About 8 months ago I wrote an entry here regarding bad hotels that people had stayed in. It featured a link to MSNBC's web site that showed a number of pictures from people to substantiate their claims.
Thanks to Burt Gearhart who forwarded me a video that I'd seen a few weeks ago regarding the cleaning practices of some of the mid-to-upper scale hotels in the Atlanta area. The report from last November was done by an investigative team from Fox 5 - WAGA in Atlanta after being tipped off on how the cleaning staff "cleans" glasses in guest rooms.
Here's two videos that I found on YouTube regarding the story. The first video is the original story by investigative reporter Dana Fowle:
The next video is the follow-up story by Fowle to the original story where they go to two upscale hotels and report their findings:
As an aside in the second story, I've stayed at the Renaissance Concourse hotel in Atlanta, and I did stay once at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, but at the one in the Buckhead area and not the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Atlanta that's featured in the story. But one would have to think their cleaning standards are the same.
Still, it seems this practice is rampant among hotels in Atlanta - whether they be mid-priced to elite hotels. And you can almost be certain it's happening elsewhere across the nation.
At most hotels, I usually just drink out of plastic cups that have been wrapped in plastic, or I drink out of water bottles. If a glass glass is available in a bathroom and I need to rinse my mouth, I'll usually just cup my hands and gather water that way.
These are pretty compelling videos and it really makes you wonder. If you know someone who travels quite a bit, direct them to this entry. Hopefully they've seen these clips before, but if not I'll just say, "You're welcome!"
Somebody told me about this at our Christmas party. I thought he was kidding until I saw this. This is just unbelievable!
Posted by: Pete Haskins | January 28, 2008 at 07:22 AM
I'll just stay at cheaper hotels that have shrink-wrapped plastic glasses from now on. Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Buffy | March 28, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Gross! Makes you wonder about other shortcuts they are taking. Towels clean? Sheets? The worst is the bed spreads, I always throw that sucker in the corner first thing. I could never sleep with that thing anywhere near my face I don't care how fancy the hotel is. Also if I am staying for 3 days or less I don't even want the maid in there.
Posted by: Perry | October 23, 2010 at 08:12 AM
Thanks to give me these type of information
Posted by: sunny | April 27, 2012 at 02:26 AM