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Since I have been a breakfast host at a hotel before, I realize how nice tips are. I recieved nice tips and it helped supplement my $7/hr paycheck...I worked at a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, and helped people with the buffett - I brought them coffee, showed them around the buffett, made sure they were happy, then brought them the check which they could put on their room ($7.95 for the buffett - ouch!) - most were businessmen and were billing someone else for the rooms so they tacked on a one or two dollar tip...some were marriott gold members which recieved free breakfast and left me $5 tips instead, and on the weekends were regular joes who were not expecting to pay for breakfast to begin with...the days I worked the hardest I got the least in tips usually.
You should always tip someone when you recieve a personal service. HOWEVER, that tip should be based upon how good the service was, NOT what is 'customary'. Haircuts, I tip 1-3 dollars depending on how good the barber was. Pizza, two-three bucks usually. Waitresses, depending on the service, anywhere from pennies to 30% depending on how good he/she was. The tips I recieved I recieved because I gave good service...that's why I recieved $5 tips on a $7.95 buffet, or one time, where two ladies were part of a business group that recieved cheaper meals, went back to their rooms, then went to the kitchen area to find me and gave me 10's and 5's because of how good the service was and how they didn't expect it in a small 90-room basic kansas hotel.
Regarding housekeeping service, I think it all depends. In a lot of hotels, the housekeeping staff goes into your room, does what it needs and gets out. If there is a personal touch left - a signed note saying it was a pleasure, an exceptionally well cleaned room, sure leave a tip. But I don't think it's expected, especially at our hotel, where the housekeeping staff was Mexicans and legally retarded people (sounds bad, but it was true). At hotels where rooms are much nicer and fancier, sure you might leave a tip.
The absolute bottom line for me is: A TIP IS A MEASURE OF GOOD SERVICE, NOT REQUIRED. If you recieve terrible service, you show it by leaving no or an extremely small tip. If you recieve excellent service, say thank you with a large tip.
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