The Bible and the Book of Mormon: A Tradition That Still Lives in Marriott Hotel Rooms

In an age when hotel nightstands are more likely to hold a charging station than a notepad, a quiet tradition endures in many Marriott guest rooms: a copy of the Bible and The Book of Mormon, side by side in the drawer.

The pairing is more than coincidence. It reflects the faith and history of the company’s founders — J. Willard and Alice Marriott — lifelong members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, formerly known as Mormons. Since the 1950s, the hotel chain has placed both texts in its rooms, a practice that continues in much of its portfolio even as other brands have moved away from religious materials altogether.

A Family Legacy in the Nightstand

The Marriott story begins in 1927, when J. Willard Marriott opened a nine-seat root-beer stand in Washington, D.C. His business grew into a global hospitality empire, but the founder’s Christian faith remained an integral part of the company’s identity.

For decades, Marriott International has partnered with Gideons International to supply Bibles and with the LDS Church to provide copies of The Book of Mormon. The books, often embossed with the hotel’s logo, are typically offered free of charge to guests who wish to take them home.

When Marriott acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016, the company reaffirmed its commitment to placing both books in rooms across the newly expanded network — including Sheraton, Westin and W Hotels. In total, hundreds of thousands of new rooms were slated to receive the dual set of scriptures.

A Custom in Decline, but Not Forgotten

For some travelers, the presence of the two books is a comforting constant amid the anonymity of business trips and family vacations. For others, it feels anachronistic — a relic of mid-century America.

Yet even as tablets replace alarm clocks and smart TVs greet guests by name, Marriott’s dual-book tradition endures in many corners of its empire — a quiet nod to faith, family, and the company’s roots.

In an industry obsessed with modernity, perhaps the most enduring luxury is continuity.