It's either a great increase in convenience or the death of civilized society—you choose
Hotels Are Pushing a New Way to Tip—And Guests Have Strong Opinions About It
Published on May 22, 2025
You walk into your hotel room, throw your bags on the bed, and head for the thermostat because it’s either set to “arctic tundra” or “hell’s sauna.” Then you spot it—right next to the remote control, there’s a new tech-enhanced sign that says: “Tipping just got easier! Should you wish to show appreciation to our hardworking room attendants team.”
One Reddit user spotted this very sign at a Courtyard by Marriott and was less than thrilled. “Are we supposed to be tipping hotels now?” they wrote in a post. “Parking was $40/night and there was no breakfast.” Oof. But the issue wasn’t just that they were asking for a tip—it was how they were asking guests to pay the tip.
First of all, nothing about tipping is easy, especially now, when you can’t buy a muffin without being asked if you want to tip 25%, says Jan Goss, an etiquette expert with more than 30 years in the business. And second, anytime human interaction gets replaced by a sterile technology, people have feelings. Big, internet-posting feelings.
So what’s the deal with this new digital tipping trend? Is it the end of civilization as we know it? Or could it actually make your life easier? Read on to find out, plus get Goss’s expert advice on tipping hotel staff.
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What’s the new way hotels are asking for a tip?
Some hotels are posting signs with QR codes that take you to a website where you can pay a tip completely online. Gone are the days of discreetly tucking a $5 bill under the pillow like you’re part of a very clean mafia. And it’s just one digital tipping option: Some offer Apple Pay, Google Pay and/or Venmo to make it easier (and more likely?) that you’ll tip your housekeeper.
“Tipping protocols are different all over the world, but one trend we’re seeing is the rise in digital tipping,” Goss says. “So you can expect to see this kind of thing more.”
How do people feel about using a QR code to tip?
People had a lot of thoughts—more than 600 comments on the post as of this writing. And the top comment reads: “Abso-f***ing-lutely NOT. … Do not enable another industry to get away with paying horrible wages and expect their hardworking employees to earn a dignified wage through optional tips. … Do not support employment abuse.” Many others agreed with this sentiment (but this was in the “end tipping” subreddit, after all).
I wanted to see if this angst translated offline as well, so I went to a handful of my friends who travel the most.
The arguments against it
Beyond the need for companies to pay a living wage to their employees, there certainly are other arguments against it. “No, I hate this! I would rather hand the tip, in cash, to the person myself so I know where it’s going and can make sure the person who actually did the work is getting the money,” says Priya Chaudhary, a frequent international traveler from New York.
“I just don’t trust technology,” adds Jason Hargrave, a road-tripper from San Diego. “How do I know a scammer didn’t just put that in my room to steal my credit card info?”
Anne Lockett, a frequent business traveler from Minneapolis, also isn’t a fan. “I don’t mind using a QR code to tip in general. But, if I’m being honest, I don’t normally leave tips at hotels for housekeeping. Am I a terrible person for that? I feel like tips are for personal services. So seeing this particular sign would probably make me feel guilty. And I don’t want a guilt trip from the place I’m going to relax.”
The arguments for it
On the other hand, many travelers see it as an improvement on the current tipping methods and an easy way to practice good etiquette. “I personally love it,” says frequent traveler Rebecca Metts, of Denver. “I never carry cash, so when I do want to leave a tip for the housekeepers, this is much more convenient.”
Hanna Simmons, who splits her time between Germany and the U.S., was clueless about this tipping trend. “Is this a thing? I’ve never seen it. But then again, I usually ignore the signs in hotels,” she laughs. “I wouldn’t care either way, though. I think it doesn’t matter how you leave a tip—as long as you’re leaving one.”
Which hotels are doing this?
It’s not everywhere yet, but expect it to be ubiquitous soon, Goss says. In addition to Marriott hotels, similar signs with QR codes have been spotted in Hilton hotels. And Wyndham Hotels and Resorts—one of the largest hotel chains in the world—recently announced they are offering it in their U.S. and Canadian locations.
