As the holiday season hits its peak, Houston's service industry braces for a tipping trend that reveals the city's ethos towards gratuities. Bartenders across Houston are advocating for a standard 20 percent tip during the holiday season, according to a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle, with many relying on this additional income, particularly as they work away from family and friends.
Adonis Graham, owner of the Midtown bar FAO, emphasizes the increased generosity of customers during the holidays, which he believes is partly due to recognition of the sacrifices made by industry workers. He told the Houston Chronicle, “Tipping during the holidays, customers are a lot more generous.” Ryan Wells, bartender at Coastline Artisan Pizzeria, pointed out the harsh reality that some Houston bartenders are making as little as $2.15 an hour; therefore, tipping, therefore, becomes essential. “When you’re working in a dive bar, people also don’t bat an eye at 20 percent. In fact, people at dive bars tend to tip even more than that,” Wells stated.
However, not all tipping habits are as clear-cut. Data from The Vacationer's survey, conducted by Eric Jones, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Rowan College South Jersey, shows an unexpected comfort among over 50% of the respondents with not tipping those in certain service positions. The survey, highlighted by FOX 26 Houston, outlines that bartenders are usually tipped by 53.44% of Americans, while fast-food employees and buffet servers are the least likely recipients, with only 15.72% and 16.70% of respondents tipping them respectively.
According to the Houston Chronicle insight, it seems good service can significantly influence the tipping percentage. “We try and make sure that we offer (good service) throughout the year, it’s not something that we shy on because customer service is everything,” Graham explained. For Cantina Barba bartender Adriana Medina, the holiday business boom contributes to a convivial atmosphere, with customers visiting their favored spots with friends and family, often leading to better tips. “A lot of the time (the customers) haven’t seen those people all year,” Medina remarked.
Bartenders like Graham underline, the importance of tipping, not only as an industry standard but as a recognition of dedicated service. “I think the best way to tip a person, the standard is, across the board has been 20 percent on a lot of different things. But because of the shift of things, if someone is working toward the tip, and actually cares, the amount should definitely be reflected in it," Graham concluded, according the Houston Chronicle.
