Posted on 09/15/2014 10:19:02 AM PDT by CorporateStepsister
Do you leave a tip in your hotel room for the maid? Marriott is launching a program with Maria Shriver to put envelopes in hotel rooms to encourage tipping.
The campaign, called 'The Envelope Please,' begins this week. Envelopes will be placed in 160,000 rooms in the U.S. and Canada. Some 750 to 1,000 hotels will participate from Marriott brands like Courtyard, Residence Inn, J.W. Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotels.
The name of the person who cleans the room will be written on the envelope along with a message: 'Our caring room attendants enjoyed making your stay warm and comfortable. Please feel free to leave a gratuity to express your appreciation for their efforts.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I would only leave a tip on stays of two nights or more. Work or vacation.
One night stay—no tip.
Usually waiters tips are pooled and the cooks, busboys, etc. get a share of the tips.
I know what you mean
Incidentally in a lot of small towns the maids are unquestionably American citizens, moms with school age kids in places that don’t have a whole lot of jobs to choose from.
Its their job! But showing appreciation goes a long way. In luxury hotels, its expected that you tip. If you can afford the best service, you can afford to tip the staff. Its no different from a restaurant. 10 to 20% is reasonable.
Most restaurants (actually most places that involve tips) have a tip out, where the tipped person shares a percentage with the non-customer facing staff.
Livin'...Lovin'....She's just a woman.
We do the same as long as the room is cleaned. We tip more at a beach location for the pain of cleaning up sand.
Write on the envelope, pay your help your self. The cost of a room is to much now.
I generally stuff $300 bucks in an envelope on night one and then expect the maid to sleep with me for the rest of the stay. Hasn’t happened yet.
Often for one night stays, I leave less or noting at all. Particularly if there was a problem with the room. It is part of the cleaning staff's job to keep on top of problems with the room and report them to management or maintenance. A maintenance problem or cleanliness problem is an insult to a paying customer. Particularly at hotels that specifically cater to business travelers.
Long time Diamond Hhonors member. So I have spent my time in many a hotel room.
I figure I’m already paying for their WIK, ESOl classes for their kids etc - what more do they want?
What I like is when they charge an extra “cleaning fee” if you have a pet. I always ask why they don’t clean all the rooms as best they can every time pet or no pet. I usually try to ask this when there is a line of people behind me checking in so everyone can hear the non-answer.
Lately the trend at Marriott is free regular speed wifi and under 5 bucks for bumped up speed.
I know that’s true at Courtyard, Rennaissance, Residence inn for sure
I hadn’t noticed any charge for wifi at any of the Courtyard or Residence Inn places I have stayed at.
Do you realize how much you sound like a Union thug? My guess is, probably not.
No, "Please feel free to leave a tip, or whine to the front desk. Your tears are delicious."
I tend to only tip when they go above and beyond, or something I needed forced them to do more work. If I followed my dad’s customs, I would leave nothing, or would be arguing that the bill is too high when something is wrong in the room.
That's because the people behind the desk at check-in probably haven't studied economics. My reply would be:
In case your pet does have an accident, did you bring disinfectant and carpet shampoo, or should we just charge the next guest to occupy your room?
They are paid very little and have families to feed. When traveling, it is a good way to empty heavy change from your purse or pocket. I leave a combination of coins that usually amounts to $3-$5. I wish it could be more, but it will be when I win the lottery. I like to think that wealthier people are more generous with a few more dollars.
This will not break me, and it leaves a token of appreciation for these hardworking maids. They put lot of effort into making your bed, cleaning your toilet and sink, garbage cans, and vacuuming, etc. We tip as much to be served a cheeseburger, and the time and effort of the server cannot compare to what is put into cleaning a room.
I leave a small note next to the tip that says, “For the Housekeeper. Thank you very much.” In this way, they know it is for them, and not accidentally left behind.
For example, if a maid cleans 10 rooms day, and only half leave $3, then that is $15 that can be used to make a difference in their lives. Lunch money for their children, gas, anything that helps them.
It is surprising to me that more people do not tip hotel maids. Even a dollar bill is better than nothing.
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