by Scott Laird
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sun November 12, 2017
There is a rather old, mostly forgotten tradition of sending gifts to friends and loved ones who are traveling, often on ocean voyages. The practice began centuries ago, when travel usually meant farewell forever to friends and loved ones who showed their affections by helping provision travelers for their journeys with baskets of fruit or other sustenance because early shipping lines did not usually include meals in the price of passage and passengers were generally expected to bring enough food with them for the duration.
As journeys grew shorter and easier, the practice lingered as a charming way to share affection with loved ones while traveling. Today, many travel agents keep the tradition alive, primarily on cruises, harkening back to the earliest practices.
Unbeknownst to many, a number of hotels and resorts around the world maintain a list of amenities for non-guests to send to guests via room service, but Sheraton Hotels & Resorts in the United States and Canada have gone one step further for the holiday season.
Through November 17, friends and family of guests at Sheraton properties can send a personalized Coca-Cola bottle to be delivered to their guest room, free of charge. Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar are among the selections available for delivery.
The bottles can be personalized with 18 character phrases, notes or hashtags, to let travelers know they're missed and thought of. Sheraton guests can also send personalized Coca-Cola bottles to their friends and loved ones at home by visiting the hotel concierge.
"We all know that business travel can be tough on families and loved ones," says Indy Adenaw, Vice President and Global Brand Manager, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.
"As a brand, we are committed to going above and beyond for our guests to make them comfortable and at home, and we feel this exciting program allows us to do something extra special for business travelers this holiday season."
Sheraton developed the program for the holidays after doing some market research and finding that business travel is, well, lonely. Survey responses indicated that 81 percent of business travelers want to bring loved ones with them when traveling for business, and more than four in five business travelers think it's important to let their loved ones know they're thinking about them while they're traveling.
Sheraton kicked off the program by surprising a frequent business guest and capturing the moment on video.
Outside the promotion dates or at other hotel brands, try calling the hotel directly and ask to speak with the concierge or room service.
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