hotel – Topical Fruit

Forget buzzing alarm clocks or the terrifying ring of a hotel wake-up call.

Holiday Inn Express is testing a brand-new way to get you out of bed: a scent-based alarm clock. Instead of beeping at you, it releases a delicious smell of your choice, like a high-tech diffuser.

Right now, it’s only being tested in a handful of countries. People in Australia and New Zealand can wake up to the breakfast-y smells of coffee, bacon, or blueberry muffin. In Japan, they’ve added nashi pear, and in Singapore and Thailand, you can start your morning with mango.

Sadly, the U.S. isn’t on the list yet, so American travelers are stuck with the classic “housekeeping knocking at 8 a.m.” method.

But the food-inspired scents aren’t just a cruel tease. They do offer an actual free breakfast, so that bacon smell might lead you straight to the real thing.

Of course, if you’re the type who could sleep through an entire kitchen operating in your hotel room, don’t worry. Old-school wake-up calls and door knocks are still available.

The scented alarm clocks are just an extra option for people who want to rise and shine with a smile… and a sudden craving for carbs.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of literally waking up and smelling the coffee, Holiday Inn Express is making it happen… just not for Americans, yet. Figures.

Checking out of a hotel used to be a whole production: stand in line, hand over your key, maybe argue about that $6 minibar Snickers you definitely didn’t eat. Now? For many travelers, it’s more like grab your bag and vanish like a travel ninja.

That’s exactly what kicked off a viral debate when a woman posted a TikTok of herself walking straight from her hotel room to the parking lot. Her caption: “Older generations: This is how you check out of a hotel. You just walk out.” She doubled down in the description, saying the front desk doesn’t need to know and they definitely don’t need to chit-chat about it.

Technically, she’s right… plenty of hotels have app-based check-out, virtual receipts, and key cards that might as well be coasters once you’re done. But the comment section? Let’s just say it turned into the hospitality version of a family holiday argument.

People who say they’ve worked in hotels believe you should still give a quick heads-up, especially if you’re leaving early. It helps housekeeping start cleaning sooner, which means faster check-ins for the next guests.

Some travelers said they only notify the desk if they’re leaving well before check-out time, because “what’s the difference?” if they’re leaving when they’re supposed to.

Then there’s the “old school” camp, insisting you should always stop by to make sure there are no issues or surprise charges. Detractors call that a Boomer move… after all, most hotels email receipts now. Others say they’d happily check out in person… if there were actually someone at the front desk when they walked by.

One commenter offered a middle ground: mention you’re leaving as you pass. “It just takes 10 seconds,” they said. “This is a weird thing to feel like a bad-a** over.”

So, is the personal check-out a dying tradition, soon to join travel agents, printed boarding passes, and hotel alarm clocks in the history books? Possibly. Until then, hotel lobbies will remain neutral ground for the generational battle over whether you exit with a polite wave… or pull a full-on Houdini.

@the.shit.chat
The front desk doesn’t need you to tell them you’re checking out and they don’t need you to hand them your room key.
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Tag: hotel

Holiday Inn Wants You to Wake Up to… Their Smells

Sadly, the U.S. isn’t on the list yet, so American travelers are stuck with the classic “housekeeping knocking at 8 a.m.” method.

TikTok Debate: Do You Check Out at a Hotel… or Nah?

People who say they’ve worked in hotels believe you should still give a quick heads-up, especially if you’re leaving early. It helps housekeeping start cleaning sooner, which means faster check-ins for the next guests.