'Voluntary tipping' era begins at Doğuş Group restaurants

Doğuş Group has launched a “voluntary tipping” system across its 48 restaurants operating under the 'd.ream' brand.

Following the government's move to abolish service, cover, and table charges, the first initiative has come from the Doğuş Group.

Doğuş Group consulted with the Ministry of Trade and reached an agreement regarding tipping.

As of last week, the “Voluntary Tipping” era has officially begun at Doğuş Group restaurants.

Is this move by the Doğuş Group the right one? It is a one-hundred-percent correct initiative.

As I have written before, simply saying "I have abolished tipping" does not solve the problem.

When you say "I have abolished tipping," another system should have been introduced in its place.

Doğuş Group is the one that has brought this system to life.

Doğuş Group owns some of our country's most exclusive restaurants.

These restaurants are the most preferred venues for both local customers and tourists.

Leading these restaurants are Biz İstanbul, Borsa, Cova, Çubuklu 29, Da Mario, Gina, Günaydın, Kebapçı Etiler, Lacivert, Liman İstanbul, Masa, Nusr-et, Sait, Vogue Restaurant, and Zuma.

When you dine or drink at these restaurants, the bills naturally come to a high amount.

Nobody carries enough cash in their pocket to pay for these bills or for tips.

However, leaving a tip for the waiter who serves us in the restaurants where we receive service is part of our culture, rather than a necessity.

Europe and America solved this issue years ago.

They either determine and add a service charge to the bill, or they use a system where you can select a service charge option of 10, 15, or 20 percent.

This service charge, determined by us, can be charged to our credit card and will be tax-exempt, ensuring that the entire service charge goes directly into the waiter's pocket.

This is the system that has now been implemented thanks to the Doğuş Group.

You have your meal. You ask for the bill. You then have the desired amount added to the bill as a tip and charged to your credit card.

We call this “Voluntary Tipping.”

Isn't it great? Both the receiver and the giver are satisfied.

I paid my first tip with a credit card at Nusr-et.

You ask for the bill. You tell the waiter how much of a tip you would like to give on top of the bill. The waiter adds the tip you specified to the bill and brings it back. You then pay your bill and the voluntary tip you specified with your credit card.

As a final step, you sign the receipt that stays at the restaurant for the bill and tip you paid with your credit card, and you complete the transaction.

As I said, the voluntary tipping era is currently only valid at Doğuş Group restaurants.

Thanks to this article, all restaurant and cafe owners will learn about this voluntary tipping system.

The voluntary tipping era started by the Doğuş Group will thus soon begin in every restaurant and cafe.

I have a word here for restaurant and cafe owners:

When the government abolished tipping, you added a 10 percent increase to your menus. Remove those increases. Remove those increases so that we can give our “voluntary tips” with peace of mind.