The phone number for some of the hotel catalogs is indeed the same. It used to be hotels were utilitarian places, and you couldn't wait to get home to sleep in your own bed. These days, hotel rooms are outfitted with a panoply of luxurious goods that are nicer than the junk you have at home. Next time you stay at a hotel, resort or even a small inn, and covet some bathrobe, bed or bauble, ask if you can purchase it.
Chances are, it's for sale.
Selling hotel fittings isn't new. Back in the early 20th century, hotelier Frank Miller was a voracious collector, who filled his Mission Inn in Riverside, Calif., with treasures from around the world. This small-time William Randolph Hearst filled his dream hotel with everything from medieval church bells to Asian antiques. And all of it was for sale to interested guests. There are a number of reasons why hotels move into the retail business beyond the usual gift-shop selection of sundries and souvenirs.