It is fairly well known that the founders of the Marriott hotel chain are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormons). And that in most Marriott hotels, there are usually Bibles and Books of Mormon in the side table drawer of each hotel room.
Now, with the merger of Marriott and Starwood, it is being reported that Bibles and Books of Mormon have been introduced into the Starwood brands. It’s already started and by the end of the year, the books will be placed in nearly 300,000 new hotel rooms.
Which Marriotts and Starwoods get the books (and which do not)
According to the article, this is a policy that Marriott does not talk about a lot. In any case, it did mention that there were some hotel brands and countries that do not get Bibles or Books of Mormon.
- W Hotels
- The Design Hotel brand
- Moxy (existing Marriott brand)
- Edition (existing Marriott brand)
- Hotels in certain locations such as Vietnam or Indonesia
So if you’re staying in one of the other Starwood-now-Marriott brands such as Four Points, Sheraton, Element, St. Regis or others, expect to see these religious materials
A note on comments – like the Marriotts, I am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So if you want to comment on the policy itself, that is fine. Comments with ad-hominem attacks on me, the Marriott family or the church itself (especially with the oh-so-witty and clever “Mor(m)ons” slur) will not be approved.
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
Being a non-religious/secular traveler myself I’ve never had an issue or felt offended with Bibles or Book of Mormon in my hotel room. If I was denied service due to my personal beliefs then that would be the moment I stop being a Marriott/SPG member.
I will make it a point to throw them in the recycling bin. Religion has no place in my hotel room. Someone needs religious guidance or prayers… there’s an app for that.
Agreed, religion is making us blind to facts, justify abuse
And a party to a set of patriarchal myths that set us up for failure.
Wow… some great comments here for once, love it.
Religion is a ridiculous throw back to when people didn’t know about science… ie facts. A thunderstorm= “god” angry. The moon= God’s magic. Etc etc etc. you’d think now we know better, we’d move on as a species. Err.. nope.
Religion divides people, causes wars, makes people do outrageous, cruel, crazy stuff like justifying murdering children due to their parents worshiping a different mumbo jumbo diety. Wow, we really are pathetic aren’t we?
The United States is a hugely religious country I discovered, and has now brought about Trump as the world’s most powerful man even. Wow, what a joke.
All religion is a sick sick joke.
First off, you actually read the Bible, you’d know there are no explanations of weather phenomena. You’re foolish to think religion is responsible for all the evils of the world. Try to learn some history and see how the 2 atheist nations of Soviet Union and China killed tens of millions of its own citizen. For all the wonders of science, it will never tell people who they are, how they should live, or what happens after they die. Sorry but those answers will never be solved in a math equation or under a microscope.
There are many explanations and even scientifically established facts that define how and why we have most weather phenomena. That would be grossly ignorant to believe otherwise, I’m afraid. Meteorology can explain why it rains, snows, hails, drizzles, why we have hurricanes, why we have tornadoes, why storm systems form and why they dissipate–and how the climate is changing and getting warmer.
How one lives can be dictated by many dogmas. Religion is but one. So is veganism.
Your non sequitur about figuring out how we should live not being answered by a math equation or under a microscope is a worthless and unhelpful answer. Atheists live lives that are perfectly happy and aspirational without any religion, Just because you need an imaginary god to feel better about your life choices doens’t mean that someone can’t live a similar or better life without any belief in an unproven higher power.
Forcing people to believe what others believe is the height of insecurity and arrogance, something that religions have been guilty of for thousands of years. Just like humans.
Alex/Bill – This is a travel site. Please keep your comments relevant to the discussion at hand (religious books in Marriott / other hotels) and keep general religion debates to other sites.
Speaking of killing by ‘atheist’ nations what about all the killing, rape and plunder that was carried out way back when during the Crusades and their attempt to conquer/convert the world in the name Christianity. Oh yeah, that was for a good cause, right?
The religious books coming to the drawers of Starwood hotels do not bother me, as I can just ignore them.
What will really get this dedicated SPG’r set off, is if I now have to start seeing pictures of Bill Marriott and his horse (or his dad) when I step off the elevator of my favorite Westin or Aloft.
LOL – I just saw that over at the Copenhagen Marriott and I know what you mean 🙂
I have never seen the term “adhominem” used by anyone but an American Blogger on Boarding Area (not just here). I had to look it up. I guess the word “direct” just doesn’t cut it.
Why is this done? I’ve stayed at too many hotels to count and in every case the book appears to be unused.
It doesn’t appear to add any value to the experience. Anyone of faith, staying in the hotel, will have their own.
IMO, the paper could be better used to request gusts reuse their towels to help save resources.
A better option, offer a free download to their mobile device.
It does feel like paper books are less relevant in the digital age. I know that I personally do not bring paper copies of the Scriptures with me when I travel; instead I use the app
You don’t feel religion itself is less revelant? You have 6 six kids to worry about, nurture, bring up, educate… and when you’re in a hotel room you’re checking your Mormon app? How about living on this planet, now. For your kids?
I think religion belongs between an individual and their deity. Certainly, it doesn’t belong in a hotel room, and even less so as a reflection of the religious beliefs of the hotel owner.
I was curious so I looked this up. It seems Bibles have been placed in hotels since 1908. The Giddeons have placed 1.8 billion Bibles since they started. On average the books are replaced every six years.
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/07/why-there-are-bibles-in-hotel-rooms/
Having books there is largely a non issue but I have noticed them on occasion and have decided to take a moment to read a bit. They were probably used quite a bit more by previous generations without a TV in every room and now with a smartphone in every pocket.
I think most of the bloggers are confusing religion (like I RELIGIOUSLY brush my teeth everyday) from relationship with a living God who created all things and keeps it going. The sun did come up this morning also !
And…. I think it’s time to close the comments.