As the FIFA World Cup brings a surge of international visitors to host cities, some restaurants are implementing automatic gratuity charges. This measure addresses concerns that guests from countries with less emphasis on tipping might undercompensate service staff. The Missouri Restaurant Association previously advised Kansas City venues to add a 20% automatic gratuity during the tournament.

Now, as reported by Food & Wine, this practice is expanding to other cities such as Atlanta and Philadelphia. Business operators assert that automatic tipping safeguards servers who rely heavily on gratuities and minimizes culture-related misunderstandings about American tipping customs.

Some restaurants plan to inform customers about the surcharge through visible notices. Bob Riekhof, general manager of La Bodega in Kansas City, stated that information about the gratuity will be included on menus and communicated by servers.

Ben Fileccia, from the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, mentioned that visible notices aim to facilitate smoother transactions and prevent uncomfortable discussions about tipping norms.

There are concerns about consumer reactions to mandatory gratuities, which some fear could contribute to frustration over fees. David Henkes from Technomic highlighted the potential for consumer backlash if costs aren’t clearly communicated or if tipping expectations are compounded.

Michele Bermuvez, co-owner of Atlanta’s Brewhouse Café, acknowledged potential resistance but emphasized the importance of supporting staff amidst increased customer flow.

However, not all restaurants agree with automatic tips. Robert Mahon of Mahon Hospitality prefers that gratuities reflect service quality rather than event-driven expectations. His approach at New York City’s London & Martin Co. includes keeping beer prices attractive to draw fans throughout the World Cup.

The discussion points to a larger industry question: Is protecting staff from varied tipping cultures best handled by automatic charges or by maintaining service quality and transparent pricing?

Fox News Digital sought comments from the National Restaurant Association for further insight.