Travelodge under fire for removing bibles from rooms
Budget hotel chain Travelodge has been taking flak for its decision to remove bibles from all rooms, citing reasons of ‘diversity’.
Travelodge, which has over 500 properties nationwide, has been gradually removing bibles from guest bedrooms and now only provides them for guests to borrow from reception.
A Travelodge spokesman said the decision was based on customer research and the ‘fact that we live in a multi-cultural society’.
The hotel chain said the decision was taken back in 2007 and has been ‘gradually implemented’ over the following years.
Travelodge said guests can request a copy of the bible at a Travelodge hotel reception.
The policy has been described as ‘tragic and bizarre’ by Church of England officials.
Recently the US Navy overturned an earlier decision to remove Gideon Bibles from Navy base lodges and guest rooms after a backlash from Christian groups.
It had been asked to remove bibles from rooms by atheist organisation Freedom from Religion Foundation.
FFRF also wants to see ‘bible-free’ rooms at privately run hotels and motels.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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