70 hotels are selling off their lost-and-found items at a downtown Victoria event

Ever wonder what happens to all the fancy jackets, designer clothing, sunglasses and other treasures guests leave behind at some of BC’s most luxurious hotels?

Well, here’s your chance to find out, and maybe score a few bargains along the way.

After drawing thousands of curious shoppers to downtown Victoria, a popular pop-up shop selling unclaimed hotel lost-and-found items is returning later this month, and this time, it’s taking over a space inside the Bay Centre.

From November 23rd to December 6th, Soap for Hope Canada will bring its Second Hand Hope: Thrift With Purpose pop-up to the downtown shopping centre for the first time, offering everything from premium fashion and brand-name accessories to everyday clothing and unexpected hotel treasures.

And the best part is all prices start at just $5, with everyday finds averaging around $9.

The unique shopping experience features items collected through partnerships with 70 hotels, including some of Vancouver Island’s most recognizable properties, such as the Fairmont Empress, Oak Bay Beach Hotel and The Parkside Hotel & Spa.

Other participating hotel partners include properties in Vancouver, Whistler and elsewhere across BC.

Think of it as a treasure hunt, except instead of digging through an attic, you’re browsing items that travellers left behind at hotels. And you never quite know what you might find.

The pop-up will feature a changing selection of clothing, accessories, specialty items and sustainable holiday gifts, giving shoppers an opportunity to pick up something unique without breaking the bank.

This year’s event also arrives just in time for the holiday shopping season, making it an alternative for anyone looking to stretch their Christmas budget or find something a little different.

While the bargains are certainly part of the attraction, there’s a much bigger purpose behind the pop-up.

Second Hand Hope is a social enterprise operated by Soap for Hope Canada, a Victoria-based charity that works with hotels to recover usable products and redirect them to people who need them.

Rather than allowing unclaimed belongings to go to waste, the organization gives suitable items a second life through resale or donation.

Money raised through the pop-up helps support Soap for Hope Canada’s programs, which provide essential hygiene products to people experiencing hygiene poverty.

The environmental impact is significant, too. According to the organization, 9,732 pounds of hotel lost-and-found items were diverted from landfills in 2025 alone.

The charity says its three previous pop-up events at Market Square attracted more than 2,000 visitors, with shoppers turning out to browse the unusual selection of forgotten hotel belongings.

Now, with 70 hotel partners and a new location inside one of downtown Victoria’s busiest shopping destinations, organizers are hoping to introduce even more people to the concept.

The Second Hand Hope pop-up will be located on the lower level of the Bay Centre, next to Centre Court. It will run from Monday, November 23rd through Sunday, December 6th, during regular Bay Centre operating hours.

Shoppers can expect a rotating selection of merchandise, with prices starting at $5 and everyday items averaging approximately $9.

For those looking to do some holiday shopping while supporting a local cause, this might be one of the more unusual places to find a bargain this season.

And who knows, that designer jacket or pair of sunglasses someone forgot at a luxury hotel might just become your next favourite find.

More information is available through Soap for Hope Canada’s official event page.

Second Hand Hope: Thrift With Purpose at Bay Centre

• Where: Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street, lower level next to Centre Court
• When: Monday, November 23rd to Sunday, December 6th