Full Breakdown
Study Reveals Surprising Hotel Guest Habits and Offers Etiquette Guidance
6/25/2026, 9:41:13 PM
Study Uncovers Surprising Guest Behaviors
A joint research project by Hotels.com and British etiquette consultant William Hanson released on 25 June 2026 surveyed 2,000 British adults about their conduct while staying in hotels. The online questionnaire asked participants to self-report practices ranging from breakfast-buffet consumption to room-occupancy declarations. The study identifies a range of behaviours that the majority deem acceptable and a smaller subset that respondents label as unacceptable.
Research Design and Partnership
The investigation formed part of the “Grand Etiquette Hotel Guide,” a collaboration between the global booking platform Hotels.com and etiquette specialist William Hanson. The guide aims to codify modern hotel manners for travelers and hospitality staff. Data collection occurred through a single-session web survey administered in the United Kingdom, with respondents representing a cross-section of age, gender and travel frequency.
Key Statistics on Guest Conduct
- Breakfast-buffet smuggling: 33 % of participants admit to taking food from the buffet to eat later.
- Over-booking guests: More than 33 % regularly list additional occupants to reduce costs.
- Kettle misuse: 23 % consider washing underwear in the in-room kettle a serious breach of etiquette.
- Public displays of affection: Only 2 % report engaging in overt affection around hotel pools.
- National-origin perceptions: Respondents rated Japanese and Swedish travelers as the most polite, while Americans and Germans received the lowest politeness scores.
Etiquette Recommendations from William Hanson
Hanson’s guidance emphasizes respect for staff, fellow guests and property. Key points include: treat every employee—from cleaners to managers—with genuine courtesy; move quietly in corridors; limit alcohol consumption to avoid “public performance” in shared spaces; refrain from indoor smoking to protect future occupants and avoid penalties; keep rooms orderly to aid housekeeping; reserve kettles for hot beverages only; limit removal of hotel items to toiletries and small accessories; observe queue discipline at breakfast buffets; and avoid “sunbed wars” by not monopolising loungers with towels. Hanson also advises against marking sun loungers with towels, noting that “a lounger is not secured by textile alone, but by presence.”
Criticism and Public Backlash
The study references a recent viral incident in which an influencer promoted washing underwear in a hotel kettle. The suggestion triggered widespread criticism, and Hanson described such behaviour as deserving to be “cut off from society.” The backlash illustrates the tension between novelty-seeking guests and established hospitality norms.
Verbatim Quotes
Implications for the Hospitality Industry
The findings provide hoteliers with empirical evidence of guest practices that may affect revenue, staffing and property upkeep. By integrating the etiquette recommendations into guest-information materials, hotels can potentially reduce incidents of property misuse, improve staff morale and enhance overall guest satisfaction.
Future Monitoring
Hotels.com indicates that the partnership with Hanson will continue to track evolving guest behaviours, with periodic updates to the Grand Etiquette Hotel Guide planned for release later in 2026.
