Can Housekeepers Keep Leftover Food? If Not, What Can We Do with It?

I have learned recently, much to my dismay, that housekeeping staff aren’t allowed to keep any of the food or beverages (even factory-sealed) that we leave for them. Can they keep the coupon books? What can we do with perfectly good stuff that we can’t take on the plane with us? Surely we don’t have to put it all in the trash!

Policies on housekeepers' keeping food left in rooms vary from hotel to hotel, we found, but the following are the general policies and procedures according to our research.

Many hotels have strict policies that prohibit employees from taking/keeping food or beverages left in rooms, even if factory-sealed. The rules prioritize concerns over hygiene, safety, and liability (especially the accusation of theft). Most hotels require staff to discard perishable items and turn non-perishables over to management. The managers might store them for guest retrieval, donate them, or dispose of them according to local regulations.

No matter the policy, almost all opened and perishable food and beverage items are thrown out.

Some hotels store sealed items in their lost-and-found area for 48-72 hours, the waiting period to see if the guest returns to claim them. After that, some hotels give the housekeeper who found them the option of taking them home; if the housekeeper declines, they might be offered to other staff.

Some hotels simply permit housekeepers to take unopened non-perishable food items like snacks, drinks, or packaged goods home with them without any intervening procedures. Many make a distinction for alcohol, either opened or unopened, which is treated like other non-F&B lost-and-found items.

Some hotels allow housekeepers to keep unopened F&B, but only if the guest leaves a note in the room giving permission. That eliminates any potential accusations of theft.

As for coupon books, these are the same as anything else left in the rooms: guest property. The same liability issues apply -- unless the guest leaves a note. Even then, most hotels have policies that require housekeepers to take the property (coupon book) and note to their supervisor for approval.

Because there are different policies, it's best to ask at the front desk or to talk to a housekeeping supervisor about what will happen to food items and if leaving a note makes a difference.

What can you do with leftover food and/or drink whether or not they go to the housekeeper in the end?

If you have the time and inclination, the best idea is to donate it to a food bank. If it's unopened, food banks usually accept everything. You can also ask at the front desk if the hotel accepts food donations in partnership with local food banks. You can always offer it to other travelers or leave it in the hall with a "Take Me" sign on it. But don't do that with alcohol, which comes under stricter policies.

We're sure QoDers have more info and suggestions about this and we're looking forward to seeing them in the comments.

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stephen rosol Jun-05-2025

great question

I never thought of that before, we always end up with left over items and some TITO's uncashed when we stay at our timeshare-- always have left in the unit, assuming housekeeping gets it--I will need to ask what really happens.  Thanks for a great question, and another great answer.

O2bnVegas Jun-05-2025

Tip in cash; no crap

Mostly, whatever "you" think is a unique and welcomed food item, or, God forbid, those freebie "gifts" won at a slot tournament or other casino promo, is mostly not coveted by housekeepers.  They get dozens left for them, and mostly not wanted either.  

Maybe they can add them as door prizes for the yearly Christmas party.

If not too large, I might bring an item home for my own housekeeper who cleans my place once a month and isn't subject to the ubiquitous 'prizes' of Las Vegas casino promos.  Often she is pleased, or perhaps she donates to her own church food/gift pantry.

The bigger items from the promos (and some I don't even collect after "winning") I've been successful in passing off on other players before getting on the plane! LOL.

Candy

IPA Noah Jun-05-2025

WHAT?\\

Leave a CASH tip. They work at the casino/property you're staying at they don't need a coupon book. Sheez why would anybody think instead of leaving cash I'm going to leave unused food I didn't eat or other junk?

Edso Jun-05-2025

Gift it!

When we've had more items from gift days or drawings than we need or will use, we gift them to the housekeeping staff, valets or host.  Of course, we gift them items from other casinos, so there isn't a conflict of interest.  With housekeeping we will try to give them the items in person, if we see them in the halls, but usually just leave a note. We have gifted a Raiders step stool to a valet at the Westgate and a Raider blanket to our host which we earned at another casino.

Randall Ward Jun-05-2025

leftovers

housekeepers are already working so I don't add to that.  I leave cash with a note.

Michael B Jun-05-2025

Car Rental

We always rent a car so if we have any extra bottles of water, Gatorade or anything we offer it to the car rental agent that checks us in when we return our car.. and they are always happy to take it. No idea if it helps them look over our car a little less strict even though we haven't damaged it but it certainly doesn't hurt.

LynGHS Jun-05-2025

Missing Chocolates

Many years ago, I was staying in a suite at the Cal downtown. I had purchased about $150 of chocolates from Ethel M (there is a location on the 2nd level of the Cal) on my first day there to take home. After playing for a few hours that first day, I went back to my room and the chocolates were gone. I contacted housekeeping and spoke to the supervisor. She called me back about an hour later and apologized. She didn't say what happened to my chocolates, but she told me to go to the cage and they'd give me the $150 in cash for the mistake. I appreciated that they handled it so quickly and kindly.

steve crouse Jun-05-2025

Bus pass

In the early days before we rented a car for the ten day vacay, the $40/month bus pass was personally handed to the house keeper.
They always appreciated it.

Louis666 Jun-05-2025

leftvin room

I leave cash also any small uncashed Tito's in the same pile. But nothing else. Can see where leaving anything else without a specific note is problematic.

Llew Jun-05-2025

Casino gifts

If you get a casino giveaway that you can’t use or just don’t want, find a group or organization that donates household items to people in need.  If you can’t find such an organization, donate your unwanted items to a local thrift store run for charity. Such donations are always appreciated.

Donzack Jun-05-2025

Cash

I always leave cash

Marcus Leath Jun-05-2025

LVA coupon book

I always leave cash tips with a note.  Also, on two different trips when I was in Las Vegas in Oct. or Nov., and knowing that I would not return for the rest of the calendar year, I left my LVA coupon book with a note explaining what it is and also explaining that there are lots of valuable coupons they can use before the end of Dec.  Sometimes I have only used six or seven coupons so there are lots of good coupons left in the book.

Toni Armstrong Jr. Jun-06-2025

Coupon books

So to be clear, if we put the tip and coupon books in an envelope labeled HOUSEKEEPER, she can keep it?

Patrick Jun-07-2025

Pay the Drinks Forward

I visit the local grocery before my trip starts for supplies. When leaving, I put any leftover bottled water or canned soda by the elevators for incoming folks.

Eileen Jun-08-2025

Tipping

Does the housekeeping staff have a way of cashing in small TITOs from various casinos without having to run around to each establishment individually?  Seems odd that there are so many things they can't keep, but they can accept cash?  We can't pick up any TITOs from machines because it's the casino's $$, which sounds ridiculous and money-grubbing to me.  Sometimes the TITO machine doesn't allow for a donation and sometimes you're just too tired to want to expend a lot of energy to find a TITO machine in the casino
to donate a few pennies.  A good QOD might be to find out what most people do with their small TITOs.  And who would know better than the experienced LVA subscribers?

Question of the Day - 05 June 2025

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