The Sentinel: Don't forget the tip: Why your hotel housekeeper deserves a little extra during your stay

Don't forget the tip: Why your hotel housekeeper deserves a little extra during your stay

Just like tipping a server or barista, tipping your housekeeper is part of good travel etiquette.

Tourist heading to their hotel room

Asad Photo Maldives

Taking off to vacation for a few weeks is great for stress release, getting to know a loved one better, and good overall for mental health. While you are relaxing and decompressing from all that ails you, remember there is someone working hard to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

Vacation season is here, and travelers everywhere are packing bags, booking hotel rooms, and looking forward to a break. But while you’re relaxing poolside or enjoying a freshly made bed, there’s someone working hard behind the scenes to make your stay more comfortable: your hotel housekeeper.

Most guests don’t think twice about tipping a server at a restaurant or a driver for a ride, but many forget or don’t realize that housekeeping staff also deserve recognition for their work. Leaving a few dollars behind in your hotel room might not seem like much, but to a housekeeper, it can be a meaningful boost in both income and morale.

Why Your Tip Matters More Than Ever

In this environment of staffing shortages, increased workloads, and ongoing wage struggles, tipping isn’t just a nicety, it’s a real way to make a difference.

1. Housekeepers Work Hard

Cleaning multiple rooms a day is physically demanding. It requires speed, strength, and attention to detail. A small tip is a simple way to acknowledge that hard work.

2. They’re Not Paid Much

For workers earning close to minimum wage, tips can make the difference between getting by and falling behind.

3. They Make Your Stay More Comfortable

From fresh towels to clean sheets to a spotless bathroom, housekeepers create the environment that makes your hotel room feel like a break from the real world.

4. Tips Encourage Better Morale

A few dollars shows someone that their effort is seen and appreciated. That’s powerful motivation—especially in a job that can feel invisible.

5. It’s a Common Courtesy

Just like tipping a server or barista, tipping your housekeeper is part of good travel etiquette. Many travelers leave $2–$5 per night. If you’re staying multiple days, consider tipping daily, as the staff may rotate.

A small gesture with a big impact

It might seem like a small thing, but leaving a tip for your housekeeper helps support the people who make your trip more enjoyable. At a time when housekeepers are doing more work for the same (or even less) pay, your gratitude makes a real impact.

Photo:Liliana Drew/PEXELS

Hotel housekeepers work hard to make the guest experience pleasant. Unfortunately, during peak travel months they can be overworked and underappreciated.

And in today’s hospitality industry, where housekeepers are more overworked and under-supported than ever, that small gesture matters even more.

The hidden workers who keep hotels running

Hotel housekeepers are the backbone of the guest experience. They clean 10 to 15 rooms per shift working under tight time constraints and physically demanding conditions. With the chronic understaffing in the industry today, they typically clean even more. They lift heavy linens, scrub bathroom floors, replace used items, and sanitize spaces to keep guests safe and comfortable.

Despite this essential role, housekeepers are among the lowest-paid workers in the hospitality sector, often earning between $8 to $15 an hour, depending on the region. Many rely on tips to help cover basic needs like groceries, gas, and childcare.

And yet, unlike other roles in hospitality, housekeepers usually work in the background. Guests rarely see them, and because of that, their work often goes unnoticed or unappreciated.

How the pandemic changed everything

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in 2020, the hotel industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors. At its worst, an estimated 70% of all hotel staffs was reportedly laid off or placed on leave, leading to nearly 400,000 jobs vanishing between February 2020 and August 2022.

The upheaval pushed many hospitality workers to rethink their career paths. Tired of low pay, long hours, and unpredictable schedules, many moved into retail, warehouse jobs, or started small businesses where working conditions were more stable and allowed for more time to engage in social activities or raise families.

Today, the effects are still being felt.

A recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association revealed that nearly 90% of U.S. hotels face a staffing shortage, and more than a third are dealing with severe understaffing. Housekeeping is the most affected area with 43% of hotels reporting it as the hardest role to fill. An estimated 115,000 hotel jobs remain unfilled since the initial pandemic cuts.

That shortage means fewer hands to do more work and more pressure on the housekeepers who continue to work hard to keep up on the daily demand.

Immigration crackdowns and staffing issues

The problem didn’t start with the pandemic. Years of immigration crackdowns, especially during the Trump administration, added to the industry’s hiring struggles. The hospitality sector, especially housekeeping, has long relied on immigrant labor, including many undocumented workers.

Photo: Rodrigo Salomón Cañas/Pixabay

A 2020 report by the Center for Migration Studies of New York estimated that U.S. hotels employed about 137,000 undocumented immigrants. But with heightened threats of deportation and anti-immigrant rhetoric, many left the workforce or the country altogether.

According to Business Travel News, industry leaders say that these immigration policies worsened existing labor shortages. Even in 2024, hotel employment remains roughly 200,000 jobs short of pre-COVID levels.

So before you check out of your next hotel room, take a moment to say thank you. Leave a few dollars on the nightstand with a quick note if you like. It’s not just a kind gesture, it’s a small way to let the staff know that you appreciated their work in making your stay clean and comfortable. For many, your tip is a show of respect and compassion for the essential workers who work hard behind the scenes.

Tagged: Travel, Vacation Travel, Summer Vacation, Hotel Housekeeping, Hospitality Industry