18% Gratuity at the bar ??

[PooohBear]

You know, I absolutely love the HRH and have stayed there a few times but never ordered lunch by the pool until this past trip, what is with the automatic 18% gratuity they charge even when you place your order at the bar ?!

 

[Bluer101]

It is to make sure there is a tip given. Don't get me wrong most people will tip, but there is a lot that won't and think they are already paying enough to stay there.

 

[JohnsPrincess]

Yikes...I HATE when gratuity is automatically added. Especially when it's so much. And ESPECIALLY when I get really crappy service and then they still get "rewarded" with 18%... Not that it'll stop me from drinking at the bar.

 

[ADP]

If you are automatically charged 18% it's not a TIP, it's a service charge. I understand the need to guarantee a TIP, but at the same time when you start making it automatic it's no longer a TIP. TIP means To Insure Promptness. If you take the measure of "Promptness" out of it then it's not a TIP, it's a service charge.

Moreover, when I'm automatically charged 18% by the restaurant the server(s) are losing out. I normally TIP higher than that. I won't add extra onto the 18% service charge. I also feel if the server knows 18% is guaranteed service could be affected.

If I'm not mistaken you have the right to ask for the 18% to be removed so you can leave what you feel is appropriate. I've read about others who've done that successfully.

Sorry, just my 2 cents on the whole automatic charges.

 

[mjohnson96]

I used to work in customer service and if someone is extremely unhappy with service then they can ask a manager to remove the gratuity, but it needs to be a good reason and documented. We had great service at all our stops during our trip last week. The only thing I'm calling on is that I really didn't pay attention to our bill at the HRH bar and when looking over the room charges it was $72 for lunch. That is 2 adult meals and 1 childs with 2 beers. We just can't get the math to come out

But other than that we had a pretty good trip when it came to food. I found out that many of the hotel bars do not take the AP discount on the food. Only the main restaurant does from what I understood.