Why a hotel will never call guests about lost property

Guest belongings are left behind in hotel rooms all the time. From phone charges to clothing, many lost items can often be retrieved if a former guests makes a phone call. 

But, if a guest doesn’t call, there’s a good chance the hotel won’t ever call back.

When you check in, the hotel grabs your details, so why can’t they contact you? It would certainly save a headache.

It turns out the hotel staff have a good reason why they leave your items to gather dust.

According to The Sun, too many staff have been caught off guard when chasing down a guest, especially those committing adultery. 

Tammy Geist Long, who was once an innkeeper at a hotel, explained on Quora why a hotel may not call you back.

“One of our hard and fast rules was that we never called a guest if they left an item in their room and it was found after they checked out,” Long explained.

“The reason was that we knew nothing about the private lives of the people who stayed with us and we never knew when Mrs. Smith was going to answer the phone and tell us that Mr. Smith wasn’t at a quaint Vermont inn last weekend, he was at a dentist convention in Toledo.

“That lesson was learned the hard way. And only once.”

She went on to explain that phone charges, cameras and jewellery were the most common items left behind.

To avoid all the hassle, these five tips are definitely worth a try next time you visit a hotel.

1. Clustering items together

Clustering items makes them less likely to get lost or forgotten. A great idea is to place an item like a phone charger on top of something else like a bag or wallet that you won’t forget.

2. Scan the room

Before you check out, try to make it a habit to do one last scan of the room, including the bathroom, wardrobe and under the bed.

3. Keep toiletries together

During your stay, try to keep your toiletries in one place. Why? If you leave your items in more than one place, there is a higher chance you’ll forget where they are. During the last scan of the room, be sure to check the shower as well.

4. Use a post-it note

Stick a post-it note on the door with a list of items you can’t forget. This will ensure you won’t forget, as the door is the last place you visit.

5. Keep a jewellery bag

There is nothing worse than realising you’ve left a beautiful piece of jewellery behind. To ensure this doesn’t happen, have a dedicated pouch or bag that you put your jewellery into each time you take it off.