When people go on vacation, staying in hotels is almost inevitable. While wanting to relax in the room, it is important to abide by the norms of etiquette to avoid causing trouble for the housekeeping staff or other guests. Some hotel employees shared that when they stay in hotels, they practice empathy and avoid doing things in the room that may inconvenience others.
According to a report by the Huffington Post, several hotel employees, including the owners, shared five things they avoid doing in hotel rooms:
A hotel is a building composed of many rooms, and for this reason, the walls of hotels are usually thin, especially when there are adjoining rooms.
Trisha Pérez Kennealy, the owner of a hotel in Massachusetts, mentioned that she enjoys listening to music and usually brings a Bluetooth speaker when traveling. However, she noticed that hotel walls are much thinner than regular houses, leading to closer proximity between guests. Therefore, she always keeps the volume of her Bluetooth speaker at a reasonable level while playing music.
Kennealy mentioned that when dining in her room, she always calls housekeeping to remove the dishes or takes out the trash after eating. Leaving food in the hallway for hours without informing the staff for disposal can be frustrating.
Mary D’Argenis, the founder of a hotel staff training company in Florida, emphasized that hotel staff strive to make each room as comfortable as a guest’s own home. Each room has its unique charm waiting for guests to discover.
“If I stay for a few days, I try to reduce the workload for others. I often hang a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on the door to let the housekeeping team know that cleaning service is not needed. I am fully capable of making my bed,” D’Argenis said.
D’Argenis understands the hard work of hotel staff. She mentioned that when staying at a hotel, she reuses the towels in her room, neatly stacking them in the bathroom before leaving and ensuring all trash is in the bin.
Kennealy added that she never uses towels to remove makeup. She advised, “If the hotel provides makeup wipes or towels specifically for makeup removal, please use them instead of regular towels.”
“The makeup stains on white towels are indeed hard to remove and replacement costs are high,” she noted.
Brooks Ferring, the owner of a hotel in Colorado, stated, “Out of respect for the room attendants, I always try to keep the room clean. No one expects the room to be spotless when guests leave, but some common courtesies upon departure can make the housekeeper’s job easier.”
Kennealy also abides by this practice. She mentioned, “When I stay in a hotel room, I intentionally try to keep the room as clean as possible because I’ve seen how people leave hotel rooms.”
She noted that she usually makes the bed and ensures everything is packed in the suitcase rather than being scattered around, as this can make the housekeeper’s job more difficult.
D’Argenis highlighted that maintaining the cleanliness of hotel rooms is greatly beneficial. “Hotel staff would never leave a mess in the room for someone else to clean up.”