Meaning of hotel waiter's gestures

Recently, some netizens asked me what it means when hotel staff make strange gestures when you enter a hotel while traveling.

Let's take a look at the brilliant responses from netizens:

Netizen "Jiu Kacha":

In star-rated hotels, staff members usually communicate through gestures rather than whispering.

For example,

The horizontal peace sign indicates "VIP guests have arrived, we need to pay extra attention":

A clapping motion with an outstretched palm indicates a request for "still water," or plain water. If the fingers move up and down like a jellyfish, it suggests a request for "moving water," such as soda or soft drinks, or perhaps a request for a drinks menu, or table cleaning.

Touching the gas candles on the guests' table indicates that the server does not need to ask the guests at that table if they would like refills.

If you extend your palms and place them against your abdomen, it means the waiter needs assistance from others.

Therefore, when a waiter makes strange gestures, it's simply because they want to provide you with better and faster service, not because they want to offend you or slack off.

Netizen yixiao912:

I've actually encountered this before. It's truly nonexistent in China. Even in high-end hotels and Western restaurants—I won't mention the names to avoid offending anyone—it's nonexistent. In China, communication is almost entirely verbal, or at most, via headset. It feels like something out of a SWAT team, which is incredibly frustrating. I've only encountered this twice abroad, once in the UK. I won't mention the hotel names either, as it might seem like advertising. They didn't use hand gestures as soon as you entered; it was just normal service. Ordering food was the same routine, nothing different. It's just that the customers there are showing off. I only noticed it when they mentioned it. The gestures are very subtle; you wouldn't notice them unless you were specifically looking. Later, I found out it's just some very simple sign language. I honestly don't know the specific meaning, but I guess it's something like someone running out of water or food. But I guess that kind of thing does exist.

Netizen Cunjiubao:

High-end restaurants once employed numerous coded gestures for service. In the 1990s, these gestures were all the rage and were a mandatory introductory course for many five-star hotel food and beverage staff in Chongqing. Although these gestures have now been replaced by headsets and other technology, a small number of high-end restaurants in Chongqing still continue to use them.

What are some commonly used hand gestures by waiters?

You might not know that high-end restaurants in Chongqing once used a variety of coded service gestures. In the 1990s, these gestures were all the rage and were a mandatory introductory course for many five-star hotel catering staff in Chongqing. Although these gestures have now been replaced by headsets and other technology, a few high-end restaurants in Chongqing still use them.

Yang Changjiang, head chef of the Jiuchongtian Revolving Restaurant at Yudu Hotel, recalled that time

Upon joining the company, employees were required to learn over ten hand gestures for internal communication, enabling them to handle the entire catering service process without uttering a single word, solely through gestures. In upscale restaurants, many diners value the elegant ambiance; if servers shouted, it would negatively impact service quality. However, after 1997, the use of hand gestures significantly decreased. In addition, the catering industry...

With so much movement of people, there are now only a handful of employees who know these hand gestures.

1. Gesture: Place your right hand across your chest, extend your index and middle fingers to make a V sign.

Significance: The guest is a VIP (main guest).

This gesture is primarily used when VIP guests arrive. Depending on the interaction with the guest, the server will make this gesture. A nearby staff member will then inform the manager or other staff. Management maintains a VIP file, recording the preferences of key guests who have dined there, down to their favorite teas and dishes, allowing them to immediately prepare meals based on those preferences. This VIP file is not accessible to just anyone; only one or two people per establishment have access to it.

2. Hand gesture: Hands close to the sides of the pants, head tilted to the left.

Significance: Key beverage for guests

This gesture stems from our belief that alcohol affects the left brain. Upon seeing their partner's gesture, the waiter will then bring out the drinks menu.

3. Gesture: Pointing one finger to the ring finger of the other hand.

Significance: The day is a major anniversary for the guest, such as their golden wedding anniversary, silver wedding anniversary, or birthday. After the waiter makes the gesture, a partner will bring a rose to celebrate.

4. Gesture: Make a C-shape with fingers slightly bent.

Significance: Customers demand coffee

Grand Vieux Restaurant in Chongqing's Guomao area is one of the few restaurants that still uses gestures for internal communication. Restaurant manager Qiu explained that the gestures are usually made by the hotel's receptionists. The "C" stands for the first letter of the English word "coffee." Because the hotel breakfast only offers one type of coffee, this gesture eliminates the need for two waiters to exchange time, allowing for faster service.

5. Gesture: Make a T-shape with both index fingers.

Significance: The guest requested tea.

Manager Chiu explained that, similar to coffee, when a receptionist makes a "T" (tea) gesture, it indicates that the guest requests tea. However, both gestures are for internal restaurant communication, and not every hotel uses the same code.

6. Gestures: Pulling on the bow tie or pulling on one's own ear.

Meaning: The guest needs to pay the bill.

7. Gesture: Extend your index and middle fingers to make an inverted V shape, and then make a moving motion.

Meaning: The guest is about to leave

Manager Qiu explained that this gesture is very descriptive, resembling the posture of walking on two legs, making it easy for employees to remember, as it means the guest is preparing to leave.