Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen
Podcasts AirTalk
New campaign looks to boost tips for hotel workers
solid blue rectangular banner
()
AirTalk Tile 2024
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

Sep 16, 2014
Listen 18:44
New campaign looks to boost tips for hotel workers
For many consumers, hotel tipping is an imperfect science.
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - JULY 27:  Maria Antonieta, a housekeeper, at the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne hotel prepares a room for a new occupant on July 27, 2010 in Key Biscayne, Florida. According to data from Smith Travel research, hotel occupancy in South Florida has gone up when June of 2009 and June of 2010 are compared. Occupancy in June 2010 shows an almost 5 percent increase, which mirrors the national trend.  (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maria Antonieta
Maria Antonieta, a housekeeper, at the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne hotel prepares a room for a new occupant.
(
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
)

For many consumers, hotel tipping is an imperfect science.

For many consumers, hotel tipping is an imperfect science. Now, Marriott brand hotels have teamed up with Maria Shriver in a campaign to boost tips for hotel housekeepers.

The effort, titled “The Envelope Please,” places envelopes in 160,000 rooms across North America with the intention of facilitating tipping for housekeepers by hotel guests.

Critics argue that unlike restaurant workers, who can be paid less than the minimum wage because they are expected to earn tips, hotel workers do earn the minimum hourly rate. They say that Marriott and thus other hotel chains are not responsible for the tips that their workers may or may not receive.

Do you tip the hotel housekeeping staff? Would you be compelled to do so if envelopes are provided?

Guest:

Roberta Nedry, founder of Hospitality Excellence, a guest experience consultancy that works with the hospitality business as well as other industries based in Florida 

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, All Things Considered, AirTalk Friday
Senior Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek