Irish hospitality businesses saw 74% tip increase in December

Staff in the hospitality industry have seen a substantial increase in tips due to the implementation of a cashless tipping solution that is said to be able to help hospitality businesses to bridge revenue gaps.

Recent case studies show that adopting Paynt’s URocked cashless tipping solution is not only simplifying tipping for customers – but also driving increased tips and improved staff morale.

Leading the charge in Cork, Dublin, and beyond, Sober Lane, Bubba’s Fish Market, D’Olier Street, and Orwell Road (part of the Bereen Brothers Group) have shared their success stories with URocked, Paynt’s cashless tipping solution that is transforming the way businesses manage tips and employee satisfaction.

Paynt has been leading providers in payment and tipping solutions in the Baltic region the last number of years, establishing its first Irish office last year.

The company have now announced a new director of Irish operations in Kia Morice to spearhead their growth and development across the country over the next number of years. Speaking following her appointment, Morice said the company welcomed news that the new draft programme for government includes plans to cut the VAT rate to 9% for food services, entertainment and hairdressing in the 2025 budget:

“We fully support the proposal of this measure by the Government and hope it will help alleviate some pressure on both new and existing customers. As patrons of the RAI we have witnessed their tireless work and campaigning first-hand. We are delighted to see Adrian and the team’s efforts come to fruition and hope we can continue to do our part to offer our own support to the industry and staff through our solutions.

“In December last year, we witnessed a remarkable 74% increase in tip revenue, a testament to the beneficence of Irish consumers who generously rewarded exceptional service during the festive season,” Morice said.

“We have entered 2025 with strong momentum, partnering with esteemed establishments and welcoming numerous new clients. January has started impressively, and we are on track to achieve 30% monthly growth in processed tips across Ireland this year. To support this continued growth, we will be expanding our Irish operations, creating new job opportunities,” she said.

At Sober Lane in Cork, the introduction of cashless tipping has seen a significant surge in tip percentages, with customers opting for a simple 10% tip on larger bills. General manager of Sober Lane, Conor McLoughlin explained, “Previously, customers would leave loose change. Now, we’re seeing people leave €10 instead of €2.20, and it’s all thanks to the convenience of the Paynt solution,”.

This positive shift is echoed by other businesses. Bubba’s Fish Market in Dalkey saw a marked increase in tips after switching from a QR code-based tipping system to Paynt tipping solution co-owner Stephen Hanley explains, “After the pandemic, customers weren’t carrying cash, so we turned to cashless tipping. The result? A noticeable increase in tips, sometimes even doubling compared to before.”

At Orwell Road in Rathgar, Dublin which is part of the Bereen Brothers Group, general manager, Goran Jandric, reported a 20-40% increase in tips after switching to a cashless system, which has also made tax reporting and distribution of tips more transparent. “Customers are happy to leave a higher tip on their cards, and our staff are seeing the benefits,” Goran added.

The shift to cashless tipping has also improved the way tips are distributed among staff. Staff at all these establishments report that tips are now more evenly and fairly split.

A recent survey conducted by the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI), in collaboration with Paynt, revealed that 83% of businesses using cashless tipping systems reported seeing a significant increase in tips. Some businesses, including those using Paynt tipping solution, have even reported a triple increase in the total amount of tips.