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Thieving guests cost hotels E5.5k a year

Monday, September 17 11:34:56

Guests who make off with everything from towels and toiletries to large items of furniture and TVs cost hotels an average of E5,500 a year, according to a survey from lastminute.com.

The survey of 500 hotels worldwide discovered 95pc have been victims of theft by hotel guests.

Hoteliers estimate that the problem costs them over E5,500 on average per year, with this figure almost quadrupling to close to E20,000 in 5 Star accommodation as the value of items increase.

According to the 'Hotel Secrets Survey' 1 in every 10 guest has made off with something they shouldn't have - from the usual suspects to the absurd and ridiculous.

While towels are the most popular item pilfered (87pc) followed by toiletries (60pc), some more audacious guests have removed items like TVs (16pc), computers (4pc) and even a cigarette machine from the lobby.

It found that 6pc of hotels reported losses of artwork, sculptures, heavy statues or antiques. Some even managed to dislodge every single bulb in a room as reported by several hotels (9pc).

One 5-star hotel in Dublin reported how one guest stole all the wrapped presents under a Christmas tree, only to find empty boxes when he arrived home.

A 5 Star hotel in Istanbul reported that the entire room had vanished with only the bed, desk and TV remaining.

A Berlin hotel reported how one guest stole the stylish rain shower heads, hydro massage shower units, taps, toilet seats, interior plumbing and the sink itself.

One guest of a Las Vegas hotel took such a shine to the carpet and cut it out completely.

A sofa and mini-bar fridge disappeared from a 5 Star Dubai hotel.

A guest took every single piece of cutlery and equipment provided in the kitchenette of a 3 Star hotel in Dubrovnik and a 5 Star hotel in Istanbul.

A 5 Star Madrid hotel reported an incident of a guest taking off with a mattress.