Posted on June 20, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

In this age of penny pinching at the petrol pumps, hoteliers are getting a lot more creative when it comes to luring in tourists.  Some throw in an extra night free, others provide travel passes but one enterprising Shropshire hotel manager has taken things a step further by offering guests free petrol when they book a room.  Sounds like a good deal if you’re a UK car hire customer!

Commenting on the novel incentive, hotel owner David Hoyle said:  “It’s our little bit of Dunkirk spirit.”  “We live in a rural area and are very dependent on tourism, and we don’t want to give up on our staff, or those who want to come and visit but feel the effects of the crunch stopping them.”

The petrol is stored in on-site jerry cans and is provided via a funnel.  For every night’s stay at the Old Rectory, guests will have their car filled up with five litres of diesel or unleaded petrol.