AH&LA LAUNCHES GRATUITY GUIDE

Industry Partner, Forbes Travel Guide, Supports Initiative Washington, November 25, 2013 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole U.S. association representing all segments of the lodging industry, is releasing a guide covering gratuity rates for a broad array of service areas, including parking attendants, doormen, housekeepers, and room service. Released in time for the busy holiday travel season, the guide helps guests determine voluntary monetary ranges for services rendered by hotel staff throughout a guest’s stay. Among the recommendations: • Tip concierges from $5-10, depending on how involved the service (booking a restaurant versus hard-to-get tickets) or a lump sum upon departure. • Tip housekeepers and housemen $1-5 per night. The tip should be left daily in a marked envelope or with a note. • For special requests (like an extra blanket), tip $4 for one item, $1 for more. Tipping is not required for someone fixing something broken or bringing something missing. “The hotel industry is an area of high career growth, and for many of our 1.8 million U.S. hotel employees it is the pathway to the American dream,” said Katherine Lugar, AH&LA president/CEO. “AH&LA’s Gratuity Guide provides guests with valuable information on how to best acknowledge superior service – at their discretion – received during their hotel stay.” According to Michael Cascone, president, Forbes Travel Guide, which is promoting the guide, “Hotel staff are the heartbeat of luxury hospitality. When service goes above and beyond expectations, gratuities represent a deserved reflection of a guest's appreciation. A gratuity can be a monetary gift, and is often accompanied by a written note of appreciation. At luxury hotels, it is not unheard of for guests to occasionally lavish high value gifts on hotel employees in recognition of exemplary service.” To download a copy of the AH&LA Gratuity Guide, visit www.ahla.com.