No hotel employee will risk their job for such a trivial gain, and employee would also know a handbag would be missed and the owner contact the hotel.

Question is who found the bag and handed it in. ??

While on the phone with the police, manager could not be reclaiming from room maid at the same time, so I am inclined to believe cleaner whio said no earlier to your face.

Sinnce I believe the cleaner. It is much more likely you had handbag with you when you left your room the final time, and then put it down in eg reception area before getting car, taxi, paying for room etc.

This happens a lot, human mind will remember last time you definitely saw the bag, eg deliberately placed on bed ready for when you leave. A bit like driving a car, repetitive every day tasks are done subconciously, so you pick up handbag and take it to reception with you, where you misplace your handbag.

Now when you later realise handbag is missing, incorrectly you think i am sure it was left on the bed, .... AS your last concious recollection is putting handbag on bed.