Although there is no definite fact as to the origins of tipping someone for a job well done, there is a popular legend wherein a pub owner once used it as an acronym “To Insure Promptness.” Whatever the truth behind it, there is an unwritten rule for hotel guests to provide a generous tip for excellent service from a bellhop to the concierge. Although there are no fastened and clear-cut tipping guidelines, there are certain things that you need to know before you spare a change to hotel personnel. Expect to pay bigger tips when you book for five-star hotels you found in hotel search sites.
In recent years, tipping etiquette has evolved into a unique subculture with hidden expectations that some travellers and hotel guests don’t understand. In the hospitality industry, hotel personnel are expected to provide excellent service so it is quite understandable that tipping is the only way to encourage a concierge to do things right away. However, you need to figure out the difference of tipping and bribing someone. Here are some of the important tips that you need to know about tipping in hotels:
Know the Difference
If you don’t know the difference then tipping can also be bribing. Feel free to tip someone if you got good service from a particular person repeatedly for the rest of your stay. A larger tip is a good idea if you prefer a special service.
Keep the Change
Keep the loose change for easy tipping. If you expect to get a little change from what you pay for, simply tell them to keep the change as gratuities for good service you received. It really sounds awkward to ask for change from someone you’re tipping. Saying “keep the change” to hotel personnel is a good hotel etiquette to follow.
Don’t Underestimate your Tipping Tendencies
There are trends in the tipping tendencies in people wherein studies have shown that women tend to tip more than men. Don’t tip too much because you don’t have to spend beyond your means. You don’t want hotel personnel to take advantage of your generosity by ripping you off, do you? Hotel tipping is a compliment, not your obligation, because these people have jobs to do in the first place.
Observe Tipping Policies
Although some of five-star hotels are instituting a “no tipping” policy wherein gratuities are already included in the price of the room, there are some that expect a fair amount of tips. If you decide to go for outside hotel excursions then expect to give tips on the driver or tour guide. Tipping concierge is one way to encourage favourable service the next time you book in the same hotel.
Tipping is not Required
Tipping hotels is not necessarily required. It is the hotel guest’s discretion to tip or not but it should be thought as a reward for extra service not included in their job description.
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