Breast implants and Harry Potter’s wand among lost items at Travelodge hotels

Harry Potter’s wand, a micro pig, breast implants and a bucket of live crabs were just some of the more unusual items left behind by forgetful Travelodge guests during 2012.

The lost property haul – gathered after the 13 million guests left the budget brand’s 527 hotels across the UK last year – also included a winning EuroMillions ticket, placed under the mattress for safe keeping at the Watford Travelodge, a Persian chinchilla kitten called Porsha left by its owner at Birmingham airport en route to a cat show at the NEC and a Tiffany engagement ring worth £10,000, left under the pillow in a bedroom at the Oxford Peartree Travelodge.

A pair of tickets to the Olympic Stadium for what later became known as Super Saturday, were also left at the London Stratford Travelodge. Luckily, the owner realised in time and collected them before the historic evening of athletics got under way.

Cuddly teddy bears are one of the most frequently forgotten items, with 76,500 being reunited by Travelodge with their owners during 2012.

Travelodge spokesperson Shakila Ahmed said: "Each year our lost and found departments provide plenty of revelations. What is becoming evident after speaking to customers is that the pace of life has become so fast and we are so eager to get from A to B that priceless processions are easily being forgotten."

Travelodge also reported that more than 20,000 books were left behind in 38,000 of its hotel rooms during the past 12 months, 7,000 of which were copies of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Since January 2012 all items left behind at Travelodge hotels that have not been claimed within three months have been donated to Cancer Research UK charity shops across the UK.

The top 10 most popular items left behind in Travelodge’s 500 hotels in 2012

1 Phone/laptop chargers
2 Pyjamas/clothes
3 Teddy bears
4 Toiletry bags with contents
5 Books
6 Laptops/iPads/kindles
7 Satnavs
8 Mobile phones
9 Electric toothbrushes
10 Bags/suitcases

The top 10 most discarded books left in Travelodge hotels during 2012

1 Fifty Shades of Grey EL James
2 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson
3 The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest Stieg Larsson
4 Fifty Shades Freed EL James
5 The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
6 The Girl Who Played With Fire Stieg Larsson
7 Fifty Shades Darker EL James
8 Catching Fire Suzanne Collins
9 Mockingjay Suzanne Collins
10 The Help Kathryn Stockett

Stuffed crocodile left behind in hotel room >>

Jordan’s autobiography is the top abandoned book in hotel rooms >>

By Janet Harmer


E-mail your comments to Janet Harmer here.

If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.catererandhotelkeeper.com/tabletalk

Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs

Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Catererandhotelkeeper.com jobs