Tipping for Banquets/Events

My wife and I are hosting a lunch for 100 friends at Chicago hotel. We've worked with people there for a month to plan the event.

Usually, do people tip the hotel coordinators? If so, is there a usual amount?

Wow, that's a good question. I'm a part of an organization that puts on various catered meals at hotel and banquet facilities, and they always assign a coordinator to our events. They always have a predetermined service charge on the bill. I never really thought of a separate gratuity for the coordinator, although that doesn't mean it can't (or shouldn't) be done. One other thing to consider - when they have done a really outstanding job on our behalf, we have made sure to mention it, either orally or in writing, to their management.

DML wrote:My wife and I are hosting a lunch for 100 friends at Chicago hotel. We've worked with people there for a month to plan the event.

Usually, do people tip the hotel coordinators? If so, is there a usual amount?

No. This is their job and they should be paid decently well for it. Your payment on this should be all inclusive.

I think this is an excellent question. And in terms of the responses, I tend to think a middle road is a good place to go. Give the coordinator a thank you card and a gift. I often send flowers or fruit baskets to other personnel I work with as thank yous and while cash is always welcome, you could them a gift card or a something of that nature. I also agree with writing the person's boss and telling them what a fine job they did for you. Now..if this person was a government employee, a gift would be out. But hotel folks? Load on the gifts!

shannon

Do not. Often, and I mean very often, they get a percentage of sales and gratuity as part of their paycheck.

Shoot how about that for my first post?

Kuan, Welcome to the forum. We look forward to additional posts.

We had the event today.

We are going to send the coordinator a nice note, with a cc to the hotel manager.

We did give the Banquet Manager a substantial tip, as the room was managed to perfection, and he gave us some great ideas as to how to deal with certain matters. We thought he went above and beyond.