15 Oct 2014

Do you tip housekeeping when you are at a hotel?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Do you tip housekeeping when you are at a hotel? And, if so, how much?

There was a poll done a couple years ago that concluded that if you don't tip, you are one of the 39% of travelers that don't tip. If you do tip, you belong to the 23% minority that always tips. I believe that most people just are not aware that they should tip housekeeping.

I have seen suggested tips from $1-$5 per day, depending on the number of beds you use, the mess you (and your kids) leave, and special requests you might have for housekeeping. It is also suggested that you leave a tip on a daily basis to ensure that the housekeeper that cleaned your room gets the tip, since housekeepers rotate their days.

Now, Marriott is putting tipping envelopes in their rooms to bring awareness to this situation. Although I do tip, I have very mixed feelings about this. On one hand, of course we know that housekeeping is the most overworked and underpaid position in the hotel. However, if most people started tipping due to the envelopes in the room, will hotels then lower the housekeeping wages, as restaurants do with waitresses? And, if so, will the housekeeping staff really come out ahead?

It seems that the best solution would be for the hotels to give housekeeping decent wages, and have those wages incorporated into the price of the hotel. After all, that is what they do for management's wages. Otherwise, if hotels expect us to help them compensate their staff, aren't the hotels simply passing their costs onto us in the form of yet one more hidden hotel cost?

Read the full article here:
Tipping hotel housekeeping

Why wouldn't you want a hotel with a kitchenette (or at least a fridge and microwave)?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Extended stay hotels are not doing a good job of figuring out how to break into a wider audience of clientele. They offer amenities that other hotels do not, such as kitchenettes. This could be really useful for a lot of different groups such as young families and business people who are trying to save money while traveling. Once people stay at extended stay hotels, they usually enjoy it and come back. But they have to get there initially.

26 Nov 2014

Hotels - a personal perspective

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

This is great overview of ones personal perspective on hotels. With very informative information, it gives you thought and ideas on what makes a hotel good, great or just down right wrong. If you are an avid traveler, I highly recommend this article. The author also gives some recommendations with a list of hotels from personal experience that are worth while to check out to make decision making easier.

9 Nov 2014

Hilton introduces smartphone features

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Hilton is offering a new service to their guests that allows them to pick their own room and floor plan from their mobile device. The guests will also be able to customize their stay by requesting certain amenities for their room. The day prior to check-in, the guest will log in with their mobile device and pick their room and added features. Guests will also be able to check in and out of the hotel remotely from their smart phone.

19 Oct 2014

Hotels use online reviews as blueprint for renovations

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Hotels like the Omni are basing their renovations on reviews from websites like TripAdvisor. They say that since the customers are so candid, it gives them a good opportunity to understand what is lacking in their hotels, and where they can improve.

19 Oct 2014

What hi-tech hotel equipment do you want?

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

Hotels are constantly looking for new ways to entice travelers, and the latest development appears to be rooms with hi-tech options for those with a multitude of digital tastes. Business travelers in particular seem to lean toward rooms loaded with new technology, including super-charged remote controls and personal iPads that serve as a digital concierge for guests.