“Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. I saw that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” – Alice Walker
The bed sheets are crisp. The bathroom is sparkling. The mini fridge is stocked to perfection. Sometimes, there’s even an exciting amenity like complimentary chocolate or a local magazine to indulge in.
The hotel fairies (otherwise known as the housekeeping staff) have been at it again.
When it comes to the hospitality industry, the housekeeping staff is often the unsung hero of your hotel stay. And showing gratitude, whether that’s by tipping, leaving a handwritten note, or saying thank you in your own unique way — can make a big difference.
In a post on LinkedIn, bestselling author and entrepreneur, Robert Glazer, discusses being inspired by his mentor Warren Rustand to implement this simple yet generous act during his family travels. He discusses another friend, also inspired by Warren’s advice, who shared a story about his recent stay at an Airbnb in Guatemala.
Every day, Robert writes, his friend left a $15 tip to the person who did their cooking and cleaning. A few days later, he received a note from the owner stating that with her tips, Sandra was able to take one child to the dentist — and de-parasite her other child from amoebas.
Through one simple act, there was a large effect.
Simple Ways to Show Gratitude to Housekeeping
Showing gratitude—to housekeeping staff or anyone in our lives—does not have to be a complicated process. Incorporate any of the following to brighten up someone’s day and show you appreciate their efforts. You never know what someone else may be dealing with.
-Greet and say thank you when you pass the staff in the halls
-Make eye contact and acknowledge the staff’s help
-Write a handwritten note or encourage kids to make a drawing
-Leave a token of appreciation (like a seashell you found or a cupcake from the local bakery)
-Write an email to the front desk or general manager when you notice someone has gone above and beyond
-Be thoughtful by placing your dirty towels in a pile and throwing away your trash
-When you leave, say goodbye
-Smile!
The Psychological Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude is a cyclical process. In the purest sense, when we give, we also receive.
If you perform an act of gratitude for an individual, that person may be motivated to do something gracious for another person (the art of paying it forward and spreading positivity). At the hospitality level, showing gratitude validates what the housekeeping staff is doing and offers acknowledgment for their work.
Consciously implementing gratitude into our days and our hotel stays has a profound way of making us see the world a bit brighter and making us all a bit more connected, too. Maybe it’s taking the extra step to write a thank you note when someone does something kind — or sending an email to a manager when one of his or her employees went the extra mile.
Whatever it is, gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return
What is the Generous Envelope?
The Generous Envelope is a passion project we launched to encourage people to tip their housekeepers.
We agree that housekeeping is one of the most overlooked jobs in the hospitality industry. And when it comes to our particular business of day use hotel rooms, the housekeeping staff is working double duty to ensure that the room is turned over in time.
Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do!
According to experts, supplying an envelope to hotel-staying folks increases tipping amounts by about seven percent. From a hotel standpoint, that means seven percent more money in the pockets of housekeepers, slowing their possible turn-over, and making them feel cared for.
It’s an elegant way to say thank you for the hard work the housekeepers do to make profitability in the industry possible.
Although the Generous Envelope is meant to shed light on the importance of the housekeeping staff, showing gratitude in a business where others are working to serve you should also be thought of in terms of the behind-the-scenes workers (like the electrician who fixes your bedside hotel light or the dishwasher who cleans up after your dining experience).
Like Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
From all of us at HotelsByDay, thank you! We’re happy you’re here.
