Holiday Inn Express staff documents fun adventures of a guest’s missing stuffed animal before sending it back home

If you have a toddler with a favorite stuffed animal, leaving it behind somewhere on a family vacation is an absolute nightmare you probably don’t even want to consider. The best case scenario is that it’ll turn up in a lost and found somewhere, and by retracing your steps, maybe you can track it down — losing a ton of time in the process. The worst-case scenario, of course, is that it’s lost forever.

But that wasn’t the case for one family, whose toddler left her beloved stuffed dog behind at a Holiday Inn Express. After his dad reached out to the hotel to see if they could return it, he shared the adorable email he got in response.

“Guys, my toddler left his toy at an @IHGhotels while traveling. We called them, and they said they would get it in the mail for us. This morning I opened my email and had this from them,” he wrote. “Please repost and help them get some recognition for awesome customer service!”

The email contained tons of pictures of that little stuffed dog having adventures all over the hotel, plus a story the staff had written to go along with it.

“To start his day, he spent some time with us up at the front desk. He did an amazing job and all the guests loved him. He was the star of the show and always so friendly and polite,” the staff wrote, alongside several photos of the stuffed dog sitting at the front desk facing the check-in area, or behind a computer.

“After his time at the desk, he was a little hungry so we went over to the market to get him a snack! He got some Chex mix and orange juice. While he ate, we talked about how he couldn’t wait to get home to you!” the email continues, complete with a photo of the stuffed pup surrounded by Chex Mix on the check-in counter. “He was so excited and even asked us for directions! He used the computers in the lobby to look up how to get to you, but he got distracted by pictures of squirrels! Silly dog!”

The adventure continues as the stuffed dog helps set up continental breakfast, wash and fold towels, and even goes to the gym to work out “to ensure he could give you the tightest hug ever when he gets home.”

The story ends when he goes to sleep, with the hotel staff adding, “We are happy that he is headed home to you!”

We can just imagine the joy this story will bring to a toddler anxiously awaiting the arrival of a beloved stuffie in the mail. And in the comments, many people praised this hotel staff who went above and beyond for a guest.

“This is amazing. I was considering @IHGhotels for my New Orleans trip but I’m definitely booking there now,” one wrote.

Another commented, “Some things never change, the “little things” a little time invested in kindness, go a really long way. Well done to the team at your hotel! This is how brand loyalty is built. One customer at a time.”