I feel the same way. I usually collect unused bottles of everything (and soap bars) and give them to ones in need later. Either use them to put in shoe boxes for operation x-mas child or homeless shelters or battered women shelters etc.

Interesting thread from two aspects, I've been at the Marriott Key Center this month.

Notice the soap for the first time.

Also, they are not replacing the water on the C-Level floor rooms during the entire stay.

Also of note that if you use the little plastic bag in the ice bucket they are not replacing those as well.

I think there is a subtle effort to reduce costs going on.

The last time they did something like this blatant was right after 911 when they stopped putting water in the C-level rooms to 'save'. Well that idea has cost them a small fortune in water since from that day forward I get bottles of water from the c-lounge every time I'm in there. If I don't use them I share them with my co-workers.

Very short sighted to mess with those of us who are in the rooms 75+ nights per year.

joshua, 'This means no tip!'

Tip early and well! You will get more bottles.
They need the tip more then you do!

I do not think it is an effort to save $$ as much as to save our environment. Add up how many bags and soaps across the company and it is a significant.

"We believe the future of business is GREEN...because we are all guests on this planet" J.W. Marriott Jr.

If you really believe that Line, Hey Buddy I have bridge here in NYC I can sell you, real cheap too

All of a sudden ALL the Hotels are so concerned about the Environment. I bet ya if there wasnt any or enough savings involved in it they wouldnt be doing it

They will use that as their next excuse why they arent Upgrading us, Sorry Mr Craz but we care so much about the Enviornment and you being here alone if we Upgraded you to a larger room just for yourself, think of all the extra electricity that will be saved not having to cool down such a big room or heat up such a big room

I had the new soap last week. It was no big deal.

I'm all for not wasting soap, shampoo, etc. I hate it when housekeeping throws away my open shampoo bottle and bar of soap that I've used once. I appreciate the housekeeper replenishing the soap and bottles with fresh ones, but also not throwing away what I've opened and used, so that I may continue using it until it's been used up. I take shampoos with me that have been opened, but still have a day or two's use with me, and finish them at home or on my next trip. I don't take the soap with me, but often when I check out there's enough soap to last a few more days left behind. So if they're cutting back on the size of the bar, and it saves money and prevents waste, I'm all for it.

Did some Googling to confirm that used soap is not, repeat not, recycled.

However, I did find this amusing story about the La Crosse, WI Kiwanis club:

Local group recycling unused motel soap

Yuk! Bars are not distributed in the U.S. where it would presumably be illegal, but sent to third-world countries.

Well nice try but I'm not buying it. In our capitalistic society, few businesses are motivated unless they can earn or save a buck.

And as long as these items aren't unnecessarily WASTED, what's the impact or net effect on the environment whether they are used at the hotel, home or wherever?

I'm all for smaller soaps if need be but don't deny me access to necessary toiletries at $250 per night. The mouthwash is a one shot-one use deal and often the only thing "special" about a PLT "upgrade" to a CL room.

If I have to go raiding a maid's cart, you can be sure I'm replacing it with more than one.

That pretty much sums up my attitude/feelings on the matter as well.

Cheers.

Since I take the remaining bars of soap and add them to the Soap dish/box in my Shaving Kit, it is ready for use at the next stop! I don't even bother to unwrap or take those little bars of generic soap. But if they supply nice big bars of a quality 'designer named' soap or hi-end soap, they are taken for use as hand soap at home. I hate to waste anything, that still has a useful life!

Do you ever wonder why you are paying $200.00 plus a night for a room, especially if you arrive late at night?
Well just think of their costs for all those little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap, mouthwash, etc., that have to be paid for. It might seem trivial, but it does add up on their Expense sheets, when they pay the bill for several thousand at a time.

Look how much money would be saved on wages, if everyone took a grocery cart from the parking lot with them into the store for shopping, rather then just leaving another one in the parking lot after shopping. It all adds up and we are paying for it!
Have you ever had to remove a cart from the only remaining parking spot, because the cart was left and you car wouldn't fit with the cart there?

Uh, we're straying into Omni-land if we're getting into a grocery cart discussion. All this over some soap?

Speaking only for myself, I save my getting upset for bigger items (such as increasing Plat bennies or getting elite offers in a timely fashion).

Cheers.

I was just at the Marriott CLE Key Center last week and noticed the same although, as a few others have said, didn't think too much of it.

I agree, keep the hollow soap but please give me my daily mouthwash!!!

The cost cutting would be all well and good if they were also passing it along to guests in the form of holding the line on room rates.

BTW - we're all assuming it's cost-cutting (and it probably is). But did anyone think that the reason they went to this was to at least keep some soap? For all we know the soap companies may be raising the rates so that the only way they can keep something decent is to do the hollow bar. Granted an extreme example.

But back to my thought - hollow soap I can deal w/. I'd rather complain about important stuff. To me (personally) soap ain't it. OVMV.

Cheers.