If you have ever stayed at a hotel, you know there is always that possibility an artist may grace your room. Not only is your room made up for you, every 12 year old’s dream, but you may also find a surprise on your bed, a work of art.
A few weeks ago, I realized housekeeping art is largely under-appreciated. Little is known about how these men or women create their work of art on your pillow. Whether it is chocolates arranged in a pattern or some sort of animal made out of towels, where do these people learn their trade? How long does it take to create these pillowcase works of art?
In Mexico, I stayed at the Presidente InterContinental Ixtapa Resort. While I have already gone over my issues with all-inclusive resorts, the hotel did sell me on their housekeeping art. Even if the pillows were hard, each night I would be thrilled to find a heart or a smiley face made out of flower petals.
On a site visit to the Dorado Pacifico Beach Resort, I was given the opportunity to peek in hotel rooms and see what the hotel had to offer. I noticed each bed had some sort of creation to welcome their new guests. Amidst an overwhelming sea of turquoise and white, tiny elephants complete with stickers for eyes waited for you in your room.
When I asked the woman showing me around how these housekeepers learn their trade, she responded, “It is the mystery of housekeeping”. A mystery indeed, not being a crafty person there is no way I could turn three towels into two kissing swans.
Perhaps you couch-surf or you might prefer hostels. You might stay in hotels and not even care what is on your pillow. However, there is this mystery to their creations. So simple and unnecessary, yet I am always happy to see a smiling face on my pillow. They may forget to mop the bathroom floor properly, but for some reason there always seems to be time for this little detail.
What have been your favorite pieces of art created on your hotel pillow?
The Mexico Board of Tourism in cooperation with the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo sponsored this trip. While my accommodations were paid for in Ixtapa, my thoughts and opinions are always my own.
I’m totally obsessed with hotels and I love, love being surprised when first walking into a hotel and seeing the art they’ve come up with. I’m definitely impressed with the elephant and swans. How cool! Nice idea for a blog post too. I think there should be an entire blog devoted to the art of hotel housekeeping!
Interesting article Suzy. It sounds like a good mystery where they learn to do that. I love the photos!
Cute! I went on a cruise once and the staff made those little towel animals for us…a different one every night. I agree that good housekeeping should be appreciated. What I find very unfortunate is the number of times we’ve stayed in four and five star hotels and had bad service. Because at those prices you’re pretty much paying for perfection. I always am sure to be polite to the housekeeping staff in a hotel and to tip in countries where it is customary.
I’ve been on a few cruises, and the towel animals have always appeared every night. They’re cute, and I’ve seen some really interesting ones (including a monkey hanging from a hanger in our closet)! I agree that these little touches can often bring on the warm fuzzies when you walk into your room every evening.
As for the “secrets” behind these creations, on the last cruise I was on (with Royal Caribbean) they actually had a little how-to class you could attend if you wanted to learn how to make some of those works of towel art.
I love, love, love the little elephant. So cute!
its in the details that makes your stay extra special, though I’ve never come across like what you’ve seen before. Great article!
Wow, these are awesome! I actually feel a bit deprived–I don’t think I’ve ever encountered hotel room art 🙁 It’s now my next travel goal…
It still amazes me how the do some of the things they do with towels and chocolates that they leave in the room. The sad part is many visitors to the hotel wont or dont tip them. They are trying their best (some of them) to make your stay more enjoyable.
I don’t like hotels with too much “wow factor”. But these touches on the pillows are cute. I stayed at one resort recently – can’t remember where, but it was in Southeast Asia. Each night, a tiny little stuffed animal was placed on my pillow. And I mean tiny – just a couple of inches. But they made a very nice souviner!