Marriott International announced it will be the first partner in an initiative from A Woman’s Nation — a non-profit group founded by Maria Shriver — designed to encourage and enable hotel guests to leave tips and notes of thanks for hotel room attendants in designated envelopes provided in hotel rooms.
Beginning this week, which also is International Housekeepers week, Marriott will place signature envelopes in more than 160,000 guestrooms at participating Marriott-managed hotels in the United States and Canada. Marriott has also invited its franchise hotels to participate in the initiative, which has been dubbed “The Envelope Please.”
“The Envelope Please was born from having conversations with women I’ve met who have taken care of my room during hotel stays,” Shriver said. “They told me that room attendants, who are often the primary breadwinner for their families, are often forgotten when it comes to tipping, unlike other front-of-house employees, since most travelers don’t see them face-to-face. I hope this gratitude initiative will make these women feel seen and validated.”
“Room attendants are the largest employee group within Marriott International and the heart of the house,” said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International. “Marriott is proud to support The Envelope Please to shine a light on the excellent behind-the-scenes work our room attendants do day in and day out.”