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Thin Check-in

March 21, 2006 at 2:04 PM | 0 Comments

Though we mentioned this briefly last week, the German hotel who is charging guests by their weight, has been getting some major press so we decided to take a closer look.

Juergen Heckrodt, owner of the three-star Ostfriesland Hotel in Norden, Germany has started a new weight loss program that's no Bikini Boot Camp.

Forget gyms and healthy snacks, Heckrodt makes his hotel guests weigh-in at check-in.

Heckrod was so disturbed by all the XXL guests coming through, he did what any socially responsible hotelier would do, he decided to capitalize on the extra pounds. Guests are asked to step on a scale prior to moving into their rooms, and are charged a half euro per kilo ($.061/2.2lbs).

Heckrodt's business model relies on the theory that "healthy guests live longer and can come back more often." And apparently former guests do come back slimmer and happier.

But if you are not a jolly fat person, no worries! This hotel isn't going to turn you away if you refuse the scales. Also, thrift spenders with a weight problem have nothing to fear--no guest will be charged more than a single room rate.

Related Stories:
· Pay as you weigh! [GG2Net]
· PM Linkage: Fat People Can't Catch a Break [HotelChatter]
· Hotel charges guests by the pound [MSNBC]