Can You Take Tissue from a Hotel Room?
When staying at a hotel, many consider it reasonable to take leftover tissues from public dispensers. However, diving into the nuances reveals a complex issue.
Is It Theft?
While some hotels provide tissues in large cardboard containers readily accessible by guests, the hard plastic decorative dispensers seem unwarranted. Indeed, you can take tissues from the cardboard container, but doing so amounts to theft. Hotels usually expect supplies like tissues to be replenished regularly and often bear the cost of these replacements, which are eventually passed to the guests in the form of higher room rates. So, taking tissues feels like a form of theft, even if the items are cheap.
Consider this: every item a guest uses but does not return, such as soap, tissues, or toilet paper, contributes to an increase in room prices. Hotels must replace these items frequently to maintain hygiene and comfort levels, and these replacements directly impact the guest experience and pricing.
Why Refrain from Theft?
Prolonging the asking of similar questions about room amenities might draw attention to the repetitiveness. Issues like asking about towels, hairdryers, and remote controls have already been brought up. Guests should allow time for these questions to be addressed appropriately.
When it comes to social tissue boxes specifically, it’s prudent to exercise caution. Tissues are often used for more sensitive purposes, which makes them less desirable from a hygiene perspective. Furthermore, bedspreads, which are shared among guests, see frequent use and can be exposed to numerous contaminants. Sheets are washed, but bedspreads frequently retain stains and other marks, suggesting a potential health hazard.
Cost Implications of Theft and Misuse
No matter how small an item may seem, its replacement or repair adds to the operational costs of a hotel. When guests take or damage items, it increases the hotel's expenses. These costs must be covered by someone, and that someone is the guest through higher room rates. Furthermore, there are guests who might feel the need to indulge in tagging or completely destroying hotel property for novelty or excitement. This behavior not only violates hotel policies but also increases the costs for repairs and replacements.
For example, a single guest stealing an extra roll of toilet tissue, an unused wrapped plastic cup, or an ice bucket can result in the hotel incurring replacement costs. Some guests might also break or damage items in the room, leading to repair costs, which all add to the overall cost of the room for future guests. Consequently, the expenditure needed to address these issues drives up the cost of hotel rooms for everyone.
Guests play a direct role in contributing to higher room prices, and when they feel that it's socially acceptable to take leftover items, they are indirectly supporting these increased costs. This cycle of theft and unnecessary expenses leads to poorer experiences for future guests. Believe it or not, some surveys have even highlighted that the worst offenders among guests are those who repeatedly engage in this behavior.
Therefore, it is essential to use and return amenities appropriately, for the benefit of all guests, and to ensure that hotels can maintain a high standard of service. Remember, the next time you stay in a hotel, leave the room as you found it, and help keep room costs down.