Is a Tip-Free Hotel the Biggest Travel Flex?

Great service, be it a friendly face at the concierge or someone to help you with your bags, can make any time away truly spectacular. So, shouldn’t you give a token of your appreciation. At this point, it’s basically travel 101: If you have great service, you should always leave a tip. That’s exactly why we interviewed hotel insiders to create a go-to gratuity guide. 

But what’s a jetsetter to do if they try to slip a Lincoln to their bellman only to receive a “thanks, but no thanks?” Don’t despair: A handful of high-end hotels like Paws Up Montana are adopting a tip-free policy.

According to Steve Hurst, managing director at Paws Up, the push for a tip-free property stemmed from both employee feedback and conversations with guests. “Being at a remote ranch resort, the need to bring your wallet and cash along all day through our diverse activities seemed antithetical to a truly immersive experience in the American West,” he explains.

Courtesy of Paws Up Montana

Not only does nixing tips eliminate the need for guests to schlep their purses around while they’re, say,  snowmobiling through a nearby ghost town or indulging in water sports, but it also promotes teamwork throughout the staff. 

“It isn’t about the one star employee who is most visible,” Hurst explains. “It is about how the team works together to deliver on our promise. For the guest, it allows them to see our genuine hospitality and desire to share the elevated Montana experience with them.”

Nestled in Greenough, Montana, Paws Up prioritizes a culture of taking care of each other. When a property like Paws Up discourages tips, they’re sending a clear message: We’re here to offer you the best experience, no quid pro quo. Hurst says this change has been “overwhelmingly positive,” and has transformed the property into a destination for connection. 

“When we all care for each other, I feel it is a dream environment and one that takes away the transactional element that makes most of us lose sight of the bigger ‘why’ we are all here,” Hurst says. “We see families, couples and solo travelers reconnect with either nature or the people close to them, and we want nothing to interfere with those moments.”

Courtesy of Paws Up Montana

Of course, that caring sentiment has to exist internally, too. If a hotel is forgoing gratuity, they’re likely compensating their staff accordingly, which might result in an increased nightly rate. While Hurst didn’t disclose how the staff is compensated, it’s easy to assume some of the property’s four-figure nightly rate will go back to the people who work there. Though tip-free policies may be currently reserved for hotels of a certain caliber, Hurst hopes this trend reaches every corner of the hospitality world.

“I feel it allows genuine hospitality to shine through, and it allows our co-workers to know what they can count on for their life expenses,” Hurst says. “I know tips change my feeling when I travel, and I would rather pay a little more to know the staff serving me is being compensated fairly.”

But still, great service isn’t always guaranteed, so how can guests show their gratitude when gratuity is off the table? Booking another stay is an option, but simply naming your favorite staff members in a review can be all the thanks they need.