Money Do you tip your hotel maid? - Page 7

Deberg_1990 · 09-16-2014, 09:10 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/0...ips-for-maids/

HOTELS
Hotel chain's program encourages tips for maids

NEW YORK – 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."

Shriver, who founded an organization called A Woman's Nation that aims to empower women, says many travelers don't realize tipping hotel room attendants is customary. "There's a huge education of the traveler that needs to occur," she said. "If you tell them, they ask, 'How do I do that?'" She said envelopes make it easy for guests to leave cash for the right person in a secure way.

So how much should you leave? Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson says $1 to $5 per night, depending on room rate, with more for a high-priced suite.

Michael Lynn, a professor at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, says his research shows that "30 percent of people stiff the maid," while 70 percent said they usually leave a tip.

Sorenson noted that housekeepers "are less frequently tipped" than other hotel workers because they do an "invisible task." In contrast, workers who carry bags, hail cabs and park cars tend to get tipped because they "make a personal connection" with guests, he said.

Rosario Rodriguez, who works as a housekeeper at Marriott's Times Square hotel, says many guests don't tip and welcomes the envelope campaign as "a good idea."

Jessica Lynn Strosky of DuBois, Pennsylvania, who earns $7.75 an hour cleaning rooms at a hotel that's not a Marriott, says only 1 in 15 or 20 guests leaves a tip. When they do, it's a dollar or two; she's lucky to get $20 a week in tips. "I've talked to lots of people who say they don't know they are supposed to tip," she said.

Unlike waitresses who earn less than minimum wage because tips are expected to raise their earnings, hotel housekeepers are paid minimum wage, and in expensive markets, substantially more. In Washington D.C., Sorenson said, Marriott housekeepers start in the mid-teens per hour.

Not everyone applauds the envelope concept. "It is not Marriott's responsibility to remind customers to tip; it's their responsibility to pay their workers enough so that tips aren't necessary," said author Barbara Ehrenreich, who tried working as a hotel maid for her 2001 book "Nickel and Dimed," which chronicled her experiences in low-wage jobs.

But Scott Lazerson, 42, who lives in Sundance, Utah, said he "had no idea" tipping was customary until his wife told him on a recent trip to Orlando. He said he "feels stupid" for not knowing all these years, and added: "Yes, the hotel industry needs to do a campaign about it."

siberian khatru · 09-17-2014, 09:03 AM

**LoneWolf** · 09-17-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

FYP. I think.

Dammit, I missed changing easy to easily and it should be "you're too tight". I think that about covers it.

**Iowanian** · 09-17-2014, 09:05 AM

My issue is the same in expectations of service.

If I'm staying in a $100+ room, I expect it to be very clean.

The things I've found in rooms over the past few years makes one question not sleeping in the car. Upon entering a room I do a walk through, I check for floating turds, moldy-dirty mini fridge, clean bathroom, bed bugs, pull back and take a look at the sheets to make sure there are no boot prints, popcorn, shaved buffalo leavings, DNR of various types....all things I've found in the past.

One hotel, which was 2-3 years old I went into 4 different rooms before I decided it was time to just drive 20 miles to another location. If there is visible food, jelly on top of a table, the room wasn't cleaned. If there is a turd floating, it wasn't cleaned. If the bedding is in a pile across the room and looks like a murder scene...it wasn't cleaned. IF there is popcorn near the feet area of the sheets, it wasn't cleaned.

The tip I leave for them is a note "Clean the Room".

If I'm staying 2-3 days, I don't want you in there. Leave me and my stuff alone, get me clean towels if I request them.

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2014, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Ya got nothing. Look its up to you to tip or not. But thinking they are not deserving and listing those you think are.

I think Maid service should be a part of my bill. I have zero interaction with them, unless I lack towels, soap, shampoo or other sundries for my room - which is rare. There is no relationship, and I have no time or desire to start one with the people who work for the hotel to clean my room. That's my only point, and the reason I don't tip.

Eleazar · 09-17-2014, 09:07 AM

I have honestly never heard of this.

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Mr. Pink!

**notorious** · 09-17-2014, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

I have honestly never heard of this.

You aren't the only one.

Now I feel guilty.

**LoneWolf** · 09-17-2014, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Ya got nothing. Look its up to you to tip or not. But thinking they are not deserving and listing those you think are.

You can choose to tip if you want to. That is your choice. But don't say that they deserve to be tipped. They aren't waiters/waitresses that make less than minimum wage and rely on tips as part of their wages. I think it is disgusting for Marriott to leave out envelopes encouraging tipping. If you think your staff is underpaid, pay them more. You are paid to clean my room and you should do that job to the best of your ability regardless of whether you are tipped or not. If you don't like it, find another job. I pay a housekeeper to come in and clean our house once a week. Am I supposed to tip her every week above and beyond what I am already paying her to ensure that she does a good job and doesn't **** with our stuff?

**The Franchise** · 09-17-2014, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

You can choose to tip if you want to. That is your choice. But don't say that they deserve to be tipped. They aren't waiters/waitresses that make less than minimum wage and rely on tips as part of their wages. I think it is disgusting for Marriott to leave out envelopes encouraging tipping. If you think your staff is underpaid, pay them more. You are paid to clean my room and you should do that job to the best of your ability regardless of whether you are tipped or not. If you don't like it, find another job. I pay a housekeeper to come in and clean our house once a week. Am I supposed to tip her every week above and beyond what I am already paying her to ensure that she does a good job and doesn't **** with our stuff?

