What is a collateral holder?
October 6, 2015 11:55 AM Subscribe
I stayed at a hotel in Washington, DC and there was a minibar in my room. The minibar menu listed overpriced little bottles of liquor and snacks and also a "collateral holder" for $45. But what is it?
The menu noted that the collateral holder could be ordered by calling the front desk and that it would be shipped for free to your home. I asked what a collateral holder was at reception but no one could tell me. "No one's ever ordered one. I have no idea." was the exact quote.
Google image search brings up some commercial document displays but there was nothing like that in the room (and definitely not in the fridge). And why would you want to buy one from a minibar anyway?
Can anyone explain this before I spend $45 to assuage my curiosity?
The menu noted that the collateral holder could be ordered by calling the front desk and that it would be shipped for free to your home. I asked what a collateral holder was at reception but no one could tell me. "No one's ever ordered one. I have no idea." was the exact quote.
Google image search brings up some commercial document displays but there was nothing like that in the room (and definitely not in the fridge). And why would you want to buy one from a minibar anyway?
Can anyone explain this before I spend $45 to assuage my curiosity?
Best answer: It is the holder for their marketing collateral -- the magazines, pamphlets etc that they leave for you. If you liked it, they would be happy to sell you one, but it's not part of the minibar. I can see why no one had ever asked for one before. I suppose it's on the list less because they expect to sell them and more so they can charge you for it if you swipe it.
posted by ubiquity at 12:02 PM on October 6, 2015 [13 favorites]
posted by ubiquity at 12:02 PM on October 6, 2015 [13 favorites]
Best answer: A "Collateral holder" is a stand for holding collateral information, like a brochure or TV channel card.
Why you'd want to order one for $45 is beyond me.
posted by Floydd at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015
Why you'd want to order one for $45 is beyond me.
posted by Floydd at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015
It seems like a dumb way to order a safe for valuables to be delivered to your room. But then I googled and it seems to just be some sort of decorative rock thing (maybe banded with hotel logo, who knows) so maybe they charge you if you take it home?
posted by jessamyn at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015
posted by jessamyn at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015
Marketing collateral is brochures and similar marketing material. A collateral holder is just a brochure holder, like they have on the front desk or sometimes in the room. No idea why a hotel would sell them, though.
Office Max Australia has a whole section of them.
posted by Huck500 at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Office Max Australia has a whole section of them.
posted by Huck500 at 12:03 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
No idea why a hotel would sell them, though.
Maybe so they could justify charging your account if you take or break the one in the room. I have seen items like bathrobes and towels on the minibar list, assuming that they would just charge you the listed amount should you walk off with either.
posted by mochapickle at 12:06 PM on October 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
Maybe so they could justify charging your account if you take or break the one in the room. I have seen items like bathrobes and towels on the minibar list, assuming that they would just charge you the listed amount should you walk off with either.
posted by mochapickle at 12:06 PM on October 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
Sounds like it's so they have a basis for charging you $45 for it if you take it. Much like many hotel rooms now include a catalog that offers the various towels and bed linens for sale shipped to your home. Too many people were stealing towels as if they were miniature complimentary soaps. Now it's no longer stealing, it's just another good you can be charged for.
posted by grouse at 12:06 PM on October 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by grouse at 12:06 PM on October 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone, for the quick answers! I had never encountered "collateral" used in this context.
The weird thing is that there was nothing like that at all in the room (all the tv guides, signs, etc. were just lying on the table). But I guess a previous guest might have taken it to the tune of $45.
posted by The Giant Rat of Sumatra at 12:08 PM on October 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
The weird thing is that there was nothing like that at all in the room (all the tv guides, signs, etc. were just lying on the table). But I guess a previous guest might have taken it to the tune of $45.
posted by The Giant Rat of Sumatra at 12:08 PM on October 6, 2015 [7 favorites]
I've been in hotels where they also list prices for towels and bathrobes which they provided for guest use. I imagine people were taking them anyway, and rather than argue the hotel figured they would just put a list price on the items and charge people that amount.
posted by alms at 12:19 PM on October 6, 2015
posted by alms at 12:19 PM on October 6, 2015
We use "collateral" in the tourism/cultural industry to describe any informational takeaway - rack card, rate card, brochure, flyer. So it's the thing that holds brochures and I agree they are looking for a way to communicate that you'll be charged if you take it.
posted by Miko at 12:46 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 12:46 PM on October 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
What Miko said or maybe they're referring to the portfolio/tablet holder you see in some hotel rooms. They usually contain stationery or a writing pad.
posted by Carbolic at 3:20 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by Carbolic at 3:20 PM on October 7, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 11:58 AM on October 6, 2015