And it’s not just a little sign. There are dozens of digital tipping websites that have sprung up to help facilitate the process. And in the case of Wyndham, digital tipping has been incorporated into the hotel chain’s app, Bene. These services allow you to tip everyone in the hotel, from your housekeeper to the valet to the buffet attendant.
Why are hotels moving to digital tipping?
Simply put: It works. Actually, it works better. “What’s been interesting is that when a hotel starts using the platform, they not only see the digital tips come in, but they also see the amount of cash tips go up substantially,” Michael Skvortsov, co-founder of Bene, told Travel Weekly. “And another thing that’s been surprising is that the average tip has been much higher than anyone expected.”
According to Skvortsov, the average hotel tip on the Bene platform is around $9.50 to $10—substantially higher than what customers were previously leaving in cash in their rooms.
This is backed by research: People tip 15% more when tipping digitally versus tipping in person using cash or credit cards, according to a Forbes Advisor survey.
How is this different from the old-school tip card?
In the pre-digital-everything era, the hotel often provided cute little “thank you” envelopes with the name of the housekeeper on it for you to place cash in. Or you could simply leave cash on the table or dresser, with or without a thank-you note, for the staff. This new system is more efficient, but feelings-wise, it’s less “personal note from a hardworking human” and more “your Uber driver is outside.”
On the upside: no more “Oops, I forgot cash!” excuses to not leave a tip.
Why is this upsetting some guests?
Because, as Lockett said, no one likes being guilt-tripped by a laminated card with Wi-Fi access.
Some guests feel ambushed, like they’re being emotionally blackmailed into tipping more than they planned. You’re just trying to enjoy your $300-a-night “ocean view” (read: generous glimpse of the dumpster behind the parking lot), and suddenly a QR code is staring you down like, “Do you care about hardworking people, or nah?”
Others, echoing the Reddit rage, say it’s just one more way the ever-expanding tipping culture is taking advantage of both workers and customers. You already tipped the valet, the bartender, the bellhop and the guy who handed you a cookie at check-in, and now they’re asking for even more—with a side of convenience fees.
Speaking of which, here’s the kicker: Most of these digital tipping platforms tack on a small “processing fee.” And who covers that? Not the hotel. You, generous traveler, pay to tip and to tip the tip. It’s peak capitalism.
And let’s not forget, for tech-averse guests, scanning a QR code might as well require night-vision goggles, a master’s in app navigation and a steady hand under pressure. Which is a lot to ask before coffee.
Should you tip housekeeping?
Yes. These folks are cleaning up your toothpaste-globbed sink, your snack crumbs and whatever mysterious towel fort your kids constructed—and tipping culture is not their fault. “Housekeepers are some of the hardest-working, lowest-paid staff in the industry, and tips make a meaningful difference,” Goss says. “Just because you didn’t make eye contact with them doesn’t mean they don’t deserve thanks. It’s always better to err on the side of kindness.”
How much should you tip?
We broke down exactly how much to tip hotel housekeeping for you, but Goss offers a quick cheat sheet:
- $2–$5 per night at budget or mid-range hotels
- $5–$10 per night at nicer places or if you left the room looking like the aftermath of a frat party
She adds that you should tip daily (not just at checkout) because the person who cleans your room today might not be the same one tomorrow. And if you’re staying multiple nights, consider upping your tip for stellar service.
How you tip—cash, credit or digitally—is up to you. But know that the QR-code tipping trend is probably here to stay, just like that mystery hair on the hotel bathroom floor. So whether you’re tapping your phone or folding a fiver into an origami frog, just know that a little gratitude goes a long way.
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About the expert
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jan Goss, etiquette expert, founder of Show Up Well Consulting and author of several books on etiquette including Protocol Power; phone interview, May 19, 2025
- Travel Weekly: “Hoteliers slowly test digital tipping as travelers increasingly go cashless”
- Forbes: “U.S. Digital Tipping Culture Survey: 1 In 3 People Feel Pressured to Tip”
- Reddit: “Tipping hotels?”