This.

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

You aren't the only one.

Now I feel guilty.

Why?

**Iowanian** · 09-17-2014, 09:18 AM

I'm not sure where the line for tipping is. I tip my barber, but not his brother who does my vehicle repairs.

**notorious** · 09-17-2014, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Why?

Not really.

Eleazar · 09-17-2014, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

You aren't the only one.

Now I feel guilty.

I don't see this as a tipping situation. Providing a clean room is a given. You don't get extra credit for that.

TomBarndtsTwin · 09-17-2014, 09:19 AM

If I'm staying there only 2-3 days, no.

Why pay someone else money to do something I am perfectly capable of doing myself??

I can get my own TP, throw away my own trash, clean my sink area, make my bed and if I'm only there a few days, the initial set of towels that are left is enough to get by.

If I am there longer than 3 days, I will usually let them come in and freshen things up, and consequently, I will leave a tip . . . .

**ChiTown** · 09-17-2014, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Not really.

09-16-2014, 09:10 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $2514454	Do you tip your hotel maid? http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/0...ips-for-maids/ HOTELS Hotel chain's program encourages tips for maids NEW YORK – 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." Shriver, who founded an organization called A Woman's Nation that aims to empower women, says many travelers don't realize tipping hotel room attendants is customary. "There's a huge education of the traveler that needs to occur," she said. "If you tell them, they ask, 'How do I do that?'" She said envelopes make it easy for guests to leave cash for the right person in a secure way. So how much should you leave? Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson says $1 to $5 per night, depending on room rate, with more for a high-priced suite. Michael Lynn, a professor at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, says his research shows that "30 percent of people stiff the maid," while 70 percent said they usually leave a tip. Sorenson noted that housekeepers "are less frequently tipped" than other hotel workers because they do an "invisible task." In contrast, workers who carry bags, hail cabs and park cars tend to get tipped because they "make a personal connection" with guests, he said. Rosario Rodriguez, who works as a housekeeper at Marriott's Times Square hotel, says many guests don't tip and welcomes the envelope campaign as "a good idea." Jessica Lynn Strosky of DuBois, Pennsylvania, who earns $7.75 an hour cleaning rooms at a hotel that's not a Marriott, says only 1 in 15 or 20 guests leaves a tip. When they do, it's a dollar or two; she's lucky to get $20 a week in tips. "I've talked to lots of people who say they don't know they are supposed to tip," she said. Unlike waitresses who earn less than minimum wage because tips are expected to raise their earnings, hotel housekeepers are paid minimum wage, and in expensive markets, substantially more. In Washington D.C., Sorenson said, Marriott housekeepers start in the mid-teens per hour. Not everyone applauds the envelope concept. "It is not Marriott's responsibility to remind customers to tip; it's their responsibility to pay their workers enough so that tips aren't necessary," said author Barbara Ehrenreich, who tried working as a hotel maid for her 2001 book "Nickel and Dimed," which chronicled her experiences in low-wage jobs. But Scott Lazerson, 42, who lives in Sundance, Utah, said he "had no idea" tipping was customary until his wife told him on a recent trip to Orlando. He said he "feels stupid" for not knowing all these years, and added: "Yes, the hotel industry needs to do a campaign about it."
Posts: 66,914

09-17-2014, 09:03 AM	#91
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $1044950
Posts: 69,776

09-17-2014, 09:05 AM	#93
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3798454	My issue is the same in expectations of service. If I'm staying in a $100+ room, I expect it to be very clean. The things I've found in rooms over the past few years makes one question not sleeping in the car. Upon entering a room I do a walk through, I check for floating turds, moldy-dirty mini fridge, clean bathroom, bed bugs, pull back and take a look at the sheets to make sure there are no boot prints, popcorn, shaved buffalo leavings, DNR of various types....all things I've found in the past. One hotel, which was 2-3 years old I went into 4 different rooms before I decided it was time to just drive 20 miles to another location. If there is visible food, jelly on top of a table, the room wasn't cleaned. If there is a turd floating, it wasn't cleaned. If the bedding is in a pile across the room and looks like a murder scene...it wasn't cleaned. IF there is popcorn near the feet area of the sheets, it wasn't cleaned. The tip I leave for them is a note "Clean the Room". If I'm staying 2-3 days, I don't want you in there. Leave me and my stuff alone, get me clean towels if I request them.
Posts: 61,979

09-17-2014, 09:07 AM	#95
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	I have honestly never heard of this.
Posts: 80,659

09-17-2014, 09:18 AM	#101
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3798454	I'm not sure where the line for tipping is. I tip my barber, but not his brother who does my vehicle repairs.
Posts: 61,979

09-17-2014, 09:19 AM	#104
TomBarndtsTwin MVP Join Date: Mar 2013 Casino cash: $4199883	If I'm staying there only 2-3 days, no. Why pay someone else money to do something I am perfectly capable of doing myself?? I can get my own TP, throw away my own trash, clean my sink area, make my bed and if I'm only there a few days, the initial set of towels that are left is enough to get by. If I am there longer than 3 days, I will usually let them come in and freshen things up, and consequently, I will leave a tip . . . .
Posts: 9,305