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In October 2015, a post began circulating on Tumblr holding that individuals running or hiding from an abuser could further protect themselves by asking hotel desk staff to register them as unlisted, a codeword rendering them untouchable and impossible to find: The advice spread like wildfire on the microblogging site. If the directives in the post were accurate, people fleeing dangerous situations could invoke a simple code word to ensure any hotel or motel would serve as something of a safehouse. A second version of the post circulated with much of the initial content crossed out. The individual reblogging the post stated that it was possible to register privately at a hotel but that unlisted was not a codeword for being in hiding. The second iteration included comments from two self-identified hotel employees. The first advised taking stronger steps in the scenario described in the rumor, adding that reiteration might be necessary after shifts change: The first commenter raised issues of which those fleeing abuse ought to be mindful — hotel staff are often on the lookout for individuals illegitimately hiding in their properties. Even if a guest took pains to convey their status to the front desk, the clerk would have no way of discerning whether such a request was legitimate (and little recourse if a pursuing abuser was aided by law enforcement in their search). The second commenter noted that ambiguity made it more likely hotel staff would be suspicious of the guest, and not others attempting to contact them: We contacted two major hotels, both of which said some provisions exist to protect the privacy of guests upon request, but neither recognized the unlisted codeword. Neither suggested their procedure or policy was as simple as stating you wished to register as unlisted, however, making it likely that people in hiding would have to explain why to hotel staff. Moreover, making such a request didn't appear to constitute any guarantee a guest would be untouchable for the duration of their stay, nor was any universal procedure in place to ensure such directives would be adhered to without falter. We also contacted travel expert and consumer advocate Christopher Elliott, who told us he was unfamiliar with the rumor and had never heard of unlisted status as a hotel guest. Elliott noted celebrities had a tendency to use aliases and cash payment to avoid paparazzi, but he hadn't encountered the unlisted rumor anywhere, despite possessing in-depth knowledge of the travel and hospitality industries. We were ultimately unable to confirm the unlisted claim with any hotel or travel expert. It appears that many hotel chains are willing and able to grant guests various levels of privacy if requested, but need explanations, not code words. Like the QuikTrip Safe Place rumor, this piece of internet lore appeared to originate with a desire to provide useful information to individuals in immediate danger. However, the rumors were also similar in that they vastly overstated the sheltering abilities of hotels or convenience stores in instances where a person is at direct risk of being attacked. It is not a bad idea to inform front desk staff if you have reason to believe you are in danger or wish to be unreachable for the duration of your stay, but we found no guarantee that hotels universally maintain such a policy or that it could be relied on as a safety plan for people fleeing or avoiding a dangerous situation.
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