Some people bring home soaps or key cards from hotels. I leave behind doodles. I call them #hoteldoodle.
It started as a small experiment and turned into a habit. If there’s a notepad in the room, I grab a pen and draw. No sketchbook, no fancy setup, just the hotel stationery and whatever idea shows up. Most of the time I finish on the last day, right before checking out. It’s a nice way to wind down after work travel, almost like unpacking my brain before packing my bag.
Since I’m a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member (yes, it sounds fancy because it is), almost all of these doodles live on Marriott paper. Which basically makes this an unofficial collaboration. Limited-edition, one-of-one, complimentary doodles. Available only at select Marriotts.
At first, the doodles were random. But then the themes began to sneak in:
- Nashville got a music sketch.
- Anaheim ended up with the Magic Kingdom.
- Florida inspired a space-themed one after visiting Kennedy Space Center.
- Bismarck turned into an alien ship abducting a cow, thanks to the fields outside and a UFO-themed diner across the street.
What happens to these drawings is a mystery. Maybe housekeeping tosses them. Maybe a guest keeps one. Maybe they’re still sitting under a lamp in some forgotten room. Either way, they’re little breadcrumbs I’ve left behind.
Every now and then, they connect me to someone. In Puerto Rico, a staff member left me a note saying she liked the doodle I left. She even followed me on Instagram after that. Shoutout to follower number 143!
So if you ever find a stray doodle in a Marriott desk drawer, there’s a chance it’s mine. Consider it a free souvenir. Who knows, maybe one day Marriott will give me my own gallery. Until then, check the notepad ; )
