travelinandgolfin

jor posted his experience recently with room service and mistakenly double tipping.

Well, I'd like peoples thoughts on this.

In many hotels, the tip is already included on your room service bill. Yet when your food is brought up, the bill you have to sign has a line for ANOTHER TIP!

Two things can happen.

1. You are unaware of the tip already included and give them another tip (double tipping).

2. You stand there with the server standing in front of you and look like a cheap skate by not filling in the tip line.

Ok, you could also willing give them another tip, but frankly, I don't. Why would I tip twice?

I think hotels should either NOT include the tip on you bill (in which case I'd give them one when they bring the food) or take off the extra tip line on the bill since your already paying a tip on the total bill.

Or am I being cheap and ettiqute is now to tip twice??

Ryan

Here's my question on room service tipping: Does the server actually get to keep the 18% that's been added or does the hotel pay him a small portion, while keeping the rest.

Certainly the hotel keeps the 15% service charge. But, I recall reading that in some cases, they also keep a portion of the "gratuity" for themselves.

Can anyone in the business address this issue?

jor

I stated that I gave the server a Cash tip. I did not add a tip on the extra tip line on the bill. I just signed the bill thinking I was giving him one tip and did not know the bill already included a tip. But I like travelinandgolfin's points about tipping.

travelinandgolfin

Ryan, so you think there is a difference between a "service fee" added to the bill and "gratuity" which you would give separately.

That would change things quite a bit if the server doesn't get anything of what's automatically added to the bill. However, I recall seeing "gratuity" (or at least the term) as being what was added automatically to the bill. So I'm assuming that's the tip.

FainaAgain

When I worked in accounting of one of the San Francisco restaurants some clients would add gratuity to their bill and charge the whole amount. I had to manually add them up and 100% in cash was given to the employees. In this case large amounts were declared on some IRS forms as large catering tips were added to the total.

So, if you want employees to have non-taxable tips don't add them to your credit card, leave cash. But this would mean less points on your credit card.

Ryan

My concern is that the hotel calling something a gratuity, doesn't preclude them from pocketing some of the money for themselves. Just because the call it a gratuity, doesn't neccessarily mean what one thinks it means.

The article I'm recalling was in the Wall Street Journal several years back and it mentioned ways to reduce corporate travel expenses. It flagged the double-tipping issue but also made mention that in some cases, hotels keep a portion for their pocket.

BeachBoi

Here's the way it has been explained to me...And this is what I actually do...In a room service situation, where there is clearly a 15% (for example) "service charge", I add a "normal" tip for the server who provided the service.The tip goes to him, and the "service charge" is pooled.Everey establishment that "pools" tips, doles them out differently.But those funds are shared in some way shape or form.There is a formula.But the server,the guy who actually delivered the food, the tips is his.

iceeu2

The last time I had room service, I asked the server what portion of the service charge was given to him by the hotel.
I then handed the very nice person a cash tip and said.."This is for YOUR pocket."
It no longer embarrasses me to ask questions concerning monies from my pocket!

travelplans

If one were to get into the habit of offering a separate (private?) tip when there's tip pooling, where would it all end?

Hotels normally add up to 20-25% service for room delivery. So be it. And if the hotel pools the 20-25%, then so be it, again.

IF you then add on, you're only adding to the problem of hotel over-charging for delivery service. They've charged you already. Why do you feel the need to "up" the tip ... does it guarantee anyone better service? What exactly does the double tip achieve for you or the other guests?

Sure, it gives the delivery person more money, but what does it garner for you, the guest and receiver of said services?

travelinandgolfin

Well, if the amount automatically added to your bill (no matter what it's called) is used to dole out to the service crew, then in my mind, that's a tip, so I see no reason to separately tip the deliverer. Yes, he's doing extra work for me, but he's also getting "free tip money" from his fellow servers where he's not doing any work. So it all evens out.

If the hotel is keeping the money, than shame on them. The extra effort for room service should go to the folks who deliver it.

J_Correa

IMO - the tip is the tip. If the hotel adds the tip to the bill and then chooses to keep part of it or dole it out evenly between employees, then that is not my issue. That is between the server and the hotel management. I have done my part in paying the tip.

vespertine

Isn't the service charge the same as when you order a pizza? They always add the charge and then you're to tip above that as well. At least that's what I've always done.

J_Correa

I haven't ordered a pizza in a long time, so I don't know about that.

mariasch

I tip extra because it is a nice thing to do for someone who has a tough job, a job that provides, in my eyes, a very valuable service. I don't expect extra-special service as a result (athough sometimes I get it). I don't tip because it is expected. (I don't think it is.) Due to the comments here, I will in future tip in cash. I want to make sure the person providing the service gets to keep the tip.

Intrepid1

Tipping an individual in cash on the spot is about the only reliable way I can think of of ensuring that the person tipped gets to keep the whole thing.

There is, technically, a big difference between a "service charge" and a "gratuity." A charge is really a fee for service whereas a gratuity is not a "fee." So, when one pays a service charge and also offers a tip they are NOT double tipping unless the hotel can categorically guarantee that the service charge does go to the server. A lot of people ASSUME it does but I suspect it really doesn't.

rkkwan

At the Swissotel in NYC, as well as Westins, your bill already includes a flat room service fee (~$3), plus a 18% tip. There's absolutely no reason to give out a third payment. And at these establishments, the room service person would not stand there and expect another tip.

Dick

<You stand there with the server standing in front of you and look like a cheap skate by not filling in the tip line.>

If you choose not to give an addtional tip.....just aske the server, "Is service included"

There is no need to feel cheap or be intimidated into giving more tip thatn you feel necessary.

That being said, I would expect that those that tip additional get served more promptly.

Mary2Go

Long ago when I was a college student I had a friend who was a room service waiter in a large airport area hotel. He loved the job because he did get "double tipped" and unless someone asked he didn't point it out to them. When he was transferred to the hotel coffee shop he hated it, he had to work harder and was paid less. I always look at the room service bill and ask the server if the tip is included. I have always been told yes that the tip was included in the bill.

travelinandgolfin

Why would they charge extra for room service? It's coming from the same kitchen. Using the same food. The extra work is the server bringing you the food and picking up the dishes. This should be covered by the TIP you leave them (whether included on the bill or given to the server, NOT both).

So I don't see how a hotel can justify a "service charge" that they keep.

uuhhhh

exactly my question, travelinandgolfin. if the 15% - 20% "service charge" is not a gratuity, what is it? what "service" are you getting that you wouldn't be getting if seated at a table in the restaurant, where the service charge is not added to your bill?