Eliza Wong
The ¥2,000 Room Night and ¥2 Slippers Incident
When consumer Ms. Wang (pseudonym) paid over ¥4,000 for two rooms at Wyndham’s Anji County luxury property, she expected premium amenities. Instead, she discovered the hotel’s reused slippers hygiene scandal firsthand. The ‘disposable’ slippers showed clear signs of previous use: worn soles, stains, pilling fabric, and even indentations from prior guests.
Upon complaining to reception, she received empty promises of replacement slippers before being effectively ghosted. The hotel manager later claimed this was standard practice across Zhejiang province to comply with environmental policies. However, the slippers’ flimsy construction—typical of ¥2 disposable varieties—rendered them unsuitable for reuse.
Cost-Cutting Versus Guest Experience
This reused slippers hygiene scandal represents more than isolated negligence. At approximately ¥2 per pair, replacing these slippers would cost the hotel mere pennies per guest. Yet the decision to reuse them despite their unsuitable material demonstrates prioritization of minimal savings over guest health and satisfaction.
Environmental Policy or Convenient Excuse?
Zhejiang province’s 2020 Notice on Restricting Disposable Consumables indeed encourages reducing single-use items. However, the policy specifically requires hotels to provide ‘sanitary, reusable alternatives’ when limiting disposables. The Wyndham property failed on both counts: they provided obviously unsanitary reused slippers while simultaneously violating policy by openly providing other disposable amenities like toothbrushes and combs.
Ms. Wang noted the hotel never informed guests about needing to bring their own toiletries, suggesting the environmental argument was deployed selectively rather than implemented consistently.
How Other Properties Handle the Policy
Not all hotels approach this policy similarly. Some, like Yiwu’s Yinudu Huayue Hotel, use sturdier, designed-for-reuse slippers and clearly communicate their reuse policy. Others, like a Liyang homestay owner interviewed, continue providing disposables recognizing that families traveling with children often cannot practically bring all amenities.
The difference lies in transparency and appropriate implementation. The reused slippers hygiene scandal at Wyndham emerged from doing the minimum poorly rather than embracing environmental goals thoughtfully.
Wyndham’s Pattern of Hygiene Failures
This incident isn’t Wyndham’s first hygiene controversy. In 2021, investigations revealed multiple Wyndham properties in Nanchang failing to change linens between guests. That same year, the Wenzhou Ramada Plaza (part of Wyndham’s portfolio) received warnings for improperly cleaned towels.
More seriously, in January 2025, guests reported bed bugs at the Phu Quoc Wyndham Grand leading to children contracting hand, foot, and mouth disease. Tragically, July 2025 saw a 6-year-old drown at a Xishuangbanna Wyndham property due to maintenance failures in a children’s water play area.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Industry experts point to Wyndham’s heavy reliance on franchising in China. Unlike company-owned properties where standards are directly controlled, franchises operate with more autonomy. Wyndham collects branding fees but often provides inadequate oversight of daily operations.
Additionally, penalty structures create minimal disincentive. Fines for hygiene violations max out around ¥20,000—insignificant for hotels charging ¥4,000/night. Until enforcement carries real financial consequences, these reused slippers hygiene scandals will likely continue.
Implementing Environmental Policies Correctly
Brand strategy expert Chen Jingjing (陈晶晶) notes that reusable slippers aren’t inherently problematic. Many consumers equate ‘newly unwrapped’ with cleanliness, but disposable slippers often feature inferior materials and questionable production hygiene themselves.
Hotels can successfully implement environmental policies by:
– Selecting durable slippers designed for multiple washes
– Implementing rigorous sterilization processes (high-temperature washing, drying, disinfection)
– Clearly communicating policies before booking and at check-in
– Offering disposable alternatives for concerned guests, potentially at a small fee
This approach genuinely combines environmental responsibility with guest comfort rather than using ‘green’ initiatives as cover for cost-cutting.
Protecting Yourself as a Consumer
When booking luxury accommodations, consumers should:
– Research recent hygiene reports and guest reviews mentioning cleanliness
– Contact hotels directly to inquire about their reusable amenities policies
– Pack personal slippers and toiletries when uncertain
– Document and report issues immediately through official channels like the Black Cat Complaints platform
– Share experiences on social media and review sites to hold brands accountable
The Path Forward for Hotel Hygiene
The reused slippers hygiene scandal at Wyndham underscores broader industry challenges. As environmental concerns grow, hotels must implement sustainability measures transparently and hygienically. Brands like Wyndham must strengthen franchise oversight rather than prioritizing expansion over quality control.
Regulators likewise need to revisit penalty structures to make violations financially meaningful. Most importantly, consumers must continue voicing expectations and concerns—ultimately, the market responds to what guests demand and tolerate.
Luxury pricing should guarantee luxury standards, not recycled ¥2 slippers. Until brands internalize this, the reused slippers hygiene scandal will remain both metaphor and symptom of deeper industry issues.
