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Tourism & Hospitality vocabulary · Food & Beverage Service

Service charge

Meaning in tourism & hospitality, with examples

nounCommon term

In tourism & hospitality, service charge means: An extra amount, usually a percentage of the bill, that a restaurant or hotel adds for service and sometimes shares among the staff.

In Turkish: servis ücreti, servis bedeli

How it is used

Menus and bills should say clearly whether service is included: "A 10% service charge will be added to your bill." Guests often ask whether they should still leave a tip. Rules on service charges differ from country to country, so staff should know the hotel's policy.

Example sentences

  1. Does the bill include a service charge, or should we leave a tip?

  2. A 12.5% service charge is added to all room service orders.

Common collocations

  • service charge included
  • add a service charge
  • discretionary service charge
  • service charge and tax
  • tipAn extra amount of money that a guest gives a waiter, porter, driver or other staff member to thank them for good service.
  • billA document showing what a guest must pay for the room, meals and other services, or the total amount itself.
  • room serviceA hotel service that brings food and drinks ordered by phone or app to a guest's room.
  • à la carteDescribes food ordered as separate dishes from a menu, each with its own price, rather than as a set meal or a buffet.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Food & Beverage Service

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