Concierge Lounge Tipping Etiquette

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

For those of you who have stayed "Club Level" in the past, how much do you tip the servers in the club level lounge (whether PPH, DLH, or GCH)? I'm thinking $1-2 for a server who makes a drink or brings items to a table. But I definitely don't want to be a Rodney Dangerfield and overtip or be a Cousin Eddie and undertip! I read that the tips need to be handed directly to the person you want to receive the tip or they won't get to that person, so I'd love to tip as I go rather than leave a tip at the end or even leave a general tip on a table each time. I tried to find this information online and while there is plenty of information online about tipping etiquette in hotels that I already knew (i.e., $3-7 daily for housekeeping for a standard non-messy room, $1-2/bag for bell hops) there isn't much out there on tipping etiquette for servers in a concierge lounge. Mostly I found information for hotel level concierges who perform specialized services like arranging a special dinner or getting coveted tickets. And most of the information I found here on the DisBoards was in the cruise ship boards for tipping on cruise ships.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Tipping is not expected in that type of environment.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I never tip in club lounges anywhere.

 

[DizMe]

There's another recent post about tipping in which multiple people mentioned what they tip the club servers (and concierge personnel) and how to go about it. I felt awful when I read through them because it never even occurred to me to tip in club level--I just figured it was included. I guess I'll have to watch this thread and see what others have to say.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

There's another recent post about tipping in which multiple people mentioned what they tip the club servers (and concierge personnel) and how to go about it. I felt awful when I read through them because it never even occurred to me to tip in club level--I just figured it was included. I guess I'll have to watch this thread and see what others have to say.

If you happen to remember which thread it was in, please let me know! I saw a fairly recent thread with general information about tipping in concierge lounges and that’s what made me wonder what the typical amount should be. But I didn’t see any recommended amounts listed in that one.

 

[DizMe]

If you happen to remember which thread it was in, please let me know! I saw a fairly recent thread with general information about tipping in concierge lounges and that’s what made me wonder what the typical amount should be. But I didn’t see any recommended amounts listed in that one.

I couldn't remember where I'd read it, but it's part of the Disneyland Hotel superthread. Here's a link to the page where discussion of concierge tipping starts: https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-disneyland-hotel-superthread.2802175/page-74

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I couldn't remember where I'd read it, but it's part of the Disneyland Hotel superthread. Here's a link to the page where discussion of concierge tipping starts: https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-disneyland-hotel-superthread.2802175/page-74

Thanks, DizMe! I had forgotten where I’d seen mention of the tips recently. We are staying at the GCH this time and I didn’t remember I’d been reading a few posts on the DLH thread a few days ago. Unfortunately, nobody mentioned how MUCH they tip. I’m hoping a few of the club level regulars can chime in, otherwise I’ll just plan on using my best judgment.

 

[DizMe]

I'd really like to know as well. I'd always been told that you don't tip in concierge lounges, but apparently that isn't true, or at least not at Disneyland.

 

[CO2CA]

We tipped housekeeping $10 per day for a non-messy room (ie: just straightening out bed that is already partially made, all trash in appropriate containers, makeup/personal care put away and off counter, etc) and tipped Club Level CMs $5 each time they made an alcoholic drink from the back. We gave the bellhop $10 for bringing up our grocery order (it was a couple cases of water so she used the luggage cart).

We weren't offered help with luggage when we got to the Disneyland Hotel, so just brought our own bags up. I'm not sure if we needed to ask since they were standing off to the side, but ultimately we just brought our own luggage up. If they had assisted, I would have given $10 for two checked-luggage suitcases.

Edited to add: I did not tip the concierge at the desk since we didn't utilize any of their services or check-in/get the concierge tour. In fact, we just let ourselves into the room because I used my phone and paid fully in advance...loved that feature!

 

[Minnie1222]

Tipping is not expected or required at the club lounge.

If you want to tip a specific employee, you must be persistent because they will refuse several times. It is not against the rule for them to accept cash. However, it's best if you can do it discreetly with the cash concealed in an envelope.

