We are honored to be your hosts. All of our staff members, even those you don’t meet face-to-face, are committed to providing the highest quality service to make your stay truly spectacular. We would like to advise you of our mandatory daily service fee of US $3.50 per unit that will be added to your bill at check-out. This fee is shared between all team members except managers and directors as it has become a hospitality industry standard in Mexico, and has been supported and requested by our local hotel labor unions. None of these service fees are used to pay administrative fees and in no way is your maintenance fee amount raised to support this program or subsidize wages. The fee is dispersed to the staff on the fifteenth of every month for the previous month’s collections.
We take pride in our employees. And they take pride in making the Villa de Palmar feel like your home away from home. We believe each and every one of them deserves the opportunity to be appreciated directly by the members they work so hard for. Thank you for recognizing their efforts, and for being part of our family.
I do not agree with this program. Another way the resort pushes down cost to members. Even the cruise industry does not have mandatory fixed tipping. Tipping is voluntary. Anything else is just another way the resort is pushing resort staff salaries down to members. So this should be called a FEE.
Three dollars and fifty cents (U.S.) is not a lot from anyone’s vacation! We have traveled the Villas many times in the 13+ years we have owned and we appreciate everyone working at the resort’s. You have made all our vacations so great. We cannot thank you enough.
Is this going to be Mandatory now, instead of Voluntary as it was before ( as of April 2016 ) ??
I have yet to hear of any other Hotel in Puerto Vallarta which has a Mandatory Gratuity Program ?
As I have said before, I always voluntarily paid the $ U.S. 3.50 per day and also willingly tip other Employees.
I also stay in another Hotel in the Marina area, and one of the Managers even ordered tip jars to be removed from the Bars and restaurants. I managed to get round that idiotic Order…. lol
Hi Trev,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. This fee is now mandatory. We have shared your comments with the resort and appreciate your feedback.
Best Regards,
Brittany
We are happy to comply. It is such a minimal amount and yet it will make the employees working in the background happier and more motivated to keep giving the best of their talents.
Hi Bob and Ginette,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We are happy to hear your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to your “home away from home” soon.
Best Regards,
Brittany
I personally don’t agree with this approach. The word “gratuity” in case you didn’t know means “free” from the French.
It should be freely given not extorted from the customers. It should be earned by the employees, not guaranteed regardless of the quality of service given. now there is no incentive to earn a “tip”; you are guaranteed of it anyway!
Sorry, but you give the impression that your staff cannot do without this and that looks like we are just subsidizing your minimum-wage program.
I for one am not impressed!
Hi Evert,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We have shared your comments with the resort.
Best Regards,
Brittany
My husband Mike and Myself think this is wonderful news, and will diffidently support this. This makes it easier for us to make sure we do not miss anyone who worked hard to make our vacation a beautiful one.
Hi Brenda and Mike,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We are happy to hear your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to your home away from home soon!
Best Regards,
Brittany
Interesting, your June 2016 newsletter says this gratuity is “optional”, but when I questioned the charge I was told it was not an “option”. This, along with the $19.95 per day resort fee, is just another way of getting more money. I still can’t understand why as a UVC Member would have to pay for Resort Fees, why did I purchase a timeshare?!
Hi Laura,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We have shared your comments with the resort.
Best Regards,
Brittany
Hi Candy,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We are happy to hear your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to your “home away from home” soon.
Best Regards,
Brittany
I think this is a great idea. How many times have I forgotten to leave a gratuity at a hotel and felt terrible when I arrived at home. (The pleasant conversations I had with the staff, the helpful suggestion they have given me and the wonderful room service). This timeshare gives one of the best services I have ever experienced and I’ve been to some very nice places in the world. Besides, in the U.S. it’s expected to leave $10 a day for room service.
How is this money distributed to employees? I have mentioned this program to both staff dealing with patrons and those ‘behind’ the scenes. Not one of them knew what I was talking about and have never received anything other than their usual pay. I have always tipped employees that worked hard on my behalf as well as grounds crew. I quit paying the voluntary fee as I am not convinced that it actually went to employees. Hmmmm….
Hi Dave and Ray,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog.
We have shared your feedback with the resorts so that they can better explain this program to all employees to ensure that they understand how they are compensated for their efforts. This fee is dispersed to the staff on the fifteenth of every month for the previous month’s collections and is notated on the bottom of the employee’s check stub. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us and assure you that we will continue to work with the resorts on this so that all employee’s understand this program and how they benefit from it. Once again, thank you for taking the time to write us with your concerns. It’s this feedback from our valuable members that helps us to improve our processes and service and make sure that you are enjoying your membership with us as much as possible.
Best Regards,
Brittany
My wife and I tip approx $25.00 TO $30.00 dollars a day when we come down for vacation so now your asking me to pay an additional $3.50 per day for your gratuity program. So this is what i’m going to do , i’ll stop tipping everyone and at the end of our stay i will be glad to pay your $3.50 per day charge and save myself approx over $100.00 dollars. Also how do you impelment programs without asking the opinins of the members first.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on our blog. We have shared your comments with the resort.
Best Regards,
Brittany