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

August 21, 2008 at 2:30 PM | 6 Comments

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.

Man, this extra line is the worst. Are you supposed to add in extra tip on top of the gratuity? Exactly what kind of performance on the staffer's part might warrant such a bonus?

It's always super awkward when the person who brought us our delicious burger is standing in front of us and staring us down as we sign off on the charges and contemplate the "additional gratuity" space. And, frankly, sometimes we tip and sometimes we don't. Depends on how we're feeling that day, really.

Here's where you come in: what's the official protocol for tipping on top of the included gratuity?

Below, let us know what you usually do with the "extra line" -- and what you think we should be doing.

[HotelChatter OpenThreads are a place for readers to get in here and talk about hot stories and issues of the day in an open forum. If you are already a HotelChatter member log in to comment, if not become a member for free and comment away.]

Tags: Tipping / Room Service / OpenThread

by Jenna

Re: HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip Extra

if they seem to be fishing for a tip, that makes it so awkward so sometimes i just dont give any. eek. i feel bad but the delivery/gratuity charges are already expensive ontop of the meal.

i also wanna know if those servers actually get the gratuity off the bill. does it come from the room service manager? anyone with answers, please put them below.

Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?

So I go with "no", unless the server does something really special.

Room Service prices and charges are shameful. It really isn't that much more costly to the hotel than other food service, but you end up paying about double what you would if you took the elevator ride down to the restaurant.

Re: HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip

I cant remember where, but at two different hotels I have stayed at recently the gratuity amount was circled, an x is put through the additional gratuity, and the server actually stated, "Gratuity is already included."

That made me feel so comfortable because she stated she got tipped and didnt want any extra.

6 Comments

Return to » HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?

juliana

HotelChatter
August 21, 2008 at 3:06 PM

Re: HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip Extra
lately, i've been doing this: if the server is nice, cordial and helpful but without being annoying, i like to leave a little something.
if they seem to be fishing for a tip, that makes it so awkward so sometimes i just dont give any. eek. i feel bad but the delivery/gratuity charges are already expensive ontop of the meal.
i also wanna know if those servers actually get the gratuity off the bill. does it come from the room service manager? anyone with answers, please put them below.

hartss

HotelChatter Member
August 21, 2008 at 4:26 PM

Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?
I agree with Juliana's comment completely. I want to do the right thing for a nice server, but man, am I feeling nickel-and-dimed by hotels more and more these days.

bangerang

HotelChatter Member
August 21, 2008 at 5:44 PM

Re: Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?
i vote hell no on extra tip unless they're super special. they get the 18 or 22 percent already. it goes in their paychecks or they get tipped out at the end of the night.

teej

HotelChatter Member
August 21, 2008 at 9:30 PM

No!
I say no as well. Unfortunately, many an unseasoned traveler remains unaware, perpetuating the staff's expectation of the extra tip. Troubling.

dzot

HotelChatter Member
August 22, 2008 at 9:59 AM

Should We Tip Extra for Room Service?
When I worked in a hotel, the gratuity went to the server, just like in the restaurant. In fact, I remember the reason we decided to add the gratuity in for room service was because everyone would see the service charge, think that was the gratuity, and the servers would get stiffed.
So I go with "no", unless the server does something really special.
Room Service prices and charges are shameful. It really isn't that much more costly to the hotel than other food service, but you end up paying about double what you would if you took the elevator ride down to the restaurant.

AndrewC

HotelChatter Contributing Editor
August 24, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Re: HotelChatter OpenThread :: Should We Tip
If a hotel already adds a gratuity to room service - I dont see a reason why I should have to add more, unless its absolutely fall down on my back service.
I cant remember where, but at two different hotels I have stayed at recently the gratuity amount was circled, an x is put through the additional gratuity, and the server actually stated, "Gratuity is already included."
That made me feel so comfortable because she stated she got tipped and didnt want any extra.

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