Danish Hotel Guests Most Honest, but Canada is Divided

35 per cent of hotel guests admit to pocketing room amenities according to Hotels.com global survey

TORONTO, April 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Many travellers revel in opening their hotel room door and taking in all the wonderful amenities - a plush robe, gourmet coffee, luxury bedding - that make the room feel like home, or even better. However, 35 per cent of global travellers take it one step further and take these amenities to their home according to a recent survey by leading online accommodation booking service Hotels.com®.

While a majority of hotel guests globally (65 per cent) say they've never pilfered an item from a hotel room - except toiletries, everyone takes those - Danish travellers come out on top as exceptionally honest with 88 per cent saying they've never pocketed a hotel amenity. Quebecers weren't too far behind with 81 per cent; however English Canada wasn't quite as honest as their French counterparts at 70 per cent. Here's how the rest of the countries surveyed rank… assuming the respondents were honest about their own sticky finger tendencies!

While more than a third of global travellers have stolen hotel amenities, there are a few niceties that guest are willing to pay for: a room with a view (29 per cent) and a balcony (17 per cent) came out on top.

The Hotels.com Favourite Hotel Amenities Survey also revealed that free Wi-Fi is king when it comes to must-have hotel amenities.

• 34 percent say free Wi-Fi is the number one factor in choosing a hotel even on leisure stays.
• 56 percent of respondents said free Wi-Fi is their number one must-have when travelling for business.
• 66 percent indicated free Wi-Fi is the amenity they most wish would become standard at all hotels in 2013.

Creature comforts of home and food are also high on the priority list for travellers:

• 23 percent chose high-end coffee makers as their top modern in hotel room amenity.
• 43 percent said complimentary bottled water is the most appreciated simple amenity.
• Happy hours, wine tastings or any other time with free food and drinks is 42 percent of global travellers' favourite newly offered hotel service amenity.
• 23 percent cite unlimited free food and beverages as their most missed comfort from home when travelling.

Hotels.com makes it easy for travellers to find and book the perfect home away from home with theme/type and amenities filters.

Editors Note: The survey was conducted in January 2013, using a weighted average based on a sample size of more than 8,600 respondents across 28 countries/cities: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, USA.

About Hotels.com^®

Hotels.com (also known in Canada as Hotels.ca) is a leading online accommodation booking brand. Through the Expedia, Inc. global network of websites, Hotels.com, LP connects travellers with almost 200,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favourites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com, LP benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, obtaining the best rates for its customers, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. There are more than 7 million Guest Reviews on the websites from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through Hotels.com, LP's industry-leading loyalty program Welcome Rewards^TM, customers can earn a free night for every 10 nights stayed at more than 85,000 hotels. Under its Price Match Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com, LP will refund the difference. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centers. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded at www.hotels.com/deals/mobile_app/ enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com publishes an award-winning twice-yearly review of international hotel room price trends called the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™, which is now produced in 31 individual country editions, with North American data available at www.hotel-price-index.com. Follow Hotels.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Hotels.comCA, on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hotelsdotcomca and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hotelsdotcom. Hotels.com, LP is part of Expedia, Inc., the largest online travel company in the world with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

Hotels.com, Hotel Price Index, HPI, Finding You the Perfect Place and the Hotels.com logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Hotels.com, LP. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. © 2013 Hotels.com, LP. All rights reserved. CST # 2083949-50

Image with caption: "Global Hotel Amenities Survey 2013 (CNW Group/Hotels.com)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130415_C5082_PHOTO_EN_25499.jpg

SOURCE: Hotels.com