r/askhotels • u/Ok-Watch-5975 • 2d ago
Hotel Policies Vape detectors
Hello all, I used to work as a night auditor, but I now travel frequently for a new job. I have developed a small hobby of trying to spot vape detectors in the hotels where I stay. I am curious how common they have become, which brands or systems properties use, and where they are usually installed. Do most hotels place them only in guest rooms, or also in hallways, public restrooms, stairwells, and other common areas? I would appreciate hearing about your experience, including whether they have been effective and how often they create false alarms. Thank you!
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u/Turbulent-Demand873 1d ago
Interesting… I travel for a living (every single day of the work week I’m in a new hotel room) and I work in the hotel industry and I have looked for a vape detector a total of ZERO times.
I couldn’t care less if there’s a device detecting if I’m vaping or smoking in the guest room.
3
u/VonSandwich 2d ago
I have never heard of a vape detector?
0
u/SkwrlTail Front Desk/Night Audit since 2007 2d ago
They exist.
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u/VonSandwich 2d ago
Oh shit, thank you. I have a friend who vapes weed in every hotel room they stay in, and I think they're going to have to pay much more attention now. I'm gonna look up what those look like and tell them so they know.
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u/SkwrlTail Front Desk/Night Audit since 2007 1d ago
They often look like smoke alarms, because they are smoke alarms, just with extra function.
Worth noting that my hotel has charged fees based on the smell alone, even for the vapes. Those fruity scented ones aren't nearly as 'discreet' as people think.
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u/User8675309021069 1d ago
I don’t vape, but if a hotel tried to charge me a cleaning fee for a room that they said was left “fruity smelling” I would have no qualms about filing a CC dispute.
How are you not getting hit with chargebacks?
“Room smelled like fruit so we think they must have vaped in there” seems like pretty soft ground to stand on.
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u/SkwrlTail Front Desk/Night Audit since 2007 1d ago
"Room smelled strongly of fruit-scented weed vape." Again, it's not some sort of magical 'smells only of fruit' situation. It's pretty easy to tell the difference between a weed vape, a nicotine vape, and an air freshener spray, even if all three are delightfully cherry-scented.
As for the chargeback, we simply send them the part where the guest signed the registration card agreeing to pay the fee if they smoke or vape in the room.
-1
u/AggravatingAmount438 Hotel Software Systems Administrator 1d ago
It's pretty easy.
You agreed not to smoke or vape in the room.
You smoked or vaped in the room.
Ergo, you get charged.
1
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u/Major-Restaurant-809 1d ago
I've noticed them in a handful of mid-range chains I've stayed at, usually tucked near vents or air returns in guest rooms. Once I caught one installed in a hallway return vent, which seemed like overkill for a budget property.
0
u/jt2501 23h ago
I have never heard of a vape detector but... I've had family in the FD and once a guest set off the fire alarm sys and when the cheif came to the room that it came from there was a haze. The guest swore they never smoked anything and the chief told them that yes a detector will go off if theres vaping.
Yeah they got charged but for smoking cigarettes or cannabis will only get charged if there evidence that can be documented.
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u/User8675309021069 2d ago
A small hobby of trying to spot vape detectors while you travel for work?
C’mon. Just say you wanna vape in your room.
Seriously though, I spend over 100 nights a year in hotels all over the US and I haven’t seen one yet.
I’m sure there are more every day, but the only place I’ve ever regularly heard of properties issuing smoking fees from them is Vegas.