Focus Less on Hotel Tip Etiquette and More on the Act of Giving

How much should you tip hotel workers during your stay? Are you tipping too much, not enough? Do you have to tip at all? A quick Google search will show there are varying takes on tip etiquette, but the rule of thumb is quite simple: tip what you can, when you can.

After a turbulent year for hospitality, hotel workers need and deserve tips more than ever. These folks have been unwilling victims not just of a global pandemic, but of a cashless reality that came upon us rapidly because of the pandemic. If you can afford the services of a hotel, you should think seriously about how to also afford the tips that will arise along the way.

This doesn’t have to be much. We have all been affected by the pressures and stresses of COVID-19. If we pivot our mindset from tipping etiquette – one of customs and protocols – to one of simply giving, tipping becomes something we can afford that comes from the heart. The practice of hotel tipping has been around for centuries; just like so much else in history, it changes and evolves over time.

If you are interested in a specific price point for tipping hotel staff, here’s some good data from the American Hotel & Lodging Association:

• Housekeepers: $1 to $5 each night. The association recommends leaving this tip daily in case your housekeeper changes during your stay. If you ask for special deliveries, like extra blankets or pillows, you should have a dollar or two per item ready to go at the time of delivery.
• Valets, bellhops, concierges: keep a few dollars on hand for these employees as they park your car, carry your bags, and help your stay feel like home.

But there’s still a potential problem: you might not always have cash on hand. In fact, 65% of U.S. travelers don’t. Enter eTip. Our cashless, app-less platform allows you to simply scan a QR code and tip on sight. Not having cash is no excuse to not tip, and not having enough cash is no reason not to give what you can. It’s not so much about the amount of the tip but the act of it that makes a meaningful difference (see my personal story about tipping here).

Tipping should be simple, both in theory and in practice. Learn more about how eTip is changing the game.