The Secrets of A Hotel's Lost and Found: G6 Hospitality Reveals Results of "Motel 6 Items Left Behind" Survey
From Electronics to Intimates, Americans Reveal the Items They've Forgotten in Hotels
Sep 22, 2015, 08:20 ET
DALLAS, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer comes to a close, Americans reflect on all the memories gained and all the things they have lost along the way. According to a new survey by G6 Hospitality, known for its iconic economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6, more than half (54 percent) of travelers admit they have left something behind in a hotel room. The "Motel 6 Left Behind Survey" conducted by Kelton Global found that 29 percent of Americans are more likely to accidently leave a belonging behind in a hotel room than take a hotel item, such as shampoo or soap, home with them.
I'd Lose My Head If It Wasn't Attached
Travelers may not be losing their heads but three percent have left behind false teeth or hearing aids. Vacationers were not shy about sharing their travel truths. From their most cherished childhood keepsake to a pair of underwear, Americans reveal the top items they've left behind throughout their travels:
- Clothing (42 percent)
- Toiletries (42 percent)
- Electronic devices/chargers (40 percent)
- Jewelry, including watches (15 percent)
- Underwear (13 percent)
- Hair styling tools (13 percent)
Reunited and It Feels So Good
The saying goes, "what's lost can never be found," but over one-third (35 percent) of Americans have returned to a hotel to retrieve what they forgot. In fact, on average, respondents would travel:
- Over 110 miles to reclaim their money or wallet
- Over 95 miles to recover their electronic device
- Over 30 miles to pick up a forgotten device charger
In the case that they are not willing to go the distance, the survey uncovered that Americans would be willing to spend up to $90 to replace an item they forgot in a hotel, on average.
Generation Lost
Although a majority of hotel-stayers look twice before leaving their room, millennials are less likely than older generations (74 percent vs. 84 percent) to do so. In fact, millennials admit to losing four items in hotel rooms in the past, compared to older Americans who have abandoned three items across all of their travels. Interestingly, 38 percent of millennials have turned around to retrieve their items, compared to fewer (33 percent) non-millennials.
If Found, Please DON'T Call
While leaving items in their hotel room is mostly by accident, Americans would gladly leave a family member at home before embarking on their vacation. More than one quarter (26 percent) of married Americans admit the family member they'd most like to leave behind is their in-law. Just one in ten (10 percent) respondents said this about their own parent.
All is Not Lost
When it comes to party lines, all is not lost. Democrats would spend more money than Republicans ($84 vs. $59) to replace something they have left in a hotel room. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to scan the room to make sure they don't leave an item behind (86 percent vs. 78 percent). Likewise, Republicans disclose they would travel further than Democrats to reclaim their money or wallet (119 miles vs. 93 miles), ID or passport (118 miles vs. 85 miles) or childhood keepsake (86% vs. 50%).
"Motel 6 is a household name, synonymous with quality and value," said Lance Miceli, G6 Hospitality Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "The quality of the stay we provide is just as important as the valuable relationships we forge with our guests. Therefore, if you are among the one-third of Americans that will come back for a lost item, Motel 6 will be sure to leave the lights on."
For an infographic summarizing the "Motel 6 Left Behind" survey results, please click here. To gather more information regarding G6 Hospitality, please visit G6Hospitality LLC.
About G6 Hospitality LLC
G6 Hospitality LLC owns, operates and franchises over 1,200 economy lodging locations under the iconic Motel 6 and the extended stay Studio 6 brands in the U.S and Canada, and Hotel 6 and Estudio 6 brands in Latin America. Headquartered in Dallas (Carrollton), Texas, G6 Hospitality was rated one of the top ten hospitality companies according to the Hotel Management 2015 Top Hotel Companies rankings list, which evaluated over 260 hotel companies. For more information please visit G6Hospitality LLC.
About Kelton Global
Kelton Global is a leading global insights firm serving as a partner to more than 100 of the Fortune 500 and thousands of smaller companies and organizations. Utilizing a wide range of customized, innovative research techniques and staff expertise in marketing, branding, PR, media, and business strategy, Kelton helps drive clients' business forward. For more information about Kelton Global please visit KeltonGlobal.com.
About the Survey
The Motel 6 "Top Six Items Left Behind" survey was conducted between August 25th and September 1st, 2015 among 1,060 nationally representative Americans 18 and over, using an e-mail invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all personas in the universe represented by the sample. The margin of error for any subgroups will be slightly higher.
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SOURCE G6 Hospitality