In short, those tips gave me an incentive to dream up ways in which to provide amazing customer service. I can’t imagine that, short of paying me about $50K more a year, there was anything my boss could have done to incentivize me more. My service was recognized and I did move up quickly in the industry, but it was years before my salary was commensurate with my skills, experience and knowledge. That’s just the nature of the business, and I knew and accepted that.

I’m curious as to what exactly this hotel is doing to incentivize it’s workers. Are the salaries really that high? Are there big bonuses for those who consistently get great reviews from guests? Do they have some sort of fast-track management program? Even that probably isn’t effective. You’ll often find that the very best service employees would never take a salaried position, because they often make far more than their higher-ups once tips are taken into account.

What’s really happened here is that all of these employees have taken a pay cut. Some will be just fine with that, because they’ll be able to do a mediocre job and skate by, all while remaining on equal footing with their coworkers. But I fear that those who, like me, know that better performance leads to higher pay (as it does for many jobs), will leave this property to go somewhere else where that can make that higher pay.

I, too, would love a world in which hotels and restaurants paid their staff so well that tips weren’t necessary. But let’s face it — most travelers and patrons are not willing to pay the higher base prices that would make that a reality. Or, as an alternative, they’re not willing to accept the lesser degree of service that would too often be the result when incentives are taken away.

I encourage all those who say that they work hard and do great jobs and don’t make a good salary for it to turn in their resignations today. The hospitality industry is always looking for people like you. Go be a concierge or a bartender. If you’re as awesome as you say you are, you’ll make a killing. You’ll get to meet lots of new people (many of whom will become like family), you’ll enjoy the variety and the pace, and the wads of cash you take home at the end of the night will put a smile on your face. Or, you may just find out that repetitively lifting objects over 50 pounds and working till midnight is too hard on your body. Or that smiling and groveling for someone who’s an inconsiderate jerk for the tenth time in a day gets to you after a while. Or that scrubbing toilets on Christmas morning while your kids cry because you’re not home to open presents with them really sucks. You may decide that the good outweighs the bad and decide to stick with it. Or you may find a new appreciation for what service workers do, and you may not be so bitter the next time you give a valet attendant two bucks.

At they Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in SF, if you drive to the hotel, you are greeted by the head valet, a tip, someone gets your bags, a tip, to take them up to the checkin counter and the bell captain, a third tip before heading to dinner where you pay another tip. Should you wish a spa treatment, there are more tips. Then of course you tip the valet to get your car that has been in a parking spot at the tune of over $50 a day in addition to the cost of your room. A bit pricing and ridiculous!

There are many, many industries where staff work long and hard to fulfill customer needs. Most of us know that we won’t have customers if we aren’t pleasant, creative and helpful in meeting those needs. I don’t expect tips for doing my job well – and no, I don’t make a huge salary.