Cracking the Tip Conundrum

Occasionally I end up in a conversation about tipping when traveling or during events. Who gets a tip, when do you give a tip, and how much to tip, especially when talking with someone who is newer to the industry. There is a lot more tipping going on than most people realize. Let’s clear up some confusion about tips in the United States in hospitality and tourism (it is different in other countries). These are based on my experiences and conversations with other planners, and are relevant to today’s post-covid standards.

When traveling to and from the airport you may use a limo, taxi, or shuttle. The limo or taxi driver should receive 10%-15% of the total bill. Consider booking the ride ahead of time where you can pre-pay the fare and tip so you are not worrying about it the day you travel. A shuttle driver generally receives $2 per person.

At the hotel, you should tip housekeeping $5 a day and leave it daily because most of the time the housekeeping staff is different every day. A bellman should also receive $5 per delivery when bringing luggage or food deliveries to your room. The valet who parks your rental car also should receive at least $5. A concierge, on the other hand, should receive $5-$10 depending on the service provided. And, if someone holds the door or hails a cab for you, a $2 tip is appropriate.

When dining at a hotel restaurant, please take a look at your bill before blindly signing it and adding your room number. Depending on the location and number of people in your party, the bill may already include 18%-23% gratuity in the total. There will be a line for additional tip with a recommended breakdown for easy math. Don’t let this confuse you into adding more tip to the total unless you received excellent service and want your server to receive a combined 40% tip…

If you host an event at a convention center, you may consider tipping these helpful people:

• $300 for the Banquet Captain, Catering Manager, and Chef
• $500-$1,000 OR a percentage of the overall event total for a Planning Coordinator or Manager
• $20-$50 for each band member and specialty entertainers (like photo booth attendants, character actors, balloon artists, etc.)

When it comes to a convention center master bill, don’t confuse a tip with tax and service fee. Both will be added onto the bill and neither generally include a tip for the staff. And these days, there are additional fees, taxes, and just about everything but the kitchen sink added to the master bill. Make sure you review it and understand where the money goes and who is actually receiving it.

If you have any questions I have a very helpful tip chart I’d be happy to share.
Just email me and we can connect.

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