18 Aug 2014
Posted by Miriam O'Neill 
Read our latest press release below which we issued in conjunction with Amárach Research:
Munster and Dublin residents are the best tippers in Ireland and Connacht/Ulster residents the worst new research published today by Amárach Research in conjunction with AA Hospitality Services suggest. During Amárach’s poll of 1,000 people living in Ireland, participants were asked about their propensity to tip staff in restaurants, pubs, hairdressers, beauticians as well as taxi drivers and takeaway delivery people.
Munster and Dublin residents were found to be the most generous tippers in two of the five categories while those in Connacht/Ulster tipped the least in all but one.
While tourists visiting Ireland are often advised of an ambiguous tipping culture the research indicates that Irish residents are inclined to tip this select group of service providers albeit by varying amounts and for different reasons.
In the two months leading up to the poll the average tip awarded to restaurant waiting staff for example was €5.97, the highest amount awarded to the service providers listed. This was followed by €4.14 to bar staff, €3.78 to hairdressers/beauticians, €2.99 to a takeaway delivery staff and €2.95 to taxi drivers.
While enjoying the best tips, more is expected from restaurant staff Amárach’s research suggests. 43% of those who left a tip following a meal within the last two months said the amount was dictated by the quality of the service they received.
The AA who have been inspecting hotels and restaurants for over a century share that they are not surprised that most modern day diners are judicious with their tips. “Ireland has enjoyed something of a culinary revolution in the last 15 or 20 years.” Comments one the AA’s Hotel Inspectors. “We have become a nation of more sophisticated palettes and Irish people have become a lot more experienced and discerning. Food and service standards have become one of the key differentiators for people when deciding which hotel to choose.”
Other insight the AA shares is that foreign tourists tend to bring their tipping cultures with them which can bode well for service staff in every facet of a hotel. “Accommodation staff are far more likely to receive a tip from an American guest than an Irish one. It’s fairly common practice for them to leave the last of their euros on the bedside locker before heading for the airport.”
Of those who tipped at a restaurant, 8% did so using their card. “When you tip by card in some instances that will go to the establishment rather than directly to the waiting or kitchen staff. It’s no harm to check when it comes to paying your bill especially if you want to reward the service provided by a certain individual.” Advises the AA’s Hotel Inspector.
The etiquette is a little different when it comes to tipping bar staff, takeaway delivery staff and taxi drivers Amárach’s research also reveals. The “done thing” here it seems is to simply allow them to keep the change. A different practice again exists for hairdressers and beauticians. Most customers, 41%, said they tip the same amount every time they visit the salon.
Service providers take note; certain age groups tend to be more generous than others with their tips. The under 25s for example are the biggest tippers down the pub. €6.67 was the average tip given by the sample of participants within this age category in the two months prior to Amárach’s study. This figure far eclipses the amounts given by all of the other age categories and is almost 2.5 times more than the average tip given by the Over 55s.
Munster participants were also found to be far more generous with bar and lounge staff than those from other parts of the country. On average for example they tip bar staff more than double the amount the folks of Connacht/Ulster do.
While falling behind when it comes to a few pints down the local the over 55s are anything but cheapskates when it comes to dining out where they were found to be the most generous tippers.
Guy Thompson, General Manager, Castle Knock Hotel and Country Club, AA Hotel of the Year: “From our experience the level of tip depends on several factors; the occasion, size of the group, overall meal experience, food quality and the staff’s interaction with the guest. Making that extra effort is often rewarded. You probably do tend to see older guests tipping more than younger people or those with young families which probably comes down to disposable income.”
