Possibly I’m naive, however I all the time assumed that lodge service prices went solely to, you realize, the individuals offering service? However apparently not?
St. Regis Deer Valley takes lower on service cost
On the final night of our keep on the St. Regis Deer Valley (sure, that pretty lodge), we ordered room service dinner, as we needed to go to mattress early. When the meals was delivered, I used to be offered with the test, as you’d anticipate.
There was a $5 supply cost, and there was additionally a 25% service cost. Okay, the supply cost is fairly commonplace within the US, whereas the service cost is unquestionably on the excessive facet. You already know the kicker, although? The worker who offered me with the test knowledgeable me that solely 10% of the 25% cost goes to workers, and the remaining goes to the lodge. I’m sorry… what?!?
I assumed I wasn’t listening to appropriately, so I known as the non-public eating quantity on the telephone. I defined to the consultant that I had simply positioned an order and needed to verify I used to be tipping appropriately, so I needed to ensure that your complete service cost does the truth is go to workers. He informed me that of the 25%, 18% goes to workers, whereas 7% goes to the lodge.
Okay, so I’m unsure which of these numbers is true, however one factor appears to be for positive — not solely does the lodge pocket the supply cost, however it additionally pockets someplace between 7% and 15% of the 25% service cost.
I imply, consider the absurdity of this. I’m principally made to really feel low cost if I’m “solely” paying a $5 cost plus a 25% service cost on my room service order. I assume I can’t blame the lodge for making an attempt to take some extra money from its workers… it have to be arduous to generate income while you’re solely charging $4,000 per night time for a base room!
By the way in which, you’ll additionally most likely discover that the gross sales tax applies to each the supply cost and repair cost. Because it seems, that’s really a legislation in Utah, which is among the solely locations with such a legislation. Sure, you pay taxes on necessary service prices.
Is it widespread for accommodations to take a lower on service prices?
I had all the time assumed that lodge service prices — whether or not a % of room price or a % of meals and beverage spending — went on to workers. So now I’m curious — is the St. Regis Deer Valley the exception slightly than the norm by taking a major lower of the service cost, or is that this how the lodge trade operates?
I’m most likely one of many much less anti-tipping individuals on the market, within the sense that I perceive that that is simply how service works in the US, and I wish to ensure that frontline workers are properly taken care of, as a result of they work actually arduous.
However for me, this crosses the road. If I’m being charged a supply cost plus a 25% service cost, that higher cowl gratuity, and workers higher be taken care of. However as a substitute, they’re apparently not even getting 20% of the quantity there.
Backside line
I had all the time assumed that lodge service prices solely went to workers, since they’re those offering the service. However at the least on the St. Regis Deer Valley, the room service employees informed me that they solely get a share of the 25% service cost, and that’s not even factoring within the supply cost (which fits to the lodge).
Is that this a standard lodge trade apply?
