipping!

For that, you should get carried to your room in a sedan chair!

Ah, Tinky, you're going to make me look a skinflint!

I agree with Paulo. I tip if I use them, as I would with any concierge. It all depends on what they did for me.

Bad comparision, actually as usual tipping is country dependent. For me NA waiters are NO real employee of the restaurant, since the tips are basically their income. Here in Europe they are basically paid by the restaurant and get tips for the good service.

Where as exec/rc level stuff is in that sense really employed by the hotel (they get a normal salary).

Here we go again. Do you tip Doctors? Do you know only 30% of their claims are paid by the insurance companies? They are not employees of the Hospital (Despite my handle I am not one)

No wonder I get such good service!!I thought that it was natural to tip the regency staff!I dont pay for that level as I am diamond so i feel that i am not paying THAT 10% extra.Its only $7 per day -and thats for 2 people.I usually dont tip if I am only there for a day or 2 but when there for thhe week they get to know you and you get what u want. i know that you are supposed to get great service in those rooms anyway but when its busy you just get that drink quicker or that omlette faster etc.

[This message has been edited by tinkybelle (edited 04-28-2001).]

I tip the concierge who works the VIP lounge at hotels about $10 per stay. It usually pays for itself, as some of the honor bar charges "disappear."

Hotel staffs have always been included in the admittedly confusing American gratuity system. That being said, I find the system extremely cumbersome. Why does the railway conductor get a tip and the flight purser never does? As if it wasn't confusing enough, the appearance of "tip jars" or similar things in not-traditionally-tipped businesses (service businesses and small shops) has added a disorienting aspect to tipping in America.

In a nutshell: hotel, livery and porterage, beauty, and restaurant service people who perform any personal service for a customer should be tipped. And they should be tipped around 15% of the value of the transaction. And really that is about it. Other workers should generally not be tipped for work for which they are paid as a function of their employment: building contractors, check-out staff (even in restaurants), front desk employees do not receive gratuities.

Some would disagree, but I don't think car repairmen, house cleaners, the people at the laundry, etc. should get gratuities either. However, personal business vendors (like my cleaner) get an annual Christmas gift from me. But her rate alone reflects the weekly payment that I consider the price of her services - gratuity not expected.

[This message has been edited by fastflyer (edited 04-30-2001).]

[This message has been edited by fastflyer (edited 04-30-2001).]