Hotels

While reading a September copy of the British magazine that caters to the ex-pat community, The Week, I read a short article about which book was most often left by travelers in their hotel rooms. This survey was produced by the hotel chain, Travelodge, during this past summer.

Travelodge reports that "The Blair Years", a memoir by Alastair Campbell, was the book most often left behind by travelers. I think it is fair to describe Mr. Campbell as being to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair what advisor, Karl Rove, was to US President George W. Bush. Having worked in London I will not easily forget Mr. Campbell's quote regarding the Blair Government when he stated, "we don't do God................."

I was reminded of Campbell's quote when I read about this Travelodge survey since most hotels I have stayed have had a copy of the Bible along with the Book of Mormon in the bedside table for guests to utilize. So now we see that travelers left "The Blair Years" in their hotel rooms essentially alongside the Bible!! Truly God works in mysterious ways :-)

Final thoughts on this Travelodge survey include:

1.) What do hotels do with all these books that are left behind by travelers? Perhaps the copies could be donated to local libraries or to my friends at Books For Africa (www.booksforafrica.org)

2.) Since Travelodge's survey focused on British venues I am really curious which book is most often left behind in hotels in the USA. This could be an interesting project for Marriott, Hilton, or Sheraton to pursue.

Travel light,

Todd