A-Kon® 20! Dallas, Texas

Tipping and You!
Want to get better service at the hotel? Read on and learn the secrets of tipping.

Porters / Skycaps: load your bags from the curb to the plane-the guys who put the tags on your luggage. If you are checking in anywhere else but the actual airline desk, it's appropriate to give these people $1 per bag. Their wages are low, and those bags are heavy! If you only have carry-on luggage, or check your bags at the ticket counter, you need not tip anyone.


Hotel Bellmen: They carry your stuff from the front desk to your room. They will unload your whole car, hold & watch your stuff while you check in, all you have to do is ask. Their job is to help you get settled into your room as quickly and smoothly as possible. It's appropriate to tip them $1 per bag also, but if you have just a big ol' load of junk, equipment, VCRs, etc. then a couple bucks more won't hurt. Those guys only make minimum wage (some don't make THAT, depending on the hotel) and tips are their livelihood. Bet you didn't know that.


Maids(Housekeeping): bring you extra towels, clean your room, etc. Schools of thought on this vary. Some people tip them each day, leaving a couple bucks in the bathroom with a little note that says 'thanks for cleaning the room'. Others wait until they check out and leave a few bucks on the TV or something. A good rule of thumb is: the messier you are, the more you should tip. They get paid PER ROOM they clean in a day - so the messier you are, the longer it takes them to clean the room, which means they can't clean as many rooms in a day and either have to work way later into the night if they really need the money (many are the wage earners for their families), or they just lose the pay. Which is why a tip goes a LONG way toward making that up (and a daily tip can be a smart thing, since different people work different shifts). Most maids fear large conventions as they know they will have rooms stuffed with people, and they will lose pay, just by the extra length of time to clean each room. They cart dirty towels, bring extra supplies if you ask, change and make up beds, vacuum, restock shampoos/ soap/ toilet paper, wash out the tub, scrub toilets, mop floors, dust, empty trash, clean up foodstuffs, clean up spills, and other jobs you wouldn't want to do yourself. They are also on-call 24hr. a day if you need something. A few bucks and a 'thank you' go a LONG way toward getting you the best service and making someone's day.


Restaurants // Bars: same as normal, $15-20% depending on service. Hotel restaurants & bars are the same as any other eating/drinking establishments.


Room Service: Generally this has already been added to the bill when they present it to you, so you don't have to worry about it. If you choose to add an extra buck, that's completely up to you.


Kon Banquet: If you are attending the Sunday Banquet with the Stars, the con has already paid the gratuity necessary to the waiters and servers. You do not have to tip at this event.


As a rule and generally speaking, if anybody does anything for you, totes, lifts, carries, provides service, brings you stuff, etc. you should show your appreciation with a couple bucks. Hotel staff is often abused, yelled at by impatient concourse, run ragged, and horribly overworked (especially during Thursday Check-in and Sunday check-out times), and a little courtesy and a little cash goes a long way. It's not terribly expensive for you, but it makes a big difference to them. Also, treat them with respect and speak to them politely - they're technically working 'for' you, but would YOU want to be treated the way you treat them? It also reflects on the quality of people at the Kon. Think about it and act accordingly.

Tags: community, food, social