MRM EXCLUSIVE: The Tipping Point Is Now

With both restaurants and guest feeling the effects of inflation, tipping has become a topic of confusion and intrusion for diners, according to Restaurants: Consumer Trends Fall 2023/Winter 2024,  a report produced by Provoke Insights in collaboration with Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. 

Diners are the most willing to tip consistently at fine dining establishments. They are also most willing to tip delivery services like UberEats and Grubhub. They are less likely to tip consistently at fast- food locations and ice cream parlors.

Half of Americans say they are happy to compensate service staff. These tippers are more frequently parents, Millennials from urban areas, and liberals.

Other diners have negative feelings about tipping.

•Over a one-third of Americans say it is frustrating that they are asked to tip at dining establishments they normally would not have.

• Those who do not tip more than 15 percent if prompted are likely to be older…