TIPPING

A pet peeve of mine...tipping. Restaurant servers are now tipped between 15-20 percent of the bill. In a good restaurant servers make more money than a trained chef. Although most do a good job of taking care of guests, rarely do any servers have professional training and pick up information along the way. In the hospitality industry many others who serve and take care of guests are forgotten. We know, gratuity is exactly that... a gracious gesture of a guest to a service person. Some guests are not are aware or unsure of whom to tip, so I am taking the liberty to remind everyone, that if you have received service and care beyond the basic and you want to show your gratitude, remember the following service people:

Housekeepers/Maids - they make your bed, empty your trash, clean your toilet and pick up your socks, they make between $8 - $10 per hour, you don't see them, they take care of your needs in a very unglamorous way. Why don't they get $15%???

Front Desk personnel - they take care of your forgotten toothbrush, your dinner reservation, your limo or cab ride and recommend the locals favorite places to go, they earn between $8-$15 per hour.

Kitchen staff/Chef - if your dinner was exeptionally delicious, the chef and the kitchen staff is to be credited, so tip your server, but don't forget to leave a tip (or a beer) for the chef and his crew. Kitchen staff make between $8 - $14 per hour, chefs about $20-$25 after expensive culinary training and years of experience.

Breakfast included in your room rate? The person bringing breakfast to you and refilling your juice and coffee is a server too, so c'mon leave a few dollars, they make minimum wage!

Massage therapists - although they make between $40-$60 per hour, they too have to have expensive training and licenses, insurance.. and hey they have to work on your naked body and get out all the kinks...that's almost charity work!

Your tour guide driving you to wineries and other places, this person gives you all the inside info and personal care, although these trips are not cheap, insurance alone is a killer.

Owners of a small businesses - if they perform regular staff duties, any above, they do it to give you a special experience and these small inns/restaurant don't make enough money where the owner just wlks around and shakes hands. They are doing the job, let them know with a nice tip that you appreciate them too!

So you wonder why small hospitality businesses pay so little? Well there aren't any small business owners who are wealthy, we make it work as best as we can, especially in areas with (still) high priced real estate...it's the banks who collect and profit.

Small business owners love what they do and love the interaction with their guests and customers, they are what America is all about, remember?? SUpport them, show them your appreciation.
Thank you! Brigitte