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Soon You Won’t Be Able to “Steal” the Shampoo: Some of World’s Best Hotels Are Making a Change

  • Jason Stauffer

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    (Photo by Hatchapong Palurtchaivong/Shutterstock)

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    IHG is the first major hotel chain to announce plans to remove all bathroom miniatures. The transitioning all 843,000 IHG guest rooms to bulk toiletries should be complete by 2021.

    Personally, I think this makes complete sense because it should cut the hotel’s costs down and greatly reduce unnecessary waste and many of the of the world’s best hotels already do this. Currently, IHG uses an estimated 200 million bathroom miniatures per year. I understand that little shampoo bottles don’t make up the bulk of the trash floating in the Texas-sized Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but tiny hotel soaps always feel wasteful.

    Even though IHG is the first to make this change a company wide policy, the general trend was already heading toward bulk amenities before hand. The IHG brands voco, EVEN, avid and Sixth Senses all use bulk shampoos and soaps exclusively. Also, many Kimpton, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites have already made the switch.

    Hopefully IHG, and other hotels, will pass the cost savings down the line in the form of benefits that actually matter. Some hotels offer bonus points for declining housekeeping services, but I would like to see something more. For example, the perks you get with IHG status could use an upgrade. Many chains offer the top-tier elites amenities like free breakfast or suite upgrades. But if you have IHG Platinum status (free with the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card) or Spire status you won’t get either of these standard perks. That leaves something to be desired when even Gold Hilton status (mid-tier) will get you free breakfast.

    If you want to fast track your way to elite status or maximize the points you earn on hotel stays, check out our list of the best hotel credit cards.

    How do you feel about the transition hotels are making away from single use plastics?

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    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)