The concierge at a hotel I will be visiting has helped me to plan a special event. This event is not a party, just a special dinner for 2 -just my husband and myself on the beach on the resort grounds. This is an activity that the hotel offers every day, not a special request.

I have enjoyed working with this very pleasant concierge and appreciate her help. Please advise me as to what a reasonable tip would be for this service. Basically, she made me aware of this special service when I asked about special dining opportunities on the resort, and then she faxed the information to me. She will also inform the resort restaurant and florist of my selections, based on the faxed info.

Thanks to all that can seriously help. This is the first time I have planned an activity of this nature, through a concierge, and I really have no idea what is appropriate.

Also, would it be inappropriate to add a small gift, from the mainland, to the tip?

$20 plus something indigenous to the area you live in (wine from CA etc.).

Totally agree with Jade.

Jade and Sandy, thank you for your opinions. Twenty dollars is what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure that $20 is enough.

The idea of a local wine is a great idea. I hadn't thought of that. My first idea, if this doesn't sound too strange, is to purchase a gift set of Bath & Body Works products. They are not my personal favorite but, based on a previous post I had seen on this board, these products seem to be fairly coveted by Hawaiian women since they are not available on the islands. What do you think?

Mmmm- nice thought but you need to be careful with stuff like that.

I bought a bunch of "Body Shop" things for a friend's 30th b'day only to find out later that mango (one of the scents I bought her) makes her nauseous. Oh well!

Still- it is the thought that counts and she could love Bath & Body and the gesture could be very appreciated.

i sure wish we could all get the mentally that you don't need to tip someone for doing their job.

x -in some respects, I agree with you. I certainly do not receive a tip for doing my job. But someone along the way started this custom, and now it is the way of the world. There ARE times that I might not tip for something that someone else would. But, on the other hand, if someone is especially helpful to me and, even more than that, makes it seem that they sincerely enjoyed helping me, I enjoy showing my appreciation. I have never even thought about giving a gift to a concierge before, but I felt that this concierge was a pleasure to deal with and was extremely helpful. I would like to show her that I appreciate her going the extra mile for me by going the extra mile for her -by taking the time to shop for a gift.

Sorry "x", but you're off base on this one.
Would you stiff a cab driver--no tip--on a $50 fare for simply 'doing his job'?
Would you stiff a waiter on a $100 tab when they simply 'did their job'?

Well it's the same thing with concierges. Their stock in trade is knowledge. A good concierge can do things that can't be learned from a book, the web, or a travel book. It's not a simple job like taking reservations on the phone. As such, good concierges are coveted by good hotels. Hiltons and Radissons can get by with mediocre concierges. High end hotels need excellent ones in order to compete for the best clients.

A tip, also known as a gratuity, is not obligatory for the concierge. It is surely a wonderful gesture for someone who has performed their job in a superior manner and enhance your experience. For sure, you do not "need to tip someone for doing their job". But, hasn't everyone notice how FEW people do their job; how few perform their duties to the best of their ability; how few perform their duties NICELY! In my first job, I worked in the customer service department of a huge corporation where most of the representatives did their best to AVOID servicing the customers. Back in those days, they would just put all their lines on hold so no one could EVER get through. These days you have electronic endless menus only to get to voicemail. Anyway, one time, a customer sent me a dozen roses JUST for answering my phone and fulfilling his simple request. He told me he hadn't been able to get ahold of anyone for three days straight. The roses were totally unnecessary, and a little embarassing even. But, it's a thank you I've always remembered. It wasn't the roses, it was that he appreciated the assistance enough to do something special for me. Since then, I've always vowed to do my very best for each and every customer, no matter how unreasonable their expectations or how nasty they are!

Not only are you nice enough to want to acknowledge special attention, you wish to be sure it is "reasonable". You make up for all the "x"s who think excellent service is their due no matter how inappropriate their lack of appreciation.

I have an idea along the same lines as "x"...how about we all do our jobs to the best of our abilities, be kind to fellow workers/customers and do not make this a condition of a tip. I have seen many bartenders who get 15% tip from one person, maybe more from the next and suddently the 15% tipper has to beg for service. That is wrong and people who earn tips do not do the best job they can do for everyone...only the ones who are paying the largest tip.

for kim!