Nearly everybody (here in the U.S.) tips the waitress. After all, tipping in that context is a public event: people are watching. Loudon Wainwright even closes his concerts with a hilarious musical plea to do so.
But what about hotel housekeeping? Hey, nobody’s looking. Just as your peers won’t ever learn your questionable taste in pay-per-view movies, they’ll never know you forgot the nearly-invisible, often-considered-expendable souls who make the hospitality experience…the hospitality experience.
Philosophers (including the rabbis in the Talmud), say the greatest form of charity is charity given when nobody is looking, and when the recipient doesn’t even know who gave the donation.Gratuities aren’t exactly charity, but the same principle applies.
Tip your housekeeper.
- Micah Solomon, customer service strategist and keynote speaker
See Micah in action — including video and free resources — at https://micahsolomon.com. Or, click here for your own free chapter of Micah Solomon’s customer service bestseller,” Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit: The Secrets of Building a Five-Star Customer Service Organization.”
Oh sure – good advice *that* was to DSK 😉
I had a memorable summer in college working as part of the housekeeping team at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park. While the majestic scenery of Yosemite Valley was an incredible place to live and work, what made that summer memorable was the discovery of how guests treat their accommodations and the service team. It was eye opening for a young adult. As a result, I never depart a hotel room without leaving a gratuity for the housekeeper and I have made a point to educate my family to be considerate of staff – whether they work at a Motel 6 or a 5 Star Hotel in some glamorous destination. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.