HOTELS REPLACE ITEMS GUESTS HAD TO LEAVE AT U.S. AIRPORTS.

Byline: BARBARA CORREA Staff Writer

New security restrictions on carrying liquids onto airplanes have prompted major hotel chains -- and even a car-rental agency -- to expand their offerings of free deodorant, toothpaste and other sample-size toiletries.

``At this point, there is anxiety out there among air travelers,'' said John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott International Inc. ``We hear it on our reservations lines.''

The federal Transportation Security Administration scrambled to ban all liquids from carry-on baggage after a terror plot was uncovered to bring down multiple aircraft with liquid explosives.

Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co. began donating ``smile packs'' with its Crest toothpaste, mouthwash and floss that Avis Rent A Car LLC will leave on the front seats of its cars at 25 U.S. airports starting today.

``It is the least we can do after a long day of travel and losing products that you've paid for,'' P&G spokeswoman Tonia Elrod said.

Executives of Omni Hotels huddled within hours of the news of the foiled terror plot last Thursday and decided to offer some extra pampering.

The chain began to stock up on high-end cosmetics, including hair gel and sprays, manicure kits and moisturizer, with such brands as Aveda, Clinique, Kiehl's, Paul Mitchell and Sephora. Spokeswoman Christine Connelly said hotels were each spending hundreds of dollars a day on the items.

Marriott, which operates 16 hotel brands, including Renaissance and Ritz-Carlton, is stocking up on sample-size Bath & Body Works shampoo, conditioner and lotion to offer to guests who arrive without.

Additionally, it has asked its properties with lobby sundry shops to stock a larger variety of cosmetics to accommodate travelers who had to ditch theirs at the airport or pack them in checked luggage to which they lack access.

About 500 full-service Marriott hotels have Virtual Concierge, an e-mail butler system by which guests request things such as room service before they arrive. The hotelier is encouraging those properties to add toiletries to the Virtual Concierge list as well.

For now, the travel industry extras will remain free of charge, but there's no telling how long that will last.

``That depends on federal regulations,'' said Wolf. ``We don't know what the final reality will be.''

Water and other drinkable liquids, however, are not among the freebies.

Phil Noury, a business traveler from Tampa who was checking into the Long Beach Hilton on Tuesday, said he forgot to pack his deodorant and didn't mind buying it in the lobby shop. But he questioned the business sense of hotels deciding not to package personal amenities for a price.

``If I were an enterprising hotel, I'd be all over that,'' he said. ``I had forgotten a few things, and I asked at the front desk if they had something like that. She didn't seem to be aware of it.''

A desk clerk at the Woodland Hills Holiday Inn, part of InterContinental Hotels Group, said the chain has always offered basic grooming articles for guests and wasn't making any changes based on the new security bans. Asked what a traveler could do about missing makeup, he said: ``There's a Long's next door.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

barbara.correa(at)dailynews.com

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