Baywood Hotels, a Columbia, Maryland-based hospitality management and development company, has partnered with the digital tipping platform eTip to provide a digital tipping solution for guests at its hotels.

The digital tip-powered solution, offered through the Visa network, allows guests to digitally tip hotel staff in a secure and convenient manner.

This solution is available at Baywood Hotels properties, including Marriott, IHG, Hilton and Choice branded hotels.

Baywood Hotels chief operating officer Ryan Lee said: "We pride ourselves on seeking innovative solutions to best serve the needs of our employees.

"With eTip's solution, we're proud to not only modernise a time-honoured tradition of allowing guests to express their appreciation but also thrilled to offer a method for employees to more quickly and efficiently enjoy the benefits of their dedicated work."

eTip cofounder and CEO Nicolas Cassis said: "We're thrilled Baywood Hotels sees the value in our mission of revolutionising the 160-year-old cash tradition with digital tipping."

"Together, we address pain points from every side: the hoteliers, the associates and the guests. We look forward to continuing to offer cutting-edge technology simplifying the guest experience and financial reconciliation while also helping to deliver the high-touch, personalised experience guests have come to expect when they stay at one of these properties."

eTip does not require a mobile app or login credentials. Guests need to scan a QR code using a mobile phone camera and click the banner that appears on the screen, following which they can securely tip using a payment method of their choice such as credit or debit card, etc.

It includes "tap to tip", which opens an NFC-enabled QR code, following which guests can tap the associate's or department’s profile and make the tip.

Once the tip is made electronically by guests, associates get the tip in their bank account via Visa Direct, thereby removing the need to wait for a tip to be paid via the weekly or bi-weekly payroll mode.

Additionally, eTips makes digital tipping easy to use for guests as it provides individual and pooled tipping options.