Murray Roberts writes about hotel amenities HK Magazine January issue | Page 18

Gratuity amount depends on type of
service provided and quality
H
Standard tip at a restaurant ranges from
10 to 15 per cent, said experts
H
Marriott leaves envelopes in its rooms for
guests to tip housekeepers
H
Hotel guests should give bell
staff anywhere from
£1 to £5 per bag
LEAVE A SMALL GIFT FOR
HOUSEKEEPING, GIVE YOUR
BELLHOP £5 PER BAG AND
NEVER DO IT IN JAPAN:
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO TIPPING 
I
t’s a decision that every seasoned
traveller has wrestled with when a hotel
doorman calls a taxi or a guide wraps up
a tour – who should you tip during your
travels and how generous should you be?
While tipping is customary in most
Western nations, many tourists are making
big mistakes when it’s time to show their
appreciation for good or exceptional
service, largely because they don’t know
how much to give and they are unaware of
local customs.
It can lead to awkward or uncomfortable
situations, especially when the amount
doesn’t reflect the quality of the service
provided or no tip is given at all to someone
who is expecting one or may be relying on
gratuity to pay their bills.
In a small number of countries,
holidaymakers must tread carefully to
avoid offending employees in the service
industry. In Japan, for example, tipping is
considered an insult.
As for how much, it depends on the type
of service provided, quality and geographic
location as the rules vary by country. If the
service is extremely poor, it’s OK to leave
nothing at all.
Etiquette expert William Hanson, author of
The Bluffer’s Guide to Etiquette, said: ‘If the
service or standards are sloppy then do not
tip as the staff will only think that they are
being rewarded and will get complacent and
standards will not improve.’
Paul Fidgeon, associate professor of
tourism at the University of West London’s
School of Hospitality and Tourism, said
tipping can be an ethical minefield, but the
10 per cent rule is a good one to follow.
He said: ‘There are clearly issues here
around who should you tip, how much
should you tip, and should you tip at all,
and there are big differences between
18 Housekeeping management
He added: ‘Needless to say at breakfast
the next day and for every breakfast there
after I got incredible service and staff were
falling over themselves to accommodate
my every need.
‘I had fresh pastries “on the house”
brought over, even though I didn’t want
them, and everyone seemed to know my
name suddenly.’
MailOnline Travel spoke to travel insiders
to learn more about who should receive a
tip – and how much – in countries where it
is accepted.
countries and cultures.
My advice here would be, in order to
prevent problems, is do your research
before you travel and try and find out about
tipping culture and customs in that country
prior to leaving home.
‘If in doubt, a small gratuity is taken a
sign of appreciation.’
Oonagh Shiel, travel expert at
Cheapflights.co.uk, added: ‘For those who
are prepared to put a dent in their travel
spend to cough up the cash needed for
service charges, the rules surrounding
tipping around the world are far from finite.
‘Whether you’re paying in euros,
Indian rupees or US dollars the tipping
system can come with a myriad of
country-specific guidelines, leaving many
tourists suitably perplexed.’
Despite the naysayers, it can lead to
better service.
Mr Hanson said he once over-tipped by
about 100 per cent following
an evening drink in the
bar at a Washington,
DC, hotel.
HOUSEKEEPING STAFF
H These hotel employees tend to be the
forgotten ones because they tend to do
their work when guests are not around.
But some hotels are starting to remind
their customers of the work that they do.
Marriott places envelopes in guest
rooms at nearly 1,000 of its hotels to
encourage tipping for its cleaners.
The American Hotel & Lodging
Association (AHLA) published a gratuity
guide, which said guests should leave a
tip of $1 to $5 in a marked envelope or
with a note.
Housekeeping staff in better hotels
should expect £5 to £10 at the end of a
week’s stay, said Mr Hanson.
CONCIERGE
H Tips for concierges depend on the
nature of the service provided.
Did they book a table at a trendy restaurant?
A few pounds or dollars should do.
If they managed to score hard-to-get
tickets to a concert or sporting event, a
tip of at least $10 (approximately $6.50) is
warranted, the AHLA said.
Another option is leaving a
lump sum upon departure.