Bill & Tip Blog

Hotel in the eyes of guests. Tipping in a hotel: how much and how?

The first inns, known since antiquity, were radically different from the familiar image of a hotel. In those distant times, any journey was not only a long and slow road but also the danger that came with the onset of darkness. Antique travelers feared not only the wild predators of the night but also robbers, who posed a great threat to the wanderers. That is why every wanderer was willing to pay to spend the night in comfortable and safe conditions.

It was not until the eighteenth century that the first inns resembling modern inns appeared in the United States. In 1794, the City Hotel opened in New York, and a few more decades later in Boston. Boston Hotel had everything familiar to modern people: many rooms, corridors, reception, door locks, and free soap. From that moment all self-respecting hotels began to strive for the “benchmark” and improve themselves, to fight for the quality of service.

Today guests associate the quality of service with a much broader list of things, not only material ones. There are many subtleties in the hotel business, however, most hoteliers strive for the same goal - to create the most cozy and comfortable hotel. And in this respect, the feedback from the guests is essential for them, because it is their wishes and comfort that should be oriented in this business.

What is important to guests and what are the main benefits they highlight?

  • Responsive and friendly staff.
Most people emphasize this criterion as the most important one. Polite and friendly staff, according to guests, can fix even relatively serious problems that arise during their stay at the hotel. Constructive and polite explanations of the reasons for this or that situation can relieve tension and reduce the level of negativity, preventing serious conflicts.
  • Cleanliness and comfort.
Comfortable conditions, silence, comfortable furniture, lighting of the space, condition of towels and linens, as well as many other small things do not escape the attention of guests. It is important to take into account and try to realize everything so that the service and conditions of the hotel are at the top.
  • Room furnishings.
As mentioned above, guests tend to notice everything that surrounds them during their stay in the hotel: from the air conditioning system in the room to an extra towel in the closet.
Unsurprisingly, such criteria are also very important in forming the overall impression of the time spent in the hotel. It directly affects the guest's willingness to recommend the hotel to their friends and colleagues. As well as the guest's willingness to thank the hotel team in turn by leaving a tip.

Tips in Hotels in 2024

Whether or not to tip, and if you do, how much and to whom - depends on the culture, traditions, mentality, and laws of the country of residence. In some countries, service personnel receives very small salaries, and their income depends entirely on the generosity of the client. And there are countries where on the contrary - to give money over the prescribed amount is an insult, or can even be interpreted in the local law as a bribe. In some countries, tips are considered a mandatory markup for service and are included in the final bill as a separate line. In some countries, the staff considers the absence of the amount above the check as an unsatisfactory assessment of their work. That is why it is so important to know the customs of tipping in the country where you are.

To whom is it customary to tip?
Tipping is a gratitude to the staff who helped the hotel guests personally. Tipping, as a rule, it is not customary to leave tips for employees of the reception desk, unless it is expressly authorized by the hotel administration.
But for doormen, maids, and porters to accept tips is a common thing.

How much?
It is customary to tip the doormen 1-2 euros/dollars. At the personal request of the guest, the amount can always be increased if the doorman shows special courtesy or helps in a difficult situation. Carriers are usually rewarded at the rate of 1 euro/dollar for each unit of voluminous luggage.
In addition, the size of the tip depends on the number of stars assigned to the hotel:
*** - from 2 to 3 euros/dollars,
****/ ***** - from 4 to 5 euros/dollars.

When and how?
It is customary to tip after the service has been rendered (for example, when the luggage is in the room or the concierge has ordered a cab). However, tips given in advance will also be considered normal. So, you can leave a certain amount for the maid immediately after check-in or once before departure. The choice is always left to the guest. Etiquette dictates that the amount should not be given out of hand, but left in a visible place, for example, the maid leaves an envelope on the bedside table or the bedspread. Unfortunately, often the tip may not reach the addressee, because, as a rule, maids in hotels are very careful not to take something extra from the room.

Best service and modern tipping tools for the hospitality industry

To comprehensively solve tip issues for all parties and to be in close contact with their guests, hotels can use modern digital systems.

Modern systems such as Bill&Tip are becoming increasingly popular, creating analogs to tip boxes - so-called digital tip jars. When a hotel that allows tips for a high level of service places QR codes in prominent places. Any guest can easily and quickly leave a tip, even without having cash on hand, in any convenient way (bank card, MB Way, ApplePay, GooglePay). You only need a smartphone to read the QR code. This is not only modern, allows guests to leave a tip at any time, in any amount, but also saves them from doubts about whether there is a tradition of tipping in this or that country and whether it is allowed by the hotel administration. Not to mention the opportunity for the team to significantly increase revenue and motivation to provide better service.

The system additionally allows the hotel to work more effectively and literally in real-time on the quality of services, based on more data. After all, guests leave their feedback here and now using the same QR code. In comparison, paper questionnaires in the rooms, and mailings to guests' email addresses after they leave, are a thing of the past, as they are little used by guests.

For the Bill&Tip team, a hotel is synonymous with hospitality. It is a place where every detail reflects the level of service and care for guests. Behind that is the daily hard work and involvement of the team - those who directly and those who indirectly interact with guests and maintain the hotel's reputation.

We would like your team to be more motivated than ever to create this atmosphere and to truly feel valued and recognized for what they do every day. And your guests have the opportunity to say “Thank You” to those who made their stay memorable and filled with a sense of caring.
Give them that extra opportunity with Bill&Tip.
Taking care of you and your business,

Bill&Tip (Bill and Tip) Team.

Want to learn more about how Bill&Tip can help your business or request a consultation from our team, simply follow this link.

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