hotel tipping in the states

[cn008]

Hi, I did a google search and found out a lot of folks are saying no need to tip hotel maids, not like the restaurant waitress/waiter.

I am surprised to read those comments. Is it true?

[flexwong]

everyone will say different things. for me, if im staying just the one night i don't see a need to tip. if it's more than one night, leave a couple of bucks on the pillow and it's fine.

[Pete_Coach]

Over the years, I cannot even say how many hotels I have stayed in and this phenomenon of tipping the cleaning staff has become a topic of discussion everywhere. The first time I saw an envelope in a room was a number of years ago in an American hotel chain and they no longer have them there. Customers were complaining that it was some sort of coercion into leaving extra. I have seen heated discussions at the check out counter regarding these envelopes. It is not prevalent yet but I am seeing little business cards with a name and a happy face scrawled on them.
I pay for the hotel room with includes a number of taxes and services and will not leave a tip. I do not even know many people who do, Canadian or American.
I was just on a cruise where the tips were not only expected, they were automatically added to your account. I even had an option to pre-pay them, if I so desired. There was no tipping for good service but just a pre-determined rate. And to top it off, there were envelopes left in our stateroom. Another interesting part is when you went to get a drink, they automatically put a 15% service charge on the bill but there was a line for additional tips as well. I know so many people who added a tip to that tab without really thinking that they already pad a tip.
In my opinion, as a frequent traveler, frequent restaurant and bar patron this tipping business is getting out of hand. I am really going to be P'd when the rental car places start to expect a tip too.
Sorry for the rant :|

[kimierin]

Over the years, I cannot even say how many hotels I have stayed in and this phenomenon of tipping the cleaning staff has become a topic of discussion everywhere. The first time I saw an envelope in a room was a number of years ago in an American hotel chain and they no longer have them there. Customers were complaining that it was some sort of coercion into leaving extra. I have seen heated discussions at the check out counter regarding these envelopes. It is not prevalent yet but I am seeing little business cards with a name and a happy face scrawled on them.
I pay for the hotel room with includes a number of taxes and services and will not leave a tip. I do not even know many people who do, Canadian or American.
I was just on a cruise where the tips were not only expected, they were automatically added to your account. I even had an option to pre-pay them, if I so desired. There was no tipping for good service but just a pre-determined rate. And to top it off, there were envelopes left in our stateroom. Another interesting part is when you went to get a drink, they automatically put a 15% service charge on the bill but there was a line for additional tips as well. I know so many people who added a tip to that tab without really thinking that they already pad a tip.
In my opinion, as a frequent traveler, frequent restaurant and bar patron this tipping business is getting out of hand. I am really going to be P'd when the rental car places start to expect a tip too.
Sorry for the rant :|

I just stumbled across this thread and I couldn't agree with you more. It really does not make any sense to "tip" hotel staff. You pay these absurd fees to stay there and I think that that is enough. When did it become so out of hand? Tip the cab driver, your hair stylist, manicurist.. everyone.

Personally, I hate tipping. I think that people should provide good service no matter what. I almost don't want to go to sit down restaurants, get my hair cut or ever take a cruise because of that expectation.

As for the tip jars that people put up everywhere, I don't put anything in them. Seriously, a lot of the people who own their own business work at the counter too. You aren't supposed to tip the proprietor because they get all the profits anyway. I want to break those stupid little jars. Do your job people and stop begging for money. Its sad.

[mr_toast]

Seriously, a lot of the people who own their own business work at the counter too. You aren't supposed to tip the proprietor because they get all the profits anyway. I want to break those stupid little jars. Do your job people and stop begging for money. Its sad.

I assume you don't own your own business, then. While it is true proprietors take all the profit, the priority is the establishment's utility and lease bills. If those aren't paid, you can say bye bye to your business. And often, after bills, proprietors are often found digging into their spouse's pockets to cover any additional expenses they may not have been able to recover as a result of not selling enough products, or due to general inactivity because of a brand-name retailer next door. Go ahead, bash the proprietors for not thinking things through befor buying/creating a business, but there's only so much you can think of to avoid these complications.

But, in relevance to hotels, and if the hotel is close to a popular airport, I see no reason why one would tip.

[Pete_Coach]

I assume you don't own your own business, then. While it is true proprietors take all the profit, the priority is the establishment's utility and lease bills. If those aren't paid, you can say bye bye to your business. And often, after bills, proprietors are often found digging into their spouse's pockets to cover any additional expenses they may not have been able to recover as a result of not selling enough products, or due to general inactivity because of a brand-name retailer next door. Go ahead, bash the proprietors for not thinking things through befor buying/creating a business, but there's only so much you can think of to avoid these complications.

But, in relevance to hotels, and if the hotel is close to a popular airport, I see no reason why one would tip.
If a business is failing, there can be any number of reasons but to "beg" for extra money after the client has already spent money in your store is insulting. A failing business is a failing business, I do not see this as a reason for placing a tip jar at the counter.

[kimierin]

I assume you don't own your own business, then. While it is true proprietors take all the profit, the priority is the establishment's utility and lease bills. If those aren't paid, you can say bye bye to your business. And often, after bills, proprietors are often found digging into their spouse's pockets to cover any additional expenses they may not have been able to recover as a result of not selling enough products, or due to general inactivity because of a brand-name retailer next door. Go ahead, bash the proprietors for not thinking things through befor buying/creating a business, but there's only so much you can think of to avoid these complications.

But, in relevance to hotels, and if the hotel is close to a popular airport, I see no reason why one would tip.

You are correct, I do not have my own business. However, if I did, I would not put out a tip jar no matter what. I think its one step up from begging on the streets.
A lot of the places that have these jars, coffee shops, sushi places, literally hand you the item and off you go. I don't see how that warrants a tip.
If you paid for what you got, then why do they think they should get more.

Canada has a high cost of living as is, and restaurants charge astronomical prices. Most people will probably just say,"don't go out if you can't afford it." What I can't afford is, to subsidize other people's wages because they aren't paid a fair wage. Although, at least in Canada you get minimum wage, rather than a "server wage" like in the US.