 

[Minnie1222]

Unfortunately, nobody mentioned how MUCH they tip.

It depends on the situation.

 

[Nonsuch]

Tipping is not expected or required at the club lounge.

If you want to tip a specific employee, you must be persistent because they will refuse several times. It is not against the rule for them to accept cash. However, it's best if you can do it discreetly with the cash concealed in an envelope.

I do agree that tipping is not expected at the Veranda (GCH club lounge).
However, I have never had a tip refused.

 

[Malcon10t]

I generally tip $2 per drink made for me. (Alcohol or if someone goes out of their way to make a latte for my daughter cause I don't know how to do coffee stuff for her.). Also if they bring something special out for me. (A couple know I like certain desserts and will bring me something out if they see me.). When we leave a table, I generally leave $5-10 depending on how we leave it. At Christmas, I usually have envelopes for those who always go out of their way for us.

 

[Malcon10t]

I'd really like to know as well. I'd always been told that you don't tip in concierge lounges, but apparently that isn't true, or at least not at Disneyland.

Hmmmm, I've tipped in "Concierge" or Executive lounges for 30+ years. I think people just assume you don't. What is a lot of fun is figuring out concierge tipping on Disney cruises!!

 

[Malcon10t]

We weren't offered help with luggage when we got to the Disneyland Hotel, so just brought our own bags up. I'm not sure if we needed to ask since they were standing off to the side, but ultimately we just brought our own luggage up. If they had assisted, I would have given $10 for two checked-luggage suitcases.

If you came by car, the valet staff usually ask if you need help with luggage, then calls a bellman over.

I haven't arrived by other methods, but would assume if you arrive by taxi on the valet drive, valet should ask and get a bellman for you.

 

[gelatoni fan]

There's another recent post about tipping in which multiple people mentioned what they tip the club servers (and concierge personnel) and how to go about it. I felt awful when I read through them because it never even occurred to me to tip in club level--I just figured it was included. I guess I'll have to watch this thread and see what others have to say.

People are taught different things and it also varies by location. I've met people who think a tip for lunch at a proper restaurant should be no more than 10% and also someone who always tips 30% when on business trips. I recall articles pre-2020 saying that in the US, about 30-40 percent of people tip housekeeping staff in the US but due to the pandemic, Americans have started tipping more.

If not tipping feels uncomfortable to you, then leave a tip. It's a very messy cultural practice so do what feels comfortable to you as long as you are not in a part of the world where tipping is considered rude or bribery.

 

[DizMe]

People are taught different things and it also varies by location. I've met people who think a tip for lunch at a proper restaurant should be no more than 10% and also someone who always tips 30% when on business trips. I recall articles pre-2020 saying that in the US, about 30-40 percent of people tip housekeeping staff in the US but due to the pandemic, Americans have started tipping more.

If not tipping feels uncomfortable to you, then leave a tip. It's a very messy cultural practice so do what feels comfortable to you as long as you are not in a part of the world where tipping is considered rude or bribery.

I have mixed feelings about tipping, honestly. I'm a little miffed that it seems to have mushroomed into something you do for just about everyone these days. I don't blame the workers at all, but I object to the fact that people like me, who worked hard in a service profession that didn't pay a lot and didn't garner tips, are in effect supplementing workers whose employers don't pay them enough to survive. This is kind of a social gripe about billionaire corporate interests raking in money while the people who do the work often barely make subsistence pay.

At DLR, you tip so many people that the actual cost to stay is substantially higher than your room rate. I prefer to do most things for myself but there is still a lot of tipping. Ideally, I wish they would not allow it in the lounge but give the lounge employees X-percent per day as a bonus since the money they charge guests is already substantial. In reality, I'm thinking that would quickly turn into (a) the workers getting cheated, (b) the club rate going up, (c) or both. So I will plan on tipping well next time I stay club level since I don't want the employees to be shorted.