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

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 45)

Lee Picton Nov 21st 2007 9:12AM

For those who still ignorantly insist that our country was founded on god's word, let them be reminded that that canard is a total lie. Our founding fathers were only too aware of the evils of god-soaked societies and invented a country explicitly designed to be secular. I regard the provision of the buybull as just another proselytizing effort by the religious to impose their views on society. I am much heartened that younger people are abandoning religion. If only the rest of the country could abandon their delusional fantasies of the invisible sky-pixie, this would be a better place.

Claire Dec 10th 2007 1:58PM

Just curious. Does that mean you came from a monkey? Or did you just think yourself here?

MRT Nov 21st 2007 9:12AM

Apparently RLL is an expert on the "Book of Crooks." He admitted to being a thief hundreds of times.

Robert Dec 27th 2007 7:42AM

LIE: '...Apparently RLL is an expert on the "Book of Crooks." He admitted to being a thief hundreds of times...'

TRUTH: I never admitted to any such action. In-fact, I've never checked-out of a hotel with anything that didn't belong to me, and I never removed a Bible from the property. Besides, if your almighty God wants to put it back, He knows where to find it.

Josephine Nov 21st 2007 9:18AM

GIDEON'S BIBLE HAS BEEN IN HOTELS FOR YEARS. AND THERE IT SHOULD STAY. WHAT DO MUSLIM'S HAVE TO DO WITH IT. THE KORAN,TORAH BIBLE. THEY ALL HOLD SOME FOUNDATION WHICH PEOPLE HAVE LOST. I AM ITALIAN. WHEN MY ANCESTORS FIRST CAME THE IRISH HATED US. AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. DIFFERENT IMMIGRANT, DIFFERENT TIME. PREVIOUS WORLD WARS, THEY WROTE STORIES ON THE GERMANS AND JAPANESE. NOW THE MUSLIMS. WHO IS NEXT TO GO ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. LOOK WHAT WE DID TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN AND THE AFRICAN WHO WERE PUT IN SHIPS TO COME HERE. COMPLAIN COMPLAIN! WE ALL SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE GOD IN US!

aldiexja Nov 21st 2007 9:51AM

I guess the owners of these hotels don't think people who can afford them read the Bible. That's kind of a cynical scary premise to start with. Well, I, for one, break that mold. I read the Bible everyday and often depend on the bedside copy rather than bring my own. I guess I will have to start packing one of the several Bibles in my home when I am making a trip. Perhaps I will start asking hotels if they still have a bedside Bible and using only those facilities.

This is funny because when I accessed this article, I thought they were going to talk about something really useless like the chocolate mints on the pillow each night. Ah, stupid me.

derikb Nov 21st 2007 9:24AM

Its called a choice...not everyone is religious. at least they are still keeping the bibles available.

d culver Nov 21st 2007 9:25AM

How sad... You might expect something like this in another country but America? Hotels I suggest you rethink this plan. America the land of the free. I think people should still have the option. No everyone wants to watch TV.

larissa Nov 21st 2007 9:28AM

It's probably for all those filthy rich business exec's "doing business" out of town. You know, without the bible next to their "desk," maybe they wont feel so guily while they're doing their "work."

Elizabeth Nov 21st 2007 11:37AM

I am not a very religious person, but I feel that it is sad that bibles in hotels are going away. They are of no cost to hotels and one never knows when they may need to be comforted in some way. Tragedy can strike any of us at any time.

Grey Mist Nov 21st 2007 9:37AM

Why put fiction in a hotel room. I'm sick of god freaks and their pushing their phony nonsense on the world. Muslims and Christians have killed more people in the name of god, against any good they might do. I for one, will be glad when we finally eliminate religion from society.

Roni Nov 21st 2007 9:39AM

If the Bible is so important to the person who has checked into a hotel or motel my thought is, what about taking along your own Bible. The Bible I find in a hotel/motel is never the Bible I read.

Howard Nov 21st 2007 9:39AM

This is a sorry statement on the current conditions in our society. However the best way to deal with it is 1. Always ask when making a reservation if they furnish Bible's in all rooms. 2. If the answer is no tell them that you will be staying elsewhere. We have the ability to change the way companies do business It is our choice where we spend our money.

Note to RLL; Did you know that willful destruction of private property is a crime?

Jay Nov 21st 2007 9:39AM

Here is a clue.....bring your own Bible if you want one in a hotel/motel that you stay in! Why do you feel that it is the hotel's obligation to provide you one?

Mike Nov 21st 2007 9:47AM

It is about time hotels ditch this horrible practice. I will be happy that you religious zealots will not be staying at these fine extablishments. Of course, most of you could not afford to anyway.

Preaching is an act of aggression.

jwmchugh3 Nov 21st 2007 9:50AM

Here's an idea....

If you want to read the bible (or any other book) while staying at a hotel, BRING IT WITH YOU. Last I checked, hotels are not libraries.

Ray Limoges Nov 21st 2007 10:49AM

To RLL (10) - Did you notice any irony in your comment about taken "the Book of Crooks" and playing Bibleball. You say that you have stolen hundreds of books and trashed them at a cost of thousands of dollars in stolen property. All to save the world from becoming "Jesus-Junkies" who by the way never stole anything.

Is it time RLL to look in the mirror and see who you are really trying to destroy?