Brand standards require that all Starwood brands (with, I believe, the exception of some 4 Points locations) "iron" their sheets and pillowcases with commercial presses.

Even an untrained eye can spot a pressed pillowcase that's been slept on. One possibility that strikes me as likely here is that the housekeeper might've nicked her/his hand on something while cleaning and had a small cut. Thus, you had all new linens, but some residual "fresh" blood stains on two of your four pillows. I'd bet $10 that's your story.

Anyone who's worked in restaurants, hotels, or retail will be quick to tell you that if you don't get nicks, cuts and bruises everyday, you're not working hard enough.

I'm certainly not making excuses for the hotel in this instance. Blood on a pillowcase is not fun and any of us would be grossed out. Had I been in your shoes, I'd probably have called down and asked that two new pillows in fresh pillow cases be brought up to the room. You could've appeared at the door in a robe to collect them and then sorted it all out in the morning.

For my part, I checked in to a hotel late this evening and when I got out of the shower tonight, I had long strands of very black hair curling up on my sink basin and on the bathroom floor in two corners (I don't have long nor black hair) and when I went for the lotion, I noticed it was half used already. YUCK.