Aplauso is a cashless digital tipping platform built for the hospitality industry. It lets guests tip workers - housekeepers, valet attendants, spa therapists, servers, concierge, and more - instantly from their phone or a kiosk, without needing cash.
The Problem Aplauso Solves
Cash is disappearing. Most guests arrive at hotels, spas, and resorts without bills in their wallet, yet tipping is still the primary income source for millions of frontline hospitality workers. The result: tips go unmade, workers lose income, and properties struggle to retain talent.
Aplauso bridges that gap.
How It Works
For Guests
- The guest scans a QR code (displayed on a table card, door hanger, kiosk screen, or shared in an app) or taps a kiosk at your venue.
- They select a star rating (optional) and a tip amount - preset options or a custom amount.
- They pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit/debit card, or by charging the tip to their hotel room bill.
- A confirmation screen appears and the tip is processed instantly through Stripe.
The guest flow is designed to be completed in a browser without a required app download or account. Available payment methods depend on the configured property and the guest's device.
For Employees
- Receive notifications when they earn an allocation from a paid tip.
- See eligible allocated earnings on the Wallet screen.
- Request payout of eligible funds to their connected bank account.
- See ratings and guest feedback only when they were the canonical employee destination; collective outlet and department ratings remain collective.
For Venues & Managers
- Manage employees, departments, and outlets from the Aplauso Dashboard at my.aplauso.io.
- View property-wide analytics: total tips, average ratings, tip volumes by department, guest satisfaction trends.
- Set up and style QR codes and kiosks to match your brand.
- Stay compliant: every tip is recorded, traceable, and reportable.
Platform Components
| Component | URL | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Dashboard | my.aplauso.io | Personal stats, wallet, QR code, settings |
| Business Dashboard | my.aplauso.io/business | Team management, analytics, reports |
| Guest Kiosk | k.aplauso.io | Guest-facing tipping and rating interface |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | Employee app for earnings, activity, reward-code sharing, and wallet tasks |
| Support | support.aplauso.io | This help center |
Who Aplauso Is For
Aplauso works best for no-payment-at-service hospitality businesses where workers provide a service but guests don't pay on the spot:
- 🏨 Hotels - housekeeping, bellhop, concierge, room service
- 💆 Spas and wellness centers - therapists, estheticians
- 🚗 Valet and parking services
- 🛳 Cruise ships and resorts
- 🍽 Restaurants and bars with tableside service
Not a fit? If your business already collects tips through a POS terminal at the point of sale (like a coffee shop), Aplauso is a complement rather than a replacement.
Why Aplauso vs. Other Options
- Purpose-built for hospitality - not a generic payment app adapted for tips
- No app required for guests - works entirely in a mobile browser via QR code
- Stripe-powered - enterprise-grade payment security and instant payouts
- Canonical destinations - employee, outlet, and department tips each follow that destination's saved distribution rule
- Full analytics - management visibility that cash tipping never provides
Next Steps
- Quick Start Guide - Set up your venue in 10 minutes
- Who Should Use Aplauso? - See if your venue is a good fit
- How Guests Leave a Tip - Understand the guest experience