Hemp
02-21-2008, 08:17 PM
from sosuanews.com (not sure if it was posted already or not)
Large hotels against stopping the 10% tip
Hotel owners in Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada have lodged a protest with the government against the proposed legislation to stop hotels and restaurants charging their customers 10% service costs. The 10% is thus an extra (compulsory tip) for the service personnel, which needs to be paid separately from the standard salary. The government wants to stop this practice, because most countries around the world charge prices that include service and taxes.
In this country it is quite normal to see at the bottom of your bill, in very small letters, that the amount is excluding 14% tax and 10% service charge. So you end up paying an extra 24% on top of your food and drink costs, which many restaurant clients find hard to swallow (pardon the pun!). The government also feels that the 10% is often not paid to the personnel because, if clients are satisfied with the service offered, then they usually leave a good tip on the table.
http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2008/02/17-2_waiter.jpg (http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2008/02/17-2_waiter.jpg)
The restaurant/hotel owners then pocket all or some of the 10% themselves. The owners of the smaller restaurants and hotels are pleased with this new proposal, because they already include service and tax in their prices. They feel that the real price differences will now become more transparent.
Large hotels against stopping the 10% tip
Hotel owners in Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada have lodged a protest with the government against the proposed legislation to stop hotels and restaurants charging their customers 10% service costs. The 10% is thus an extra (compulsory tip) for the service personnel, which needs to be paid separately from the standard salary. The government wants to stop this practice, because most countries around the world charge prices that include service and taxes.
In this country it is quite normal to see at the bottom of your bill, in very small letters, that the amount is excluding 14% tax and 10% service charge. So you end up paying an extra 24% on top of your food and drink costs, which many restaurant clients find hard to swallow (pardon the pun!). The government also feels that the 10% is often not paid to the personnel because, if clients are satisfied with the service offered, then they usually leave a good tip on the table.
http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2008/02/17-2_waiter.jpg (http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2008/02/17-2_waiter.jpg)
The restaurant/hotel owners then pocket all or some of the 10% themselves. The owners of the smaller restaurants and hotels are pleased with this new proposal, because they already include service and tax in their prices. They feel that the real price differences will now become more transparent.