Restaurants add World Cup service charges, fearing tourists won't tip

Daniel McLaughlin understands that Mission Taqueria isn't the kind of fine-dining temple that travelers typically seek out when visiting Philadelphia. But during the expanded World Cup this summer, his 140-seat restaurant may benefit from its downtown location, near Rittenhouse Square, where tourists will seek transportation to matches or just refuge during their long walk to the fan festival site in Fairmount Park.

Plus, McLaughlin points out that many soccer fans from Latin America might appreciate his quesabirria quesadillas, empanadas and tacos, each available for less than $20 during a World Cup that has generated significant criticism for its sky-high prices. The owner is bracing for a crush of new customers, including many who may not be familiar with American tipping culture and how servers rely on gratuities to make a living.

To protect his tipped staff - about half of his 50 employees - McLaughlin has instituted a 20 percent service charge on all checks during the three-week run of World Cup matches in Philly. The owner wants to make sure his servers, who can earn $25 to $45 an hour with tips, don't see a drop in income through no fault of their own.

"It would be a real bummer for it to be super busy and for our tipped employees to not benefit from that in any way," McLaughlin said. "We just want to make sure all of our tipped employees are seeing the same benefit as the business, hopefully."

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/restaurants-add-world-cup-charges-100001673.html