Most people
believe that you ought to. According to a recent survey by hotel software
company Canary Technologies, 79% of hotel guests believe that workers should
receive tips. But hotel workers said that usually, only 30% of guests give a
tip.
Bryan
Michalis, the vice president of marketing at Canary, says that there is a big
difference between the hotel industry and other service industries.
There's a
simple reason for this disconnect: People no longer carry cash. When you pay
with your credit card at a restaurant, your server will give you a piece of
paper called a receipt.
On that
receipt, there will be a line where you can write the amount of money you want
to give as a tip to the server. There might also be a list of suggested tips at
the end.
However, if
you leave a hotel and realize you don't have any money, you would probably
prioritize catching your flight instead of going to the bank.
One more
reason is knowing and understanding. People actually want to give tips.
"They have a desire to behave correctly," expresses Diane Gottsman, a
specialist in manners and the owner of the Protocol School of Texas. "But
people are not sure about the proper way to behave. "
How to give tips in hotels
Here we are
going to find out how much and who should you tip.
According to
Gottsman, it's important to consider tipping before you board the plane.
"When you go to the bank to withdraw money, make sure you receive one
dollar bills and five dollar bills. "
If you have
big money, you can ask the people working at the front desk or the bartender in
your hotel's bar to give you smaller bills.
How much to tip
housekeepers
You should
give a tip of $3 to $5 every day. If there are more people serving you, you can
give $1 to each person. However, according to Gottsman, it's not necessary to
calculate the total and give a large tip at the end. Housekeepers switch their
shifts every day. The person you meet today might not be the same person you
meet tomorrow. Give tips every day.
To show that
the money you are leaving is a tip, put it on a table or the bed with a note
saying who it is for. Gottsman says that hotel rooms usually have a notepad and
a pen.
Sean
Dasmann, who is the general manager at the Agrarian Hotel in Arroyo Grande,
California, says that apart from giving a tip, there is a general expectation
for guests to leave the room in a decent and organized manner.
This means
throwing your trash in the trash can, cleaning the refrigerator, and making
sure you didn't forget anything, like clothes or electronics.
How much to tip luggage
attendants
Give $1 to
$2 for each bag that is carried to your room. If you only have a small number
of bags, it is recommended to tip at least $5 to make it worthwhile for the
person helping you, according to Gottsman.
How much to tip room
service
If the hotel
didn't already include a tip, give this person the same amount of money you
would give to a waiter or bartender in the restaurant on the lower floor: 15%
to 20%.
How much to tip door stuff
You don't
have to give money to someone who opens the door for you. But if the person at
the door calls a taxi for you, gives you an umbrella, or assists with your
bags, it would be nice to give them a $2 to $5 tip.
How much to tip the front
desk/concierge
Dasmann
suggests that it is important to be courteous and wait calmly when arriving at
a hotel. "About half of the people who are 40 or older, and half of our
guests, come in and loudly say their last name," he explains.
That
probably won't make the staff happy, especially if you want to ask for
something special, like a better room or staying longer.
According to
Gottsman, you don't have to pay for directions to a coffee shop that's close
by. But think about giving a small tip, ranging from $5 to $20, if a person at
the front desk or concierge is able to get you difficult-to-obtain tickets,
bookings, or special assistance.
And
remember, the most important thing is the intention behind tipping. Gottsman
says these are just rules to follow. "You won't face any severe
consequences if you're just one dollar short. "
How much to tip a valet
According to
Osten, if you stay at a mid-level hotel and use valet service, you should give
a tip ranging from $2 to $5. The American Hotel & Lodging Association
suggests giving $1 to $5 as a tip to someone who brings your car to you.
Whether or not you choose to tip when your car is parked is completely up to
you.
You might
not always have the same person parking and retrieving your car, so it's a good
idea to give something extra to different people doing this job. If the weather
is bad and the valets are working outside without any cover, Osten suggests
giving them extra money as a tip.
If you stay
at a fancy hotel, someone might help carry your bags for you. It is polite to
give them some money as a thank you, like $5 or more, especially if you have a
lot of bags.
Other hotel tipping tips
The hotel's
shuttle service usually costs around $1 to $2 per person in tips or $4 to $5
per group, as stated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Osten
suggests spending an amount of money between $5 and $15. If there are two
people, it is advised to spend between $10 and $20. The amount of something you
get depends on how helpful you are.
You don't
see people giving tips often at hotels that don't have concierge service. If
the person at the front desk is very helpful to you, it would be nice to give
them a tip as a way of showing appreciation. You can give a tip to the people
who clean the house, but you don't have to.
Make sure
you understand how to give tips depending on where you are traveling to,
because there are no standard rules for tipping everywhere you go, even within
hotels. Osten says that in some countries, it is not common or expected to give
a tip because it is not part of their culture or customs.
Generally,
give a tip amount that you feel comfortable with and consider a few suggestions
before creating a plan.
Conclusion
If you want
to show appreciation for the waiter's hard work but you don't usually have
money with you, don't worry.
With our app
for waiters, you can easily keep track of digital tips instead of cash tips.
By using
this cashless tipping app, you can leave a tip through your phone. The good
news is you can use this app for iPhone and Android, regardless of which
operating system you use.