http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1927602/posts
Hotels replacing Bibles with new 'intimacy kits'
WorldNetDaily ^ | 11/15/07 | WorldNetDaily
Posted on 11/18/2007 2:10:16 PM PST by wagglebee
Hotel chains are removing Bibles from guest rooms, replacing them with
"intimacy kits" and adding "One Night Stand" packages as well as
"romance concierge" personnel to their offerings, according to a new
report in Newsweek.
Tens of thousands of Americans are protesting the trend, through an
action e-mail alert sponsored by American Family Association.
The Newsweek report by Roya Wolverson suggested a new marketing
campaign could be based on the apparent values-less programs that are
appearing.
"Marriott spokesman John Wolf says the Bible question [whether to
include them in guest rooms] is premature for the new [boutique hotel]
venture, which he describes as 'cutting-edge,' 'more urban' and 'less
values-oriented.' Now, there's a marketing slogan no one's tried yet:
'Sleep with us. Leave the values at home!'" Wolverson wrote.
Wolverson reported the American Hotel and Lodging Association confirms
since 2001 the number of luxury hotels with religious materials in
their rooms has dropped by 18 percent, and the Nashville-based Gideons
International, which has supplied Bibles for hotel and motel rooms for
the last 99 years, isn't commenting on the trend.
The report said there are no Bibles in the trendy rooms of the Soho
Grand Hotel in Manhattan, although guests are provided with iPod
docking stations, flat-screen TVs and even the living company of a
complimentary goldfish.
There, spokeswoman Lori DeBlois told Newsweek, adding Bibles to rooms
would mean she "would have to take care of every guest's belief."
Newsweek also reported that what may be more surprising is upscale
accommodations all across the nation, not just in New York, are "doing
away with the Bible as a standard room amenity."
"Edgier chains like the W provide 'intimacy kits' with condoms in the
minibar, while New York's Mercer Hotel supplies a free condom in each
bathroom. Neither has Bibles. Since its recent renovation, the Sofitel
L.A. offers a tantalizing lovers' dice game: roll one die for the
action to be performed (for example, "kiss," "lick") and the other for
the associated body part," Newsweek said.
"The new Indigo hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., a 'branded boutique'
launched by InterContinental, also has no Bibles," the report said.
Officials at that hotel, however, did offer a promotion on a "One
Night Stand" package.
"Our 'One Night Stand' summer packages provide a cost effective way to
enjoy our lower rates and remain in the heart of the active art,
shopping, dining and nightlife venues of Old Town Scottsdale," said
Laura Godfrey, sales manager for the hotel. "With this package, you'll
feel good about the decision you made to stay in the area and stay the
night."
That package includes a "late check-out time" of 1 p.m.
"Sofitel's brand, for example, is taking 'a new direction,' says
Daniel Entenberg, the 'romance concierge' at the chain's flagship Los
Angeles location," according to Newsweek.
Newsweek attributes the reason for the removal of the Bibles to
increasing leisure travel and decreasing business travel.
But the wholesale removal of the Bibles was too much for the
Mississippi-based American Family Association.
"Now is the time to let the motel chains know that you want them to
keep the Gideon Bibles," said its e-mail alert. "For Accor, providing
travelers with sexual paraphernalia is more important than the Bible.
Accor hotels owns several chains including: Motel 6, Sofitel, Pullman,
Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons, Etap, Formule 1.
While these chains are mostly located in Europe, Accor is expanding to
many U.S. markets."
AFA said that "without action now, it is simply a matter of time
before other chains remove the Bibles."
AFA's petition effort generated more than 80,000 contacts with the
hotel companies in just hours after its launch, according to a Web
counter on the site.