Unusual items left in Highland Travelodge hotels including a barrister's coat and wig, a set of bagpipes, a jade Buddha and a large jar labelled Loch Ness Fresh Air
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A 60-year old love letter, a barrister's coat and wig, a set of bagpipes and a jade Buddha are just some of the items left in Travelodge hotels in Inverness.
They have been included in the travel firm's 2021 Scottish Travelodge Lost and Found audit which has just been published.
It has revealed some of the interesting items left behind in its 582 hotels – including its hotels in Inverness – during the last 12 months.
Items left behind in Travelodge’s Inverness hotels include:
• A family photograph album covering three decades in Inverness Fairways Travelodge;
• A set of bagpipes in Inverness Travelodge;
• A wedding bouquet made of Scottish flowers in Inverness City Centre Travelodge
• A 60 year old love letter in Inverness Travelodge;
• A gingerbread village in Inverness Fairways Travelodge;
• A barrister's cloak and wig in Inverness Travelodge;
• A rare 60 year old whisky in Inverness Fairways Travelodge;
• A diamond necklace in Inverness City Centre Travelodge;
• A bottle of holy water from Lourdes in Inverness City Centre Travelodge;
• A jade Buddha in Inverness Fairways Travelodge.
With the rise in Staycations in 2021, Travelodge Scottish hotel staff have reported a significant rise in holiday items being left behind in their hotels during the last 12 months.
Some of the interesting finds include a suitcase full of shortbread left at Glasgow Queen Street Travelodge, a large jar labelled Loch Ness Fresh Air at Inverness Central Travelodge, a treasure chest full of Scottish souvenirs at Edinburgh Central Travelodge and a diary documenting one holidaymaker’s Scottish adventures in the summer of 2021 when travelling from Glasgow to Fort William.
The 2021 Scottish Travelodge Lost & Found audit has also revealed a growing trend of wedding-related items being left behind by brides, grooms and wedding guests across the company’s 44 Scottish hotels.
At Fort William Travelodge the hotel manager had to go on a special mission to reunite a bride with her tartan wedding dress that she forgot to take to her wedding. The bride left the vital dress on the bed and only realised when she got make-up and hair ready at the wedding venue. Luckily, the hotel manager managed to save her big day.
Spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said: “In 2021, following Freedom Day, we welcomed back millions of customers to our 582 UK Travelodge hotels including our properties in Inverness, and we saw a significant increase in bookings.
"This has led to a range of interesting items being left behind by our customers across our UK hotels. This year’s Lost and Found audit includes a rise in holiday themed items, wedding props, precious sentimental items, smart gadgets and more. This includes a barrister coat and wig, a set of bagpipes and a jade Buddha.”
“When it comes to why so many of our customers forget their treasured items, it’s basically due to us all being time poor, juggling multiple tasks and being in a hurry to get from A to B. In the rush, valuable possessions are easily forgotten.”
Listed below are the top 25 interesting items left behind include: at some of Travelodge’s 44 hotels in Scotland during 2021:
• A vintage gold pocket watch at Inverness Travelodge;
• A six foot cardboard cut-out of Daniel Craig at Fort William Travelodge;
• A large jar labelled Loch Ness Fresh Air at Inverness Travelodge.
The top ten most popular items left behind in Travelodge hotels during 2021 were: chargers; mobile phones, tablets and Kindles; books; Teddy bears; toiletry bags with contents; jewellery; clothing; toys; business papers, notebooks and presentations; gifts and presents.
All items left behind in Travelodge hotels which have not been claimed within three months are donated to the local British Heart Foundation Charity Shops, Travelodge’s nominated charity partner.
