Skip to main content

New Orleans Hotel Offers $15,000 Luxury Stay in Return for the Best Stolen Item

The Roosevelt New Orleans Stolen Matches
The Roosevelt New Orleans

Sugar packets and mini shampoo bottles aside, stealing from hotels is rarely encouraged. However, one New Orleans hotel is encouraging light-fingered guests to step out of the shadows for the chance to win a seven-night stay worth more than $15,000.

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, The Roosevelt New Orleans has announced a unique new contest. As part of the 125th Anniversary Giveback Sweepstakes, the hotel is simply asking guests to return anything they’ve previously taken. No questions asked, and no item is too insignificant. Guests have already returned dinner plates from the original Blue Room restaurant, a tablecloth, menus, matchbooks, and invoices from the 1940s. The artifacts will be displayed in a special lobby exhibit over the next few months. Those particularly attached to their scores should note that the hotel has even offered to return the items, provided you ask nicely.

The Roosevelt New Orleans Presidential Suite
Presidential Suites The Roosevelt New Orleans/Facebook

The contest winner could score a seven-night stay in one of the hotel’s ultra-luxe Presidential Suites. The grand prize includes multiple spa treatments, private gourmet meals cooked by The Roosevelt’s executive chef, and other yet-to-be-announced goodies.

Recommended Videos

After opening its doors in 1893 as Grunewald Hotel, the iconic luxury property became a staple of the New Orleans scene for more than a century. It reopened as The Roosevelt in 1923 as a hub for high society. Well-heeled socialites gathered at the Sazerac Bar and the Blue Room for cocktails and live performances by the likes of Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Jack Benny, and Louis Armstrong. Sadly, Hurricane Katrina forced its closure in 2005. Waldorf Astoria purchased it in 2007 with the promise to restore it to its former glory. After a $145-million top-down restoration, it reopened in 2009 as The Roosevelt New Orleans, showcasing all the opulence and swagger that made it famous in the Roaring Twenties.

The 125th Anniversary Giveback Sweepstakes at The Roosevelt New Orleans is open through July 1, 2019. The winner will be announced on July 31. You are welcome to enter by submitting an official giveback form and mailing in the goods or dropping them off in person.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 may be the perfect travel companion — here’s why
Improved ANC, better battery life, and a brand new translation tool set these earbuds apart
Two people conversing in a cafe while wearing AirPods Pro 3

Apple has announced a new set of AirPods, and there’s a fair argument that the compact audio devices totally overshadowed the new Apple Watch, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air -- which debuted during the same showcase.

The AirPods Pro 3 has vastly increased capabilities when compared to its predecessors. The most useful new function for travelers is likely to be the translation feature. With the feature enabled, the AirPods automatically translate the speech of anyone the user is talking to, so that user will hear the conversation in their selected language. ANC also kicks in to lower the person speaking’s voice, which makes the translation sound more prominent.

Read more
Airbnb says this iconic capital is the most popular fall destination
Paris is the place to be this fall
Paris apartment airbnb panoramic view

Airbnb has unveiled its 2025 fall travel trends report, and one city tops Gen Z’s must-visit list this season: Paris, France. The study found Gen Z traveler searches are up 26% compared to last fall, with young globetrotters more likely than Millennials to book longer, international escapes. But the data isn’t just for Gen Z, anyone can use it to plan an affordable shoulder-season getaway.

Paris has emerged as the No. 1 trending fall destination, as travelers flock to the French capital for cooler weather, fewer crowds, and a chance to check off bucket list experiences. Autumn in Paris offers plenty to enjoy: strolls along the Seine as leaves turn golden, café-hopping in Saint-Germain, and cultural events like Nuit Blanche, the citywide all-night arts festival in October. Visitors can also enjoy iconic attractions, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, without peak-season lines.

Read more
7 unforgettable Montana destinations that go way beyond Yellowstone
Explore outside of Yellowstone
Glacier National Park

Something about Montana is just different. The air is cleaner, the skies feel wider, and the pace of life slows down in the best way. If you've ever taken a trip to Yellowstone, you know how stunning the landscape is, but Montana's beauty doesn’t stop at the park gates. 

While Yellowstone is absolutely worth a visit, there’s a whole world beyond it that’s just waiting to be explored. From charming small towns to incredible mountain views and world-class Montana ski resorts, this state is full of unforgettable destinations. These are some of the best places to visit in Montana for every type of traveler.

Read more