The Art Series hotel group has launched a new promotion, whereby guests who have paid for one night’s accommodation have the option to stay on and on, for free, until their room is needed.

Launching ‘The Overstay Checkout’ offer from 16 December this year through to 13 January 2013, the group literally encourages guests to outstay their welcome at the group’s; The Olsen, The Cullen or The Blackman.

Dubbing the 11.00am checkout as “uncool”, Art Series Hotels chief executive Will Deague said research found a traveller’s biggest pet peeve is the 11.00am checkout, an annoying requirement he hoped to rectify.

“Our guests are always requesting a late checkout and we wanted to extend this offer over summer when Melbourne is at its best,” he explained.

“The Overstay Checkout is a world first we are particularly proud of.

“We know our guests will respond favaourably to this, if they do, we’ll roll it out again.”

The promotion works on a ‘first in first served’ basis, the guest stays the paid night and requests a late checkout when they are due to leave.

Then depending on the hotel capacity, they group will “endeavour” to accommodate the request and if guests do stay another night, they can try their luck again the next morning. 

“There are no catches or restrictions, rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis,” Mr Deague added.  

“They are potentially available regardless of whether you have booked directly with the hotel, though a third party website, or a travel agent.”