If a room attendant finds a room key in a public area, what should they do?

When a room attendant finds a room key in a public area, notifying the front desk immediately is the best course of action because it ensures that the situation is handled properly and securely. The front desk is equipped to manage lost and found items and can check the key against their records to determine which room it belongs to. This helps maintain guest security and privacy, as the key could potentially grant access to a guest's room.

Prompt reporting to the front desk also allows for swift action, such as returning the key to its rightful owner or ensuring it's deactivated to prevent unauthorized access. The front desk staff is trained to deal with such situations according to hotel policy, ensuring that safety and security are prioritized.

While other options may seem like they could be effective, they do not follow the established protocols for handling lost items in a hospitality environment. Keeping the key or leaving it on the floor could lead to security breaches, while handing it to a security officer could slow down the process of accountability and officially logging lost items.