eBay has amazing daily deals


Mom's 'Script' to Get Free Hotel Snacks and Gifts Goes Viral


1 week ago 20
-->

Who doesn't love bagging free snacks or other items during a hotel stay? Well, one mom has been getting hotels to provide "something special" for free by doing one simple thing.

The hack was revealed in a viral TikTok video posted by her daughter Julia (@thejuliabaird), which has more than 150,000 views since it was first shared on March 17.

A message overlaid on the clip reads: "Mom's script for free hotel snacks."

Speaking to the mom, who was off camera, the woman in the clip says: "We're actually at a hotel right now and they left us a bottle of Prosecco and some really adorable chocolates. What did you say to get this?"

The mom replies: "I said we're going to a candlelight concert and we're celebrating your engagement."

Flashing a ring on her hand at the camera, the daughter says "Aaw, that's all. That's the script."

The mom says: "Just ask...you don't get if you don't ask."

The latest post comes as U.S. hotel occupancy is expected to reach 63.6 percent in 2024, 3.4 percent below the 65.8 percent reported in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, marking "a significant improvement" over 2020's historic low of 43.8 percent, according to a 2024 report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA).

Friendliness as well as cleanliness remain "essential to positive guest experiences," the AHLA report found. A survey asking consumers what steps hotels should take to ensure their guests enjoy a positive experience found that travelers "ranked guestroom cleanliness, property cleanliness, and friendly staff as the most important factors."

'You Don't Get if You Don't Ask'

The woman in the viral video says: "OK, mom, the internet wants to know what you say to get free hotel snacks."

The mom explains: "Well, first I give them a phone call and try to build a rapport with the person who answered the phone.

"I tell them a little bit about myself and who I would like to send a little gift to and just see if there's anything they can do to help make the stay a little bit more special for the person," she added.

The daughter says: "So you don't ask for anything specific?" The mom says she tells the hotel that there's an occasion, such as anniversary, and "I just ask if they can do something."

The mom explained "for example, if it's Valentine's Day and I'm not there and I kind of missed my loved one," she'll ask "if they could send something special."

She added: "Just ask...you don't get if you don't ask."

'Genius'

Users on TikTok praised the mom for her "genius" hotel hack.

Katrina Sticks said: "This is so smart I love this" and user7078892944895 noted: "Ur mom is a genius absolute genius."

"If you want something, ask for it," noted zuccnya.

User @sarahlovesflowers. wrote: "i work in a hotel and she's so right. building rapport and being kind deff gets u free snacks."

"I used to work at a hotel and would give out the free snacks/waters to whoever asked for one or whoever was nice to me so this def works lol," said kass.

"I worked for a huge hotel branch, always ask for extras! We love it," noted @m1246890.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

Champagne, roses and gift box on bed.
A stock image a bottle of champagne, drink glasses, roses and a gift box seen on a tray on a bed at a hotel. A video of a mom sharing her "script" for getting hotels... iStock / Getty Images Plus

Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via [email protected] and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Read Entire Article