Let’s put a common misconception to rest, shall we? A hotel will not contact a guest to return a personal item left behind after check-out.

This is not meant as a heartless inaction, but there are very few exceptions. For example, if an elderly man should leave without taking his dialysis machine, the hotel will probably do its best to ensure a safe reunion, however in most every other case, the guest will not receive so much as a phone call. This comes down to the fundamental promise of privacy; imagine if you will…

A man reserves a suite for a weekend getaway with his girlfriend. They need a few days away from the increasing stresses of work, family and friends that have become unbearable distractions for them. The couple checks-in wiggling with anticipation; they are clearly in love. He holds her tightly with one hand and scribbles his name on the registration card with the other. She stares at him adoringly, cuddling his arm and brushing thick golden curls of hair away from her eyes. They make no delay and head to the elevator with little baggage.

The couples makes no further appearances all weekend and are only seen by room service attendants and housekeepers replacing towels until they check-out. Shortly afterward, housekeeping arrives to service the room and a curling iron is discovered on the bathroom counter-top. According to procedure, this item is turned over to the Executive Housekeeper, who logs the item in a manual or computerized lost and found document, informs the front desk and locks the item away.  Usually the story ends here, but on this day, this EH can’t help but reflect on the couple. They were so cute together. Such a handsome guy.  Such a beautiful girl – and those golden curls! The EH remembers passing them in the hallway right after check-in and then again on a towel run one evening. The curls were much more flat the second time around, but understandably so. 

Then, with as pure intent as a person can have – this Executive Housekeeper decides to call the guest about the overlooked item. She dials the phone number on file and practices her reaction to the gratitude she will receive from the relief she will bring. On the fourth ring the woman answers and the EH proudly conveys her revelation and pauses for a reaction. It was anything but relief.  

“Curling iron? Hotel? Was my husband there this weekend? With a woman!?!”

A very important lesson has been learned here – in a very uncomfortable way. It is not the place of the hotel to interject itself in the lives of guests and it is most certainly not the prerogative of the hotel to contribute to the national divorce rate. A simple misplaced curling iron could push a perfectly happy, possibly naive and undoubtedly delusional sham of a marriage down a road certain turmoil - though the value of what is left behind hardly matters at all.

Guests leave everything behind; if you can bring it into a hotel room, it has been left in a hotel room. Books, belts, DVDs, phone chargers, laptops, diamond rings…even a body once.

Which brings me to Phillip Barnstead…

~The Innkeeper