A Do Not Disturb sign from Kenya
As a management trainer for the International Labour Organization of the United Nations, Edoardo Flores has traveled extensively to meetings and conventions around the world. While on the road, Flores, who lives in Turin, Italy, picked up an unusual hobby: He collects hotel “Do Not Disturb” signs. “I might never have started this collection if I had not done so much traveling for work,” he says.
Since 1995 he has collected more than 7,200 different “Do Not Disturb” signs from 170 different countries and the collection continues to grow. “The idea was to have a souvenir from the places where I stayed,” he says. The first sign came from the Holiday Inn, Islamabad, Pakistan. Over the years his collection has been bolstered by friends, other collectors, and hotels themselves, which, in most cases, freely provide him with signs. He has signs from the 1930s, signs carved out of wood, and signs from hotels like the spectacular Burj Al Arab, Dubai. “The most beautiful ones are from Asia,” he says.
To see his collection go to www.freewebs.com/dndcollector/index.htm.
