Hotels provide a place to all kinds of guests seeking refuge for all kinds of reasons, sometimes even to supernaturals. After all, hotels are better places than windy cemeteries or empty ruined castles; as in real life, some just know what's best for them!
The Roosevelt Hotel in LA is one of the most famous hotels in the USA and one of the most haunted places in the world too. It opened in 1927 and was named after President Teddy Roosevelt. It has long been popular for Hollywood's most famous and past famous stars who want to be noticed and to be seen. Some of these big name stars have decided to hang around a little longer; Marilyn Monroe's ghost has been seen reflected in a mirror in room 229 and dancing in the hotel's ballroom. Montgomery Clift's ghost is thought to haunt room 928, where he stayed while filming "From Here to Eternity" and can still be heard playing his trumpet. Guests who stayed in room 928 felt a presence and even touching and patting on their shoulders as they lay in bed. The ghost of glamorous movie star Carole Lombard, wife of Clark Gable, has frequently been spotted on the 12th floor, where she and Gable often stayed.
The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego opened its doors to business in 1888. It is a landmark to a bygone era of Victorian beach resorts, constructed entirely of wood. The Del, as it is affectionately known, also has some of those long-term guests who never leave. One of the most famous is said to be Kate Morgan, a lovesick woman who checked into the hotel in 1892. She waited for five days for her secret lover to meet her there as agreed, he never did and Kate was found dead at the bottom of an exterior staircase leading to the beach. Since then, Kate's ghost has been reported on the beach and in the hotel, and when she is feeling particularly feisty, she plays harmless pranks on guests – some have complained that they have awakened to find their clothes scattered throughout their room. (That happens to me frequently in hotels that I stay in — not sure if I can blame the ghosts though!)
The Langham Hotel in London was opened in 1865 by King Edward VII to great fanfare. It was London's biggest building at the time, and the city's first great luxury hotel. Ghosts have been seen wandering in Victorian evening dress and a German soldier is often glimpsed roaming the hallways. Stay clear of room 333 – it's only for the very brave. One is never alone in this room!
But the most fabulous tale is that of Napoleon III who has supposedly selected to spend eternity in the hotel's basement. May be that is a good bet for him considering what he could have expected to get in his after life, however it is still only the basement, not really a fitting place for an Emperor?
Down Under at the Q Station Resort in Sydney, the restless souls of some immigrants who died in quarantine are still appearing in various places in the former quarantine station, probably still home sick for their homeland and hoping to catch a boat home one day. Guests have reported everything from doors opening and closing to hearing footsteps when no one else was around.
Are these ghostly residents bad for business? Not really, the Q Station Resort is a popular tourist destination, and its ghost tours are big business. About 15 000 people every year are hunting the haunted on their nightly tours.
Are we hoteliers prepared for the challenge of being hosts for ghosts?
After all, we are very much focused on occupancy and we take any opportunity to fill our beds!
Don't be scared when you tuck in tonight!
Sleep well anyway.
FG
