The Pepperoni Promise

Nick Burchill was on a work trip to Victoria when he made what seemed like a simple promise to his Navy buddies. They asked him to bring them a taste of home - Brothers Pepperoni, a Halifax delicacy. Nick took this task seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he packed an entire suitcase full of pepperoni before checking into the Fairmont Empress hotel.

A Cool Solution Gone Wrong

Worried about his precious cargo getting too warm in the hotel room, Nick came up with what he thought was a clever solution. He laid all the pepperoni packages on a table near an open window. The cool breeze would keep everything fresh while he went for a walk around the city.

What could possibly go wrong?

Chaos Takes Flight

Upon returning to his room, Nick opened the door to find a scene of total chaos. About 40 seagulls had found their way into his room and were having what can only be described as a pepperoni party.

In Nick's own words, it was "a tornado of seagull excrement, pepperoni chunks, and large birds whipping around the room." The destruction was complete - lamps toppled over, curtains shredded, and the coffee tray covered in mess.

The Cleanup Attempt

Panicking, Nick tried to solve the problem by throwing a shoe at the birds. When that didn't work, he grabbed a towel and began trying to guide the feathered intruders toward the open window.

He called for help with the cleanup, but eventually had to leave for a work dinner. When he returned later that night, he discovered all his belongings had been moved to another room.

The Ban Hammer Falls

Shortly after the incident, Nick's company received a formal letter from the Fairmont Empress. The verdict? Nick had earned himself a lifetime ban from the hotel due to the great seagull disaster.

Redemption Almost Two Decades Later

Fast forward nearly twenty years. Nick decided it was time to make amends. He wrote a hilarious formal letter to the hotel recounting the entire pepperoni fiasco and posted it on Facebook.

Luckily for Nick, the staff at the Fairmont Empress found the full story thoroughly amusing. They responded with their own formal letter officially lifting his lifetime ban.

But the hotel didn't stop there. They even offered Nick a free week's stay - hopefully in a room with windows that remain firmly closed.