The UK’s first budget hotel brand, Travelodge has just revealed some of the interesting items left behind in its 571 sites during the last 12 months.
With nearly 19 million people annually staying in a Travelodge hotel across the length and breadth of the UK, it's no surprise that things get left behind. Here are some of the other unusual treasures that have been left:
· A Tiffany engagement ring
· A Vertu Touch Mobile phone
· Artwork for a company’s new brand logo
· A 3ft long lucky heather wedding bouquet
· A 30 year old autograph book full of celebrity signatures
· A diamond Chopard watch
· A Persian Chinchilla cat called Angel
· An urn containing ashes of a beloved father
· A Gibson guitar
· A 75 inch smart TV
· A gallon of water from Loch Ness
· A jewelled wedding saree
· A 4ft angel wings piece of artwork
· Bridal Louboutin Swarovski shoes
· Deeds to a shop
· A 6ft flower wall
· A pair of artificial 6ft palm trees
Interestingly, the hotel chain has seen a growing trend in wedding props, wedding attire and even a Best Man being left behind at its hotels. The housekeeping team at Leamington Spa Travelodge got a beautiful surprise to find a 5ft unicorn made out of flowers occupying one of the bridal group party rooms.
The team at Liverpool John Lennon Airport Travelodge - were over the moon to find a huge full silver moon taking forty winks on the Travelodge Dreamer bed. The full silver glitter moon was a photograph back drop attraction at a guest’s wedding the night before.
One forgetful guest staying at London City Travelodge forgot to pack his Tiffany engagement ring that he placed in his pillowcase case. The guest had made a special journey to London from the Hebrides to purchase the ring. Luckily the hotel manager found the ring box as soon as the guest left the hotel and speedily managed to get to Heathrow airport and reunite the gentleman with the engagement ring before his flight.
The hotel manager at Torquay Travelodge was put through his paces when he found a Best Man who had overslept and been left behind by the wedding party. The manager literally had less than an hour to arrange a sea tractor and get the Best Man to Burgh Island for his brother’s wedding – which he successfully did.
A guest dedicated to philography – collecting celebrity autographs - had to make a return journey from the Netherlands to pick up their precious 30 year old autograph book that they forgot to pack when staying at Manchester Central Arena Travelodge for a concert.
During the last 12 months, Travelodge hotel staff has seen a growing trend in forgetful pet owners. One guest staying at Stratford Upon Avon Travelodge forgot her pair of Alpacas called Ant & Dec. Whilst one cat show enthusiast staying at Stirling Travelodge thought her husband, John had placed her treasured Persian Chinchilla cat, Angel, into the car and only realised Angel was still in the room, 50 miles into their journey.
With more business customers staying at Travelodge hotels than ever before, the hotel chain has seen a rise in more executive items being left behind at its hotels. This includes a brand new Aston Martin car being left behind at Marlow Travelodge Plus hotel.
A Chief Executive sent his assistant to pick up a lucky 65 year old bonsai tree that has been passed down three generations of his family - which he forgot at London Waterloo Travelodge.
One forgetful shop owner left behind the deeds to his new shop at Harrogate Travelodge. Whilst the hotel team at the new Edinburgh Park Travelodge found a new brand logo presentation and campaign for a well-known company.
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said, “With nearly 19 million customers annually staying at our 571 across the length and breadth of the UK for thousands of different reasons, we do get a range of interesting items left behind.
'This year’s audit includes: a pair of Alpacas called Ant & Dec, a 65 year old luck Bonsai tree, an Aston Martin, a dissertation, a gingerbread village with residents and a precious 20 year old celebrity autograph book.”
“Interestingly our hotel teams have reported a rise in wedding and proposal props being left behind in our hotels in 2019. This included a 5ft floral unicorn, a huge full moon, a flower wall, palm trees, a Tiffany engagement ring and even a best man”
“As we have more business customers staying in our hotels than ever before, we are seeing a continuous rise in important business papers, valuable items and lucky charms being left behind in our hotels. This includes a 65 year old lucky Bonsai tree that has been passed down three generations, important business documentation and a brand new identity artwork.
“When it comes to why so many of our customers forget their treasured items, it’s basically due to us all being time poor, juggling multiple tasks and being in a hurry to get from A to B. In the rush, valuable possessions are easily forgotten.”
Also, Travelodge has revealed the top ten most popular items left behind in its hotels during 2019:
· Chargers for mobile phones and electronic devices such as laptops
· Mobile phones, tablets and Kindles
· Business papers / notepads / presentations
· Books
· Teddy Bears
· Toiletry bags with contents
· Jewellery
· Clothing
· Toys
· Gifts / presents
All items left behind in Travelodge hotels which have not been claimed within three months, are donated to the local British Heart Foundation Charity Shops, Travelodge’s nominated charity partner.
(image: Tiffany)