When Julia and her mom left the Four Seasons in Taormina, Sicily, they didn’t realize Rosie, Julia’s cherished stuffed animal, had been swept up with the bedding and left behind. After contacting the hotel with a photo, Julia’s mom hoped for a small miracle: that Rosie had survived the laundry and wasn’t already in a dumpster somewhere in Sicily.
The staff at the San Domenico Palace delivered way more than that. They found Rosie and staged an entire photo series of her enjoying the hotel: lounging by the pool, stopping by the bar, and relaxing in bed like a true VIP guest. Rosie was then mailed home with a handwritten letter written in her own voice, which included the line,“The San Domenica Palace was lovely, but my favorite place in the whole world is right beside you.”The hotel even covered the shipping.
Julia’s older sister shared the story on TikTok, where it went viral with millions of views, turning a lost plushie into one of the internet’s favorite feel-good moments of the year.
Have you ever had a business go above and beyond like this? Tell us about it in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.