Gratuity in addition to Service Charges

I have been searching for hotels in Beijing in July and came across the
following:

"SERVICE CHARGE: 15% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE" ...."EXCLUDES
GRATUITY".

For those who have traveled extensively, what is the difference between the
automatic 15% service charge added to your daily account and gratuity? I
presume service IS gratuity for the services provided whether they are used
or not. Otherwise, why wouldn't they be included in the rate? What's next
in the hotel industry? Is this adding insult to injury for no services
provided that were already included in the rate? Yes, I expect my bed to be
made daily and the towels replaced! Does either of these two tasks fall
into the service or gratuity column?

rg

On Feb 19, 6:16 pm, "Sharkbait" wrote:
I have been searching for hotels in Beijing in July and came across the
following:

"SERVICE CHARGE: 15% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE" ...."EXCLUDES
GRATUITY".

For those who have traveled extensively, what is the difference between the
automatic 15% service charge added to your daily account and gratuity? I
presume service IS gratuity for the services provided whether they are used
or not. Otherwise, why wouldn't they be included in the rate? What's next
in the hotel industry? Is this adding insult to injury for no services
provided that were already included in the rate? Yes, I expect my bed to be
made daily and the towels replaced! Does either of these two tasks fall
into the service or gratuity column?


It is customary for Western-style hotels in China to add a 15% service
charge. This is NOT in lieu of a tip; it goes to the owner, not the
staff. It is simply a way of advertising a lower rate than you will
actually pay. One possible reason is to get around corporate room rate
limits imposed by some companies on traveling employees. As it is a
service charge and not a room charge it gets by company auditors.
Local hotels that do not expect foreign visitors do not generally add
a service charge.

Gratuities are not required or recommended in China. It is not part of
the culture and it is establishing a bad precedent to give a tip to
anyone, be it hotel employee, taxi driver, tour guide, or anyone else.

best,

Larry