Luxury Hotels Lose The Bible

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Nov 18th 2007 at 10:02AM

We've seen a lot of hotel trends over the years, plasma TVs, the rise of free wi-fi, pillow butlers, in-room fitness equipment and all sorts of adjustments as hotels adapt to the greening of America but the latest might just be the disappearance of an old favorite. ABC News has a story on the fact that luxury hotels are ditching the tradition of the Bible tucked in the bedside drawer. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the number of luxury hotels that stock the Bible and other religious items has dropped 18 percent since 2001. Luxury chains taking part in the trend include Kimpton Hotels, the Borgata in Atlantic City and the Gansevoort Hotel Group. The hotels all offer various religious materials that are available by request.

This trend is on the luxury side. In other motels, hotels and inns, the number of in-room Bibles has increased from 79 percent in 1988 to 95 percent today. In fact, a survey from the American Hotel and Lodging Association reveals that the more you pay for a hotel room the less likely you are to see a Bible. A full 99 percent of economy hotels have a Bible in the room but just 73 percent of luxury hotels provide one. Also Bibles are least likely to be found in urban hotels and resorts and are most often at hotels near interstate highways or at airports.

Tags: bible, luxury hotels, trends

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Source

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 45)

schoolgirliegirl Feb 7th 2008 1:42PM

If it's soooo important that you "have" to have a bible with you at a hotel, then bring your own. Personally, I could never figure out why there was one there anyway. Will all the different religions out there, to be proper, there should be a book for everyone then. And for us who don't give a damn, I'm happy they're getting rid of the stupid books!

Dianne Deep Nov 21st 2007 6:46AM

I will be asking if the bible is provided as it has been in the past when I phone to reserve my room. If the hotel responds NO....I will book with another hotel that does include the bible in the room. These bibles have been provided FREE of charge by The Gideons. There is NO good reason to remove the bible from the hotel rooms. Continued attempts to get God out of our country and our lives is truly a receipe for disaster. Remember this country's founders INCLUDED God.

aurelia Nov 28th 2007 5:04PM

i completly 100% agree with diane

Robert Nov 28th 2007 5:56PM

I completely 100% disagree with Dianne.

Roberta B. Nov 28th 2007 7:22PM

Amen to that!!

YT Nov 28th 2007 9:35PM

No, this country's founders did NOT include God. That is an absolute falsehood and shame on you for telling such a lie.

Jan Nov 30th 2007 11:39PM

If you are so religious you would boycott a hotel that doesn't provide bibles, why don't you just bring your own? While you are at it, why don't you bring two and leave one for the next person? Another example of someone expecting other people to act in a christian way yet behaving in an un-christian way themselves. You expect a business to spread the word of God, yet instead of spreading the word yourself, you just complain about what "They" are not doing for YOU. Jesus didn't hang out with christians, he sought out people to share the word with. Where were you when the rest of us were in sunday school? Oh, up on your high horse.

Susan Nov 29th 2007 12:48PM

I totally agree with Dianne 100% also. If we keep turning our backs on God, then this country is going to be in more trouble than it already is in.

Justintime Fortheshow Dec 3rd 2007 8:38AM

YT..THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED BY CHRISTIANS. YOURE A LIAR AND AN IDIOT

Marian Dec 4th 2007 9:12AM

Amen, Dianne...me, too. Anyone who does not honor Christ and His Mother is not getting one red cent from me.

Marian Taylor
Memphis, TN

Bruce Dec 3rd 2007 6:59PM

I disagree with Diane about our founders including GOD...In fact, you will find NO reference to GOD in the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, they specifically and intentionally spelled out in Art. VI ..." but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." Then they further clarified it in Amendment I ..."Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...."

How many U.S Citizens do you think have actually read the Constitution before making claims like this??

Roberta White Dec 4th 2007 2:00AM

I totally agree with you. Americans believe our country will always be protected and favored by God, but little do they know. God's Word plainly states what happens to nations and persons who turn their backs, lives and beliefs on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

anne Dec 4th 2007 10:34AM

Actually George Bush is a recipe for disaster, not taking the bible out of hotel rooms. Do you really read the bible when staying at a hotel? What is the point! If you are so dedicated to God, then take the bible every where you go. Why should a hotel provide one. Next thing you know you want one in the public rest rooms.

Kris Kennedy Dec 5th 2007 2:14PM

If you are really that into Bibles, why don't you carry your own?

Damian Dec 4th 2007 5:45PM

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DIANE. WHY SHOULD WE IGNORE OUR BELIE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FREE COUNTRY, ARE WE CHANGING? IF SO, WE MIGHT AS WELL LIVE IN RUSSIA...........

jess Dec 4th 2007 6:11PM

Are you people serious??? If you people need the bible so much when you travel, bring your own. Why should a hotel carry the bible and not EVERY other religious book in the world? Say the Torah, Koran??? Get a grip, are you really missing out? Can you honestly say you read the bible or have a dyer need for it when you are staying at a hotel anyway?? This is a weird topic and what more odd is that people really care if a hotel room has the bible in it..Silly, really Silly...Maybe people who stay in these hotels have more diverse religions, ever think of that...don't be so single minded to think its a "rich/poor" thing...

astmary Dec 9th 2007 1:13PM

Who's country is it any way? We don't go to other countries and say we are offended by who or what their country believes in . We would probably be shot if we did. If other religions disagree with the bible, let them stock their own book. Where will this all end? I agree with you. I will ask if a bible is in the room before booking the room if not I will book somewhere else.

Thom Dec 9th 2007 11:21PM

I could not disagree more. This country was not founded by god it was founded by men, who, for whatever reason believed in god. As we evolve as a nation and progress as a society the need to tangle the name and "teachings" of god into our government and lives is becoming increasingly unnecessary. If you must have a bible in your room than bring our own or request one at the desk...I for one do not like seeing it in my room.

Bernie B Dec 13th 2007 12:05PM

I don't get to a motel that often anymore, but was surprised when at a large Motel 6 in Albuquerque, NM recently that there was not the usual bible in the bedside stand. Now I see that unfortunately this may be a coming trend, even though the bibles are free to the motels.