Why QR Code Tipping Is a Must in Hotels, Restaurants & Hospitality 

Hospitality has a tipping problem. Not because guests don’t want to show appreciation, but because the old way of doing it (cash) is disappearing fast. 

If your business doesn’t give guests a quick and easy way to leave tips, you’re leaving money on the table while creating friction for customers and letting staff morale suffer.

And there’s no better tipping solution to address these problems than QR codes. They’re fast, simple, and already familiar to modern guests. From restaurants and hotels to spas, car washes, and tour operators, tipping QR codes can transform how your hospitality business runs.

What we mean by ‘QR code tipping’

QR code tipping is exactly what it sounds like: Guests scan a QR code with their phone to leave a gratuity. 

They don’t need to download an app. 

Or rush to the ATM.

Or dig through their pockets for spare bills.

Here’s how it works:

1. Your business creates a tip QR code tied to a team, staff member, or department.
2. Guests scan it with their phone camera.
3. They’re taken to a secure payment page where they choose a tip amount.
4. They pay in seconds with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

For guests, it’s as fast and effortless as calling an Uber. For staff, it means bigger and more frequent tips without waiting eons to be paid out.

Your business needs a QR code tipping system — here’s why

It should come as no surprise that cash is quickly becoming antiquated.

Data from the Federal Reserve shows that only 18% of U.S. transactions were paid in cash in 2022, down from 26% just three years earlier. 

So what does that mean for hospitality?

Guests who would’ve happily left a $5 bill for housekeeping or valet service now have nothing to give. Without a digital tipping option, those tips disappear.

And QR codes are undoubtedly the easiest solution for management, staff, and customers.

Guests are used to QR codes

QR codes went from niche tech to commonplace during the Covid pandemic — and they’ve shown tremendous staying power.

From TV commercials to billboards to subway posters, QR codes are everywhere, and people barely blink before pulling out their phones to scan. Even restaurants still use QR codes for their menus post-Covid. 

That habit is ingrained now, which makes tipping by QR code as natural as checking the weather app. All you need to do is give them the option.

People want to tip

Most guests genuinely want to show gratitude. The problem isn’t willingness, it’s access. 

Think about hotel housekeepers. Historically, guests left cash on the nightstand. Now, cash is rarely on hand and staff lose out. 

The same applies to valet drivers or bellhops. Hospitality’s most important high-touch roles are going under-tipped because of the lack of a digital tipping system. QR code tipping removes that roadblock.

Staffing shortages demand better solutions

Hospitality is battling a staffing shortage with 70%+ annual turnover. Businesses need more enticing motivators to recruit and retain talent.

How do you keep hospitality staff happy? With higher pay and consistent tips.

And a QR code tipping app is the easiest way to help staff receive larger and more frequent tips. 

What QR code tipping looks like in practice

So what does it actually look like to have a QR code tipping system in place?

First off, you need to make sure QR codes are strategically placed and accessible to guests at the right times. That means placing QR codes for tipping on nightstands, receipts, valet stands, spa menus, shuttle signage, or digital displays.

You also need to be thoughtful about how you collect tips — by role? By team? By shift? This will look different at every business. Coordinate with how your business already operates.

The last piece of the QR code tipping puzzle is the backend — how tips are distributed and paid out. Once tips are paid, where do they go? How do you manage them? Don’t overlook the importance of staying compliant and easily being able to payout tips to staff. Good QR code tipping systems facilitate both — more on that below.

Here’s how QR code tipping looks in a typical hospitality business:

• Management creates QR codes, which open a web page where guests can choose a tip amount.
• Guests scan a QR code to leave a gratuity using their credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
• Staff are alerted when they receive a tip, and can use a mobile tipping app to see their total earnings.
• Management oversees all tips with a comprehensive dashboard that provides reporting for IRS compliance and connects with payroll systems for easy payouts.

QR code tipping for restaurants

Restaurant guests are used to leaving a tip when paying their bill, but many touchpoints remain cash-dependent — think bartenders, coat checks, valet service, or tips for BOH staff. Without a digital tipping solution, these employees are left out.

A QR code tipping system makes it easy to support every member of the team, not just waitstaff. 

QR code tipping for hotels

Hotels are the perfect fit for QR code tipping because so many roles operate behind the scenes. 

Housekeepers, bell staff, valet attendants, and concierge teams often miss out on tips simply because guests don’t carry cash. Placing QR codes in rooms, lobbies, or parking slips gives guests an effortless way to show their appreciation without stopping at the ATM. 

How to implement QR code tipping

If you’re convinced that QR code tipping is the way to go, you might be tempted to DIY it. But we caution you against that.

There are a few problems with using a static QR generator you find online:

1. Tip distribution and payout
   Guests scan your QR code, leave a tip…then what? DIYing QR code tipping usually ties funds to a single account instead of flowing to staff. You need a way to automatically distribute tips to employees and pay them out. Without software behind it, that QR code is probably creating as much work for you as cash tips.
   
2. Compliance
   Tips aren’t just a nice extra, they’re taxable income. A DIY QR code has no built-in reporting tools, which means you’re left piecing together spreadsheets and praying nothing slips through the cracks. If you make a mistake, you could be facing IRS penalties or back pay liabilities. A proper tipping platform automates compliance so you can stay focused on running the business.
   
3. Security
   Guests trust you with their payment details. A free QR generator doesn’t come with PCI compliance, fraud protection, or data safeguards. A dedicated tipping solution ensures transactions are encrypted, secure, and insured.

The better approach is to implement a comprehensive digital tipping solution designed for the hospitality and service industries.

Set up QR code tipping with eTip

As the #1 digital tipping solution for hospitality, eTip helps thousands of hotels, restaurants, and service brands streamline tipping while boosting staff satisfaction.

With eTip, you get:

• 5x increase in tip frequency across properties.
• 30% improvement in staff retention thanks to faster, more consistent pay.
• Up to $5 per hour more income for frontline workers.

Our platform was built for scale. From boutique hotels to nationwide brands, eTip makes cashless tipping effortless. QR codes and landing pages are customizable with your branding, payouts are secure, and managers stay in control with real-time dashboards. 

Unlike competitors, eTip isn’t dependent on Stripe — meaning every customer and employee gets approved.

And because eTip integrates with major HR and payroll systems, managers save hours each week on tip disbursements and compliance reporting.

Want to see what it looks like in action? Book a demo and see why major brands like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt trust eTip to power their digital tipping experience.