Do you already have your table lined up? But you’re wondering how much to tip for bottle service in Las Vegas? Well, I’m here to help you out.
As a VIP Host, I have six years of experience booking tables for clients in the clubs. So I know a thing or two about gratuities!
In my guide, you’ll learn:
- Tipping recommendations
- Who to tip
- How to select and change the gratuity
- How to avoid overtipping
Bottle Service Tip Recommendations
Before we begin, let’s clarify one thing: bottle service gratuities are always optional. So any amount you give is at your discretion.
However, Vegas clubs and lounges make percentage recommendations for tipping. For example, about half of all nightclubs and pool parties recommend a 20% server gratuity while the other half suggest 15%.
So, as long as you’re tipping within this range, you’ll be within the industry standard.
Here’s a quick summary of the recommended gratuity percentages at the most popular dayclubs and nightclubs in town:
| DAYCLUB | RECOMMENDED TIP |
|---|---|
| Ayu | 15% |
| Drai’s | 15% |
| EBC | 15% |
| Lavo | 20% |
| Liquid | 20% |
| Marquee | 20% |
| TAO | 20% |
| Wet Republic | 20% |
| NIGHTCLUB | RECOMMENDED TIP |
|---|---|
| Drai’s | 15% |
| EBC at Night | 15% |
| Hakkasan | 20% |
| Jewel | 20% |
| Marquee | 20% |
| Omnia | 20% |
| On The Record | 20% |
| TAO | 20% |
| XS | 15% |
| Zouk | 15% |
Who To Tip
It’s important to know that the “recommended gratuity” at clubs and lounges is for the server only. Vegas venues usually do not give suggested tip amounts for other staff members like VIP hosts or promoters.
So if you only tip the server, that’s perfectly fine and acceptable. And that’s usually the only gratuity that most table guests pay anyway.
Busser
That said, some Vegas venues have a line item on the bill for a busser gratuity. So if your busser did a great job keeping your table clean and well-stocked, you could write in a tip when you close out your bill.
Again, there isn’t a recommended percentage here – so any amount is appreciated!
VIP Host & Promoter
Another staff member that you may want to consider tipping is your VIP host. That is – if you booked through a VIP host instead of directly on the venue’s website.
So if your host went above and beyond and helped you with your booking, offering them a gratuity is a nice gesture. In my experience, the average host tip is around $100.
But a host will typically earn a commission on your table, so it’s still okay if you don’t tip.
Selecting A Gratuity Amount
After the pandemic, bottle service reservations changed in Vegas.
It used to be that my clients didn’t need to pay in advance for a table. Instead, they would pay at the club when they arrived.
But now, many venues have guests prepay or pay a deposit to hold a table.
Tipping at TAO Properties
Take the TAO Group, for example; almost all their table reservations are prepaid. And, thanks to the Hakkasan merger, TAO now manages many venues, including:
- Hakkasan
- Jewel
- Lavo
- Liquid
- Marquee
- Omnia
- TAO
- Wet Republic
So when you book bottle service at these clubs, you’ll likely prepay the minimum spend, admin fee, and tip. And on the booking screen, you’ll also notice that the tip is preselected to the recommended server gratuity of 20%.
Here’s an example of a prepaid table at Lavo Party Brunch:
But just because the gratuity automatically defaults to 20% doesn’t mean you have to pay that amount. For instance, you can select a different percentage by clicking the down arrow next to the Recommended Gratuity line item.
So if you want to set the gratuity to zero and pay when you’re at the club, you can. Or if you want to tip 18%, that’s fine too.
Additionally, even if you prepay the bottle service gratuity, you can still change it when closing out your bill. So if you thought the service was exceptional, you’re welcome to tip more. Or if you felt it was lacking, you can reduce the amount, too.
You can also adjust the percentage when you check in for your table.
Bottle Service Tipping At Other Properties
If you reserve a table with a deposit or make a name-only booking, you’ll pay the tip on the day of the event.
So if you book at Ayu, Drai’s, EBC, On The Record, or XS, you won’t pay any gratuity in advance. Most lounges in Vegas work this way too.
The club will have you sign next to their recommended gratuity percentage when you’re at table check-in. Or, if you’d like, you can specify a different dollar amount on your check-in slip.
And then, when you close out, the amount you specified at check-in will automatically be added to your bill. But again, you can still change the gratuity percentage if you want to.
Just remember that you’ll need to let your server know before closing out your bill so they can adjust the total.
How To Avoid Overtipping
Since most venues will have you specify the tip amount before getting seated at a table, your check should have the gratuity in the total. But there still could be another line item for a server tip. (In case you’d like to give an additional amount.)
Occasionally, bottle service guests see this line and tip more than they intend because they don’t realize the gratuity is already included.
So always review your bill carefully to ensure the amount you specified at check-in is in the total. If it is, you don’t need to tip anything extra unless you want to.
Sometimes, too, venues will put a stamp on your check that says “Gratuity Included,” so you can always look for that. You can also check for an “Auto Grat,” “CCRecGrat,” or similar line item. If you see any of these, you’ll know the tip is already included in the total.
Conclusion
I always suggest tipping the recommended gratuity to my bottle service clients. And I often have clients tip more than this because they’re so happy with the service they receive in the clubs.
But remember that tipping is always at your discretion. So there’s no mandatory bottle service tip required. There’s an industry standard, though. And giving a server gratuity is a nice gesture.
It can also benefit you to take care of the people in Vegas that help you – like VIP hosts, promoters, and bussers. These team members can help make your time in Vegas more enjoyable, so giving them some thanks can go a long way!
