Comments

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  Janice Nieder November 21, 2009 at 8:18pm

  Maralyn, I'm thrilled you are going to start doing this for IFWTWA. Plus, many PR/CVB companies leave gifts and dpecial packets of literature for us in the rooms which means even more work for the housekeepers than usual! Happy turkey day .
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  Maralyn D Hill November 21, 2009 at 8:11pm

  Judy, I think that is a great idea. IFWTWA is going to do that starting 2010 so some of us don't feel compelled to carry those who don't put in enough. If you can't afford the tips, don't go. Our VP and I discussed during our last trip and decided it would solve a lot of difficulties.
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  José Balido November 21, 2009 at 8:10pm

  Absolutely, by all means and yes! If I were to receive a comp stay, I would strongly feel that the human and honorable thing to do is to tip (based on good service, of course), as one would anywhere else. The chamberperson (is that a word?) has no idea who's staying in the room, and relies on tips to supplement their baseline salaries. It's not their fault that you're getting it free.
  
  That being said, many if not most travel journalists subscribe to the "don't ask/don't tell" school of comps, as there are still newspapers and publications that insist that their journalists never ever accept a freebie. So we can't expect too many writers will openly admit to accepting hotel comps, for fear of losing what few gigs are left out there.
  
  So hypothetically, guys, if you were one of those journalists who might consider accepting a comp stay, would you tip? Or not?
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  Judy Wells November 21, 2009 at 8:04pm

  I always ask what's covered and not if they don't volunteer that info. As I said on the original forum, I've worked with a PR practitioner who sets a total for gratuities for all, including housekeeping, and lets everyone who shows an interest in her fams that it is to be paid in advance of taking the trip. Solves all the problems withstiffers or less than generous tippers.
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  Maralyn D Hill November 21, 2009 at 7:56pm

  Mary Jo, we also ask that question. Then we tell people that the tips are or are not covered. But you are right, housekeeping rarely is covered.
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  Mary Jo Manzanares November 21, 2009 at 7:54pm

  Absolutely we should tip!
  
  Occasionally the tip may be included in the event, but I always ask the organizer just to be certain. Although I've found that servers are often covered, hotel maids rearely are.
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  Maralyn D Hill November 21, 2009 at 7:53pm

  It is the policy of IFWTWA to tip hotel staff--housekeeping, bellmen, food service, etc. They are minimum wage workers who depend on tips. The hotel generally does not tip them for providing you service. I know that adds to a writer's expenses, and pay is lower than ever, but service help should not be punished for having us. Better they sing our praises. I've seen writers be very cheap in this area, and I personally find it inexcusable.
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  David Paul Appell November 21, 2009 at 7:43pm

  In the past couple of days on the LinkedIn "Travel Media Pros" forum, a question posted by new Tripatini member Sylvie Laitre (Mexico Boutique Hotels) sparked an interesting debate. The question was: "Should travel journalists tip hotel staff when on press trips?" Would be great to get some feedback here, as well!
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  Beverly Burmeier November 2, 2009 at 4:57am

  Hey, if anyone wants to read fun travel stories and travel news, both domestic and international, check out my blog at www.examiner.com/x-10339-adventure-travel-examiner. Select me as one of your favorite examiners and you'll get an automatic update when there are new posts. Thanks!
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  David Paul Appell October 31, 2009 at 4:32pm

  We'd certainly love to, Elinor, but it overlaps with London for us, so we had to choose between the two. A New York City event, however, is coming up, so please stay tuned!