Hotel Shopping

On numerous vacations I have thought, "I wish I could bring this room home with me!" Apparently, I wasn't the only one.

Hotels like The Ritz Carlton in Singapore and The Bellagio in Las Vegas are no longer just selling souvenirs; they're selling rooms. From mattresses to duvets, and toiletries to tissue holders, travellers are now bringing their hotel experience home - even right down to the hardwood flooring.

Westin Hotels, with its famed "Heavenly Bed" and "Heavenly Shower," began the craze several years ago after numerous guests wanted to sleep at home as soundly as they did at the hotel. Realising a marketing opportunity for the hotel and a good night sleep for the guest, Westin Hotels began the Westin At Home On-line Catalogue.

Some travellers now scout hotels around the world for home furnishings instead of local markets, and hotels are taking advantage, setting up on-line shopping and even bridal registries.

No longer is a free shower cap enough; people want to be able to bring home not just the soap but also the sink. With so many hotel catalogues now available, they can.