WEEKLY NEWS | CEO of Hilton does not leave tips as a hotel guest
A month ago, the Hilton CEO parent company, Christopher Nassetta, mentioned at the 41st annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, that he does not tip when it comes to his work trips to housekeepers. "I typically do not leave a tip," Nassetta, who reportedly earned $19.8 million in 2018, said in response to a question from host Andrew Ross Sorkin about how much he normally leaves in a hotel as a gratuity. This ruffled quite a few feathers as many thought this was standard practice when traveling. A Hilton spokesperson clarified by saying, "It's Chris's view that every Hilton Team Member works hard. Rather than selectively reward some Team Members, he is focused on providing meaningful economic opportunities for all 400,000 Team Members. That's why Hilton is the No. 1 place to work in the US and No. 2 in the world, as voted by our own employees."
After this comment went viral, he did mention at a later date during an interview, that he did not want his comments to come out of context, and thus agreed that moving forward he would tip both for professional and personal stays.
With that in mind, here are a few pointers regarding services that allow for tipping:
A structure that allows for tipping, means that employers can pay employees less than market rate. This means there is a base salary that the employer pays, with the idea that they would make more, based on tips.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests leaving "$1 to $5 a night" for housekeepers. "The tip should be left daily (preferably in an envelope or with a note so that it's clear it's for housekeeping”
There is no hard or fast rule with tipping, the people who are servicing us are making our lives happier and better
As mentioned, the standard practice is to tip hotel staff such as house keepers, bartenders, bellhops etc. and that there is no hard or fast rule to the amount. Some resorts include the tipping in their prices, and thus you do not need to tip. Tipping is a small way to honor people, and so we believe that you should tip to let the person know that you are appreciative of the service.
We love to hear from you and your thoughts. Do you tip? Should the hotel staff mentioned above receive tips from hotel guests? Should tipping be mandatory?
Let us know in the comments below.
Happy Traveling
The Luxe and Lavish Travels Team