Here it goes, the lowdown on tips on tipping, as in who, when, where and how much. I've got the answers because I've spent the past year talking to people in the industry in every kind of hotel in places around the country. We spoke on and off the record, and now I can share this wealth of information with you!
Lets start with the word tips. It's an acronym that stands for: To Insure Prompt Service. They are typically given as a reward for good service. Nearly all the people I've queried in guest relations say that model employees are ones who relish in the invisible paycheck and get a personal reward for having helped. Industry insiders also claim that a gracious thank you can be as good as a dollar reward.
However, in America, tips are commonplace, and Americans are considered among the highest tippers when they travel. On the road, one should tip employees who earn low wages and rely on tips to make a living. You should tip baggage handlers (such as sky caps at the airport or train station), bell attendants, car valets, doormen, and shuttle and taxi drivers. For baggage handlers, $1 a bag is standard, more if the luggage is very heavy. Tip doormen just a few dollars for the duration of your stay. For shuttle drivers and taxi drivers, 10 percent is acceptable (or for a free shuttle $1-2 per person).
In the United States it is customary to tip your wait staff. A tip of 15 to 20 percent is normal for a meal with decent to good service. But what happens if you're in a hotel and you order room service, which already has a delivery and service fee? Do you tip again? No need, but industry experts agree that if your server goes above and beyond to set up your table and give you an extraordinary experience, you should slip him (or her) an additional tip. Room service tips are often pooled, contrary to the rest of the hotel staff tips, which are individually based, so giving a little extra to someone who is deserving is always appreciated.
As for tipping the maid, there seems to be no unified answer. For savvy guests and in luxurious hotels, tipping the maid grows exceedingly commonplace. If you are staying somewhere for more than one night, it is nice to leave a few dollars for the maid. Some say that leaving your pocket change (which might otherwise slow you down at airport security) is welcome. Others say you should always leave $1 to $2 a night, while some say it is not required. Did you know that housemaids often clean the same rooms day after day? It's nice to recognize their efforts, especially when they have given you turndown service, brought additional towels, and cleaned with care.
This biggest surprise I learned was that it's bad form to ask for change from the person you are tipping. It's better to go and get change and then revisit the tip at a later time. Otherwise, you may put the person you are tipping in an awkward position. I'm told tip or no tip, it should NOT affect the level of service received. For starters, not giving a tip at the moment of delivery doesn't mean you're not tipping at all; some guests prefer to tip at the end of their stay all together rather than all at once. Either tactic is fine.
I was told the greatest difference between leisure and business travelers is experience. Those who travel for business tend to be savvier. They will utilize different services during their stay and will therefore tip differently. While a leisure traveler may use the concierge for general questions, the business traveler may require special assistance to impress clients. Tips should reflect those services. If you're asking the concierge for dinner suggestions, no tip is necessary. If he or she secures you a table at the hottest restaurant in town, a tip is due ($5 to $10 is sufficient).
Industry insiders say to reward anyone who goes beyond the scope of his job to assist you. I've heard stories of staff rounding up a white stallion in less than two hours, getting boxes of out-of-season fruit delivered for a fanatic, and artfully setting up a guest room prior to check-in to honor a special occasion. But it's also about a smile as you walk through the door, a look of recognition, and all the attempts to make your stay feel like a home away from home.
Tipping is one of those things in life that's dubbed an art, not a science. When in doubt, I always operate under the premise that you tip for a service performed very well and remember that most concierges say that often a gracious thank you and a smile is enough. So say thank you with a smile and mean it! And remember the saying, what goes around, comes around.
Good tipping karma can't hurt!
July 19, 2004