Here’s something that’s equally directed at hotel guests and hotel staff, and I’m curious if I’m alone in feeling this way…
Why have hotel hallways become so messy?
Hotel hallways are shared spaces, though year after year I feel like they’re getting less tidy. This isn’t a new trend, really, but I think it’s a combination of factors that are contributing to this decline. I’d attribute it to the general reduction in standards at many hotels, reduced hotel staffing, non-daily housekeeping, and also us as humans just being less considerate of others.
I feel like back in the day, the only thing you’d find in hotel hallways was the housekeeping carts (assuming it’s not a hotel where they bring those into the rooms). However, over time, I’m noticing more and more clutter in hallways:
- When it comes to guests, you see them leaving room service carts or trays in the hallway, or in many cases empty takeout containers or trash
- When it comes to hotel staff (especially at more limited service properties), I increasingly see them leaving big bags of used sheets and towels in the hallways, rather than placing them somewhere not in public view… among other things
Heck, during a recent stay at the airside Holiday Inn Express Delhi Airport, the hotel just stored (kind of gross looking) mattresses in the hallway. Nice.
If you ask me, hotel staff should aspire to have hallways looking as neat and clean as possible. Admittedly I get the problem — management probably expects more and more from staff, and sets unrealistic expectations.
Meanwhile guests shouldn’t treat hotel hallways as some place to dispose of things that they don’t want in their room. Don’t like the smell of your takeout leftovers? I can assure you others don’t look forward to smelling them either!
When is it acceptable to leave something in hotel hallways?
As a hotel guest, is it ever acceptable to place something outside of your room? Personally, I think there’s one specific instance where it’s maybe okay. If you’re staying at a hotel with room service, I think it’s fine to place the cart or tray in the hallway, but only if you call room service and tell them you’ve done that, so they can collect it. It just seems more efficient than requiring them to knock, having another unnecessary interaction, etc.
However, I’m even on the fence about that because I’d say that at many hotels, room service is just too short staffed, and they might not come around to collect things for hours. So I’d feel better about doing this at a Four Seasons than at a 1,000-room hotel in Times Square… but that’s just me.
Bottom line
I feel like we’ve seen a slow and steady trend whereby hotel hallways are getting less and less clean by the year. This partly comes in the form of hotel housekeeping just dumping more stuff there, but it also comes down to guests just leaving things outside their rooms that they no longer want, and hotel staff not really cleaning up after people.
Has anyone else noticed this hotel hallway trend? When do you think it’s okay to leave stuff in hotel hallways?