HotelChatter - Tag: Tipping

Is the Service Better or Worse at Hotels That Include Gratuity?

juliana — 2011-06-09T18:08:36-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/thecovea_bill.jpg" class="top"> While we're on the topic of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/tipping">tipping</a> <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/6/8/222129/2299/hotels/Zac_Efron_Shows_He_s_More_Than_Just_a_Pretty_Face_at_the_Hard_Rock_San_Diego">today</a>, we wanted to know what you thought of Gratuity Included Hotels, i.e. hotels where they automatically tack on gratuity to a food and beverage bill, spa treatment or other service. Obviously, this is common in Europe (everywhere, not just at hotels) but here in America, it's still quite unusual or helpful/offensive, depending on where you stand on automatically tipping for service.We encountered this recently at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Canyon+Ranch+Miami+Beach/local/1284">Canyon Ranch Miami</a> when we dined in their Canyon Ranch Grill and noticed that an 18 percent gratuity charge had been added. The same thing happened after we went to pay for our pedicure in the spa. Apparently this is

New York: Watch Out For Tips Included When Drinking At New York Hotel Bars

MsRebecca — 2010-11-01T09:21:31-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/GansevoortRooftop.jpg" class="top">The rooftop bar at Hotel Gansevoort. UPDATE: In response to this story, the Gansevoort Hotel Group let us know that the Hotel Gansevoort does not include an automatic 20 percent tip on all beer, wine, and cocktails ordered, and has never done so. The Gansevoort Park Ave, however, had included a 20 percent gratuity on all bar tabs since opening in the summer. But, as of today, this automatic gratuity has been eliminated. Yippee! Moving forward, the only automatic gratuity charges at both hotels will for large parties and bottle service. As you might have guessed from our frequent <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Hotel%20Cocktails">Hotel Cocktails</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Hotel%20Bars">Hotel Bars</a> coverage, we're fond of a tipple. But a tip? We prefer when

Hotel News Briefs :: Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica Gets Delayed

juliana — 2008-10-09T17:00:42-05:00

There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.

· Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica Delayed: We've spent a lot of time today talking about hotel openings and delays here so it's fitting we end the day with another. The Hotel Shangri-La was to re-open tomorrow after a long renovations process. However, the reservations line says the hotel will open at the end of October. Meanwhile, the website is only taking bookings for after November 12th. Either way, it ain't opening tomorrow.

More news briefs are after the jump.

HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?

Jenna — 2008-08-21T14:30:13-05:00

Tipping. Yikes. While most of us know to regularly tip our bellmen and some of us routinely tip our housekeepers (and all of us should!), things start to get a bit dicey when it comes to room service.

See, in most hotels, gratuity is included on a room service order. But then when you open up your folio to sign off on your charges, you breeze past the line detailing the auto-gratuity that's been added...and you encounter it: the additional gratuity line before the total.

Snapshot :: May We Remind You Again to Tip Your Housekeeper?

juliana — 2008-08-05T16:45:21-05:00

From Post Secret. Also see this video for more reasons on why it might be a good idea to get on hotel housekeeping's good side. So give them a tip or two. Well, you know...not the ones that are actually cleaning the toilet with your SonicCare.