Tipping the hotel front desk

I've heard it works quite well in Vegas, but not so much in other places.

One needs to be discreet on how it is done, of course. Asking for an upgrade and sliding money across with other hotel guests in visual and audio range will probably lead to a rejection. Doing it when no one else is watching, and politely asking "Do you have any complimentary upgrades available" might work.

I tried it at a car rental desk one time, politely asking if they had any complimentary upgrades while discreetly pushing across a $20. The girl seemed very surprised, slid the money back to me, but then gave me a very nice upgrade on my car.

I've done the $20 handshake at a couple of restaurants, and it has worked very well.

I think you've used the wrong term, Analyst. What you're referring to isn't a tip, it's a bribe.

No ethical judgement of you implied, but there certainly are ethical and perhaps legal issues involved on the employee's part. If someone who worked for me gave away a product or service that I charge for to benefit themself personally, they are unemployed as soon as I find out. Period.

PH

Well, does anyone have any advice on how to bribe the front desk?

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
I've done the $20 handshake at a couple of restaurants, and it has worked very well.

What did you get for it?

A table without a reservation.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
A table without a reservation.

are we talking palm beach here? (since i'm gonan be there next week)

here in NY, any of the nice restaurants will simply turn you away if you only tried that with a 20.

Funny this was posted, as I tried the $20 between my ID and credit card as I checked in at the Mirage in Vegas a few months back. He very kindly returned the money and told me there was nothing he could do for me.

The lobby was quite busy (I was very discreet and quiet), and there was other staff not too far away, so that may have influenced him.

quote:

Originally posted by g-man:

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
A table without a reservation.

are we talking palm beach here? (since i'm gonan be there next week)

here in NY, any of the nice restaurants will simply turn you away if you only tried that with a 20.

No, never tried in Palm Beach. Last time I did it was at a restaurant at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.

You should have little problem getting a table at a restaurant in Palm Beach this time of the year. Things are pretty quiet.

quote:

Any other people worth tipping other than the obvious ones during a stay that pays dividends?

Yes.

You could tip the desk clerk.

But did you fly? What about the person who checked you in? Or the person who told you to use the next kiosk to check yourself in?

I don't think you can do enough tipping.

I would tip the doorman. The girl who vacuums. The guy who delivers the soap and disinfectants. The guy cleaning the windows. The guy cleaning the windows on the building next door. The guy hanging around the parking lot. The guy who holds the door for me at the drugstore. The person who is in front of me. The person who is behind me. The person who stocked whatever it is that I'm buying. The check-out person. The person who parked next to me. The person who held the elevator door for me. The person stopped at the red light in front of, behind, or next to me.

At the end of the day, I would pile all of my money in the middle of the hallway just in case I forgot to tip someone somewhere, and I'd hope it went to the deserving few.

quote:

Originally posted by GregT:

quote:

Any other people worth tipping other than the obvious ones during a stay that pays dividends?

Yes.

You could tip the desk clerk.

But did you fly? What about the person who checked you in? Or the person who told you to use the next kiosk to check yourself in?

I don't think you can do enough tipping.

I would tip the doorman. The girl who vacuums. The guy who delivers the soap and disinfectants. The guy cleaning the windows. The guy cleaning the windows on the building next door. The guy hanging around the parking lot. The guy who holds the door for me at the drugstore. The person who is in front of me. The person who is behind me. The person who stocked whatever it is that I'm buying. The check-out person. The person who parked next to me. The person who held the elevator door for me. The person stopped at the red light in front of, behind, or next to me.

At the end of the day, I would pile all of my money in the middle of the hallway just in case I forgot to tip someone somewhere, and I'd hope it went to the deserving few.

Amen!

quote:

Originally posted by GregT:

quote:

Any other people worth tipping other than the obvious ones during a stay that pays dividends?

Yes.

You could tip the desk clerk.

But did you fly? What about the person who checked you in? Or the person who told you to use the next kiosk to check yourself in?

I don't think you can do enough tipping.

I would tip the doorman. The girl who vacuums. The guy who delivers the soap and disinfectants. The guy cleaning the windows. The guy cleaning the windows on the building next door. The guy hanging around the parking lot. The guy who holds the door for me at the drugstore. The person who is in front of me. The person who is behind me. The person who stocked whatever it is that I'm buying. The check-out person. The person who parked next to me. The person who held the elevator door for me. The person stopped at the red light in front of, behind, or next to me.

At the end of the day, I would pile all of my money in the middle of the hallway just in case I forgot to tip someone somewhere, and I'd hope it went to the deserving few.

Tell us how you really feel, GregT!

quote:

Originally posted by The Analyst:
Well, does anyone have any advice on how to bribe the front desk?

Sorry, TA. I recently had to $hitcan an otherwise decent and talented employee for taking a bribe so I'm a little sensitive about this.

I wouldn't do it at all, personally. But that's just me.

I have found that sometimes all you have to do is ask. Many luxury establishments give their customer contact staff some latitude in comping guests with little perks. The trick is to be discreet. Your odds go up significantly if the request is made without other staff or guests within earshot. Keep in mind that most front desks and reception areas in other establishment are usually monitored by cam, so even if the employee were inclined to take an "advance tip" they probably aren't going to do it under those circumstances. A gratuity at the end of your stay for the individual who gave you the "upgrade" is certainly appropriate in almost all cases.

Employees in luxury establishments (I'm assuming you're not trying to get an upgrade at the EconoLodge in Newark) are often a little put off if they are put in a position where they could be considered to be compromising their integrity.

At to GregT's hilarious post. Agreed. The culture of tipping has gotten out of control. I tip, and well, when it's customary and the service is good.

PH

I agree. Being charming, appreciative and asking without any sense of entitlement gets you much farther than trying to buy someone. Most upgrades come because the person WANTS you to have it.