Candlewood Suites, which are managed by IHG, have launched a new service called “Lending Locker”. With its help, hotel guests can easily borrow typically needed household items and use them while staying in the hotel.
The items offered in “Lending Locker” are not typically found in hotel rooms. These are blenders, desk fans, crockpots, games, and other tools. In order to get an item from “Lending Locker”, guests need to fill a Lending Locker form and leave it at the front desk. After this, they can take the item and use it for free. The borrowed items can be used as long as needed, and then returned so another guest can use them.
Test Lending Lockers appeared last year in 10 Candlewood Suites hotels. According to surveys, hotel guests were satisfied with the new service and gave mostly positive feedback. At the moment, IHG adds it to all 304 Candlewood Suites hotels, and by spring 2014 they all will have “Lending Locker” as a standard feature. The company hopes that this service will help hotel guests feel more like home and use items they normally use when at home.
The survey conducted by IHG also shows some interesting results. For example, Monopoly is the most popular borrowed game more than 43% of the survey participants say they borrowed it. Kitchen items are the most commonly borrowed ones Candlewood Suites hotels have in-suite kitchens, and so guests borrow such items as blenders, crockpots, and grilles. More than a half of guests (68%) borrow items for one day or more, while 49% of guests keep items for 2-3 days.