During my time working in a hotel, one of the most frequent questions I received from guests had to do with those small bottles of shampoo and conditioner placed in the bathrooms. Many assumed they were just complimentary items meant to be used once and discarded, but the reality is a bit different.

What most guests don’t realize is that hotels rarely let those products go to waste. If the bottles remain sealed, they’re put back into circulation. And in many cases, when extras are left at the end of a stay, hotels collaborate with local charities to donate them.

I once helped pack up hundreds of these bottles, which were then sent directly to shelters where families in need could use them. Of course, guests are welcome to use the toiletries while staying — that’s exactly their purpose — but I always appreciated knowing that something so small could still serve a greater purpose.

Those tiny hotel amenities might end up giving someone the chance to feel refreshed and cared for during a hard moment in their life. To me, it was a powerful reminder that hospitality goes beyond comfort and service — sometimes, it’s about the kindness found in life’s simplest details.