Face2face is a blog about planning face-to-face meetings, conferences, conventions, and trade shows, plus business travel and hospitality news.
Sue Pelletier
MeetingsNet Web editor, mad blogger, and editor of Association Meetings magazine...more
Here’s a guideline to tipping in foreign countries from FlyerTalk that could come in handy. Just keep in mind that it is list of guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules (read the comments for objections). Still, I think it’s well worth checking out.
Thanks to Jim Lewis of the wondrous MeCo listserv for the pointer!
Related Topics: Helpful hints, Travel
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December 31st, 2007 at 1:30 pm
The guide to foreign tipping prompts a pair of questions on etiquette in the U.S…. (1) Is it true that tipping wait staff is unnecessary because of the gratuity/service charge built in by a conference hotel. For example, I tipped bartenders who went “above & beyond” at open bars & they seemed very, very surprised. (2) Is it appropriate &/or expected to tip hotel Conference Coordinators or Catering Managers? Example: One was excellent but we thought tipping was inappropriate so we recognized with a letter to hotel general manager, and got no response. If tipping would be appropriate, what would be a typical amount or percentage, and % of what number? Tipping a mangement level person $10 or $20 dollars seems insulting, but we are a not-for-profit and do not feel we can tip with hundreds of our members’ dollars. Thank you for any guidance you can share.
December 31st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Well Ed, here are my personal opinions:
1. The service charge does not necessarily go to the wait staff (goes to overhead, etc.) and IMHO, I don’t believe the built-in gratuities all make it to the wait staff either. I’d tip above the service charge for sure, and possibly the gratuity if the service was truly excellent.
2. The answer to this one varies, but I think generally speaking a non-cash gift that is personalized is the way to go.
While I wrote this guide to tipping a while ago, it’s still relevant:
Service Not Included
June 25th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
We are a not for profit company. When holding a Golf Outing fundraiser with 100 guests, what it proper etiquette for tipping Caddy Master, assistant Caddy, Maitre D, Valet, Men and Women’s locker room attendant, maintenance, Golf pro, etc especially since we are there to raise money to support our charity? Does this come into play at all?
Kathy
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