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As restaurants in several FIFA World Cup host cities welcome an influx of international visitors this weekend, some operators are adding automatic payments to customer checks – citing concerns that visitors from countries without a strong tipping culture may unwittingly compensate staff.
Fox News Digital reported last month that the Missouri Restaurant Association advised Kansas City establishments to temporarily implement 20% automatic payments during the football season.
Now, other restaurants in other World Cup cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia are among those doing the same, according to Food & Wine.
AUTOMATIC TIPPING PUSH BRINGS CONCERN IN MAJOR US CITY AS RESTAURANTS THROUGH FOREIGN TOURISTS.
Supporters say the move is intended to protect workers who rely heavily on philanthropy and avoid confusion for tourists unfamiliar with American tipping practices.
Some restaurant operators told TheTravel that they will display notices informing customers of the additional charge.
Some restaurants in World Cup host cities charge automatic fees, as many foreign visitors may not be familiar with American culture. (Stock)
“We’re going to send that to the menus themselves. We’re going to send it to the restaurant,” Bob Riekhof, general manager of La Bodega in Kansas City, said in a statement.
“Probably the biggest part is making sure our servers communicate with guests that the gratuity is included on the check.”
Ben Fileccia, senior vice president of operations and public affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, told the publication that business owners “don’t want servers or bartenders or tip workers to explain what tipping culture is.”
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A TIPPING CULTURE, BUT MANY STILL TAKE 20% ON FOOD.
He said the notifications would make it “easy to do and no awkward conversations.”
Others, however, worry that mandatory fees could add to consumers’ growing frustration about fees and additional costs.
“Restaurant volume has been shrinking, and anything perceived as increasing costs risks consumer backlash, especially if it’s not communicated well or if consumers feel like there’s an expectation that they’ll talk about an automatic tip,” David Henkes, senior principal at Technomic, a food industry research firm in Chicago, told Fox News Digital.
An industry expert told Fox News Digital that automatic tipping programs can lead to consumer pushback. (Stock)
Michele Bermuvez, co-owner of Atlanta’s Brewhouse Café, told Food & Wine that “it’s very important to us to take care of our employees.”
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Said Bermuvez, “I think there will be some backlash, but, you know, it will make things easier for us.”
“We believe that guests should tip based on the service they receive, not because of the big event.”
Not every restaurant operator believes automatic payments are necessary.
“At Mahon Hospitality, we will not be changing our gratuity policies during the World Cup,” Robert Mahon told Fox News Digital.
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“We believe that guests should tip based on the service they receive, not because of the big event.”
The New York City grocer said he believes tipping should be based on the service a customer receives — which is why automatic payments won’t be added at his locations. (Stock)
Mahon said his company is also taking a different approach to pricing as many businesses prepare for increased demand. At London & Martin Co., the group’s New York City bar, customers will be able to buy $6 pints of Guinness during the global cup.
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“Our goal is simple: Create a good atmosphere, give the right value and give the fans a reason to come back every tournament,” he said.
The debate highlights a broader question facing restaurants: whether protecting employees from cultural differences in tipping demands requires automatic fees, or whether strong service and transparent prices are enough to encourage customers to willingly tip.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the National Restaurant Association for comment.
Andrea Margolis of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
