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DIGITAL TIPPING CAN boost hotel associates' earnings by up to $375 per week, according to a recent study by Shiny, a digital tipping platform. Furthermore, guests are 15 percent more likely to tip compared to 2023, with half leaving tips of $10 or more. Shiny's second annual report, "Harnessing Tipping Data to Empower and Motivate Hospitality Workers," also includes a case study on Stonebridge Cos., a hospitality management firm that implemented Shiny's digital tipping platform across its hotels in 2022. The report analyzes tipping behaviors and patterns at hotels using its digital tipping software. "Not only is providing a tipping option for associates a phenomenal benefit to increase take-home pay, but it also is a fantastic way to keep employees engaged beyond daily standup," said Rebecca Robinson, Shiny's cofounder. "In this report, we continue to explore trends in digital tipping to further improve operations and ultimately increase retention."

HOTEL EQUITIES HAS partnered with Grazzy and Visa Direct to launch a digital tipping platform for their associates and guests. This initiative aims to provide a secure and cashless way for guests to tip hotel staff, HE said in a statement. According to a recent study, 83 percent of hotel guests want to tip staff digitally but face limitations. HE and Grazzy's program enables guests to tip housekeeping, front desk and other staff from their mobile devices, the company said. By scanning a hotel branded QR code in their room or on hotel signage, guests can access Grazzy, choose the staff member and enter the desired tip amount. No cash or extra apps are required, the statement added.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS has selected California-based Canary Technologies as the global digital tipping solution vendor, enabling guests to tip hotel staff. Founded by Harman Narula and SJ Sawhney in 2017, the company offers digital tipping solutions and an end-to-end guest management system, including mobile check-in and checkout, dynamic upsells, and guest messaging, Canary said in a statement. "Hotel staff members are the backbone of the hospitality industry and guests want to tip staff for great service," said Dhiraj "DJ" Singh, Canary's vice president of sales. "With the declining use of cash worldwide, staff tips have taken a hit over the years. We are thrilled to help IHG hoteliers boost guest satisfaction and reward hard-working team members." IHG Hotels & Resorts, featuring 19 brands, more than 6,000 hotels, and nearly 1 million rooms worldwide, will implement Canary's digital tipping solution to improve the guest experience and acknowledge employees efficiently, the statement added.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS now has a mobile tipping solution for its U.S. and Canadian franchisees, the company said in a statement. Developed by Béné, the platform enables guests to tip hotel team members digitally via their preferred mobile device. According to consulting firm McKinsey, 82 percent of Americans are now using digital payments, Wyndham said in its statement. The trend was accelerated by the pandemic, said Scott Strickland, Wyndham's chief information officer, and he expects it will only continue in the coming years. "Having previously empowered our franchisees to accept digital, contactless payment for stays at their hotels, the next logical step was to find a solution that allows guests to recognize housekeepers, wait staff and other frontline team members in a similar fashion," Strickland said. "This platform does exactly that and at virtually no cost to franchisees."

24SEVEN HOTELS, A California-based third-party hotel management company, has partnered with the digital tipping platform Shiny to improve services for over 450 associates across its 30-hotel portfolio. David Wani is the founder and CEO of 24Seven Hotels. This partnership will include 24Seven's premium-branded, select-service, and lifestyle hotel segments throughout the western U.S., with implementation across various hotel departments, including housekeeping, the companies said in a joint statement. "With one of the tightest labor markets in industry history and ever-rising costs, it has become increasingly important for us to recognize the efforts put forth by our associates," said Wani. "We believe that by consistently rejecting the status quo and insisting that we can always improve and innovate, we conquer complacency-and ultimately improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operation. Along with our Daily Pay program, this is another example of the additional efforts we take to ensure our employees are among the most satisfied in the industry."