The Etiquette Tip To Follow When You're Finished With Hotel Room Service - Tasting Table

"Hotel hallways are designed to be clean, welcoming, and accessible for all guests at all hours. A tray covered in leftover food or drink spills disrupts this environment and reflects a lack of consideration. This is particularly important in upscale or business hotels, where appearances and cleanliness directly impact the guest experience. Moreover, trays left in the hallway can linger for hours before staff make rounds to collect them, leading to unpleasant odors or even attracting pests."

"Many hotels have direct buttons on the phone or app options for just this reason. This allows staff to retrieve the tray quickly and discreetly, so it's out of your way and you're not tempted to ditch it in the hallway, creating an eyesore or hazard. It's a small courtesy that goes a long way in maintaining a respectful, safe, and welcoming hotel environment for everyone involved."

Leaving room-service trays or carts in hotel hallways is poor etiquette, unhygienic, and disrespectful to staff and fellow guests. Hallways are meant to be clean, welcoming, and accessible at all hours, and trays with leftover food or spills disrupt that environment and reflect lack of consideration. In upscale and business hotels, appearances and cleanliness affect guest experience. Trays left outside rooms can linger for hours, creating odors, attracting pests, and posing tripping hazards. Guests should call room service or housekeeping, use phone buttons or apps, or leave trays inside and alert staff for prompt, discreet pickup.

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