According to the hospitality industry website, Hoteljob, one of the criteria for a hotel to gain recognition and star ratings is to provide certain amenities in their guest rooms, including notepads and pencils.
Hotel rooms typically provide notepads and pencils for guests. Source: Hoteljob
The purpose of providing notepads and pencils is to allow guests to jot down necessary information or use them for drawing, especially if they have children. However, one interesting detail that often goes unnoticed is that hotels tend to favor pencils over pens.
Industry experts attribute this preference to several key reasons:
– Safety: Pens with sharp tips can potentially become dangerous weapons in the event of disputes or scuffles among guests. Pencils, with their blunt ends, help mitigate such risks.
– Hygiene and Cleanliness:
Pencils marks are easier to clean than pen stains. Source: Hoteljob
Children often use the provided writing utensils to draw on various surfaces in the room. As most hotels use white bedding, having pencils can minimize the impact of such artistic endeavors and make cleaning easier.
– Reduced “Theft”:
Pens are often pocketed by guests. Illustration: Picasso Pen
Guests often unintentionally “take” pens with them after their stay, as they tend to put them in their pockets. Pencils, without the typical clip mechanism, are less likely to be taken, reducing operational costs for the hotel.
Source: VNN
