Why Do Hotels Have Bibles in Them? – Posted by Best Western Siesta Key onSeptember 21, 2020 in General, Have you ever noticed that simple black, blue, or red Bible in the drawer of a hotel room and wondered where it came from? These are not left there haphazardly, but rather they are distributed by an organization, The Gideons International, as a means of evangelism.
Red Bible in Hotel Drawer
Can you take the Bibles from hotel rooms?
Is Taking a Bible from a Hotel Considered “Stealing?” – If you were to take The Bible with you or remove it from the hotel room, The Gideons would not accuse you of stealing it. Some believe that The Gideons actually want you to take these Bibles, perhaps in hopes of spreading the Good Word.
- However, your hotel staff may disagree.
- Removing The Bible from its place in a hotel room is not actually supporting the reason it was put there in the first place, as they are intended for the next guest to read and so on.
- The Gideons are always in constant contact with their local hotels to ensure a Bible remains in every room.
They often find themselves replacing Bibles that go missing from rooms and never charge the hotel for these replacements. So, whether you feel the need to read The Bible in private, bring it with you during your travels to keep faith close, or add it to your personal book collection, rest assured The Gideons are not calling this a sin.
How did Bibles in hotel rooms start?
Where do the Bibles come from? – If you ever find a Bible in your hotel room, you can thank Gideon International, an evangelical organization formed in 1899. After three traveling salesmen met in a hotel room, they came up with the idea to leave a copy of the holy book in their Superior, Montana hotel room to help spread the word.
Do you have to have a Bible in a hotel room?
No, hotel rooms are not required by law to have a Bible. However, many hotels choose to provide Bibles in their guest rooms as a courtesy for guests who may wish to read it during their stay. Some hotels even offer multiple versions of the Bible so that guests can select the version they prefer.
Why do hotels not have a 13th floor?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Panel from an elevator in a residential apartment building in Shanghai, Floors 4, 13 and 14 are missing, because of the similarity between the pronunciation of the word “four” and “death” in Chinese. The thirteenth floor is a designation of a level of a multi-level building that is often omitted in countries where the number 13 is considered unlucky,
Omitting the 13th floor may take a variety of forms; the most common include denoting what would otherwise be considered the thirteenth floor as level 14, giving the thirteenth floor an alternate designation such as “12A” or “M” (the thirteenth letter of the Latin alphabet ), or closing the 13th floor to public occupancy or access (e.g., by designating it as a mechanical floor ).
Reasons for omitting a thirteenth floor include triskaidekaphobia on the part of the building’s owner or builder, or a desire by the building owner or landlord to prevent problems that may arise with superstitious tenants, occupants, or customers. In 2002, based on an internal review of records, Dilip Rangnekar of Otis Elevators estimated that 85% of the buildings with Otis brand elevators did not have a floor named the 13th floor.
- Early tall-building designers, fearing a fire on the 13th floor, or fearing tenants’ superstitions about the rumor, decided to omit having a 13th floor listed on their elevator numbering.
- This practice became commonplace, and eventually found its way into American mainstream culture and building design.
Vancouver city planners have banned the practice of skipping 4s and 13s, since it could lead to mistakes by first responders, for example going to the wrong floor.
Why do hotels use white sheets?
Reasons to Choose White Bed Sheets for Hotel Rooms – White is a colour of peace and positivity. While staying in a room, you should feel calm, relaxed and positive irrespective of the purpose of your tour. The hotel industry chooses a white colour for their linens to pass you that calm and positive vibes to make you feel relaxed and happy.
- White colour is used because it does not hide any stain.
- Hence, the guests remain alert while eating on the bed of their hotel room or doing any other activities right there.
- They can avoid being careless while using the bed.
- Since white does not hide stains, white coloured bedsheets are easy to clean.
They are even easier to clean and wash than coloured bedsheets because you can see the stains clearly and focus on removing them with effective cleaning products. White is not only the colour of peace and tranquillity. It is the symbol of luxury too. It is proven that a hotel room with neat and clean white bedsheets looks luxurious.
Besides, a white colour sheet requires more intense maintenance than coloured bedsheets. Hence, the hotel will focus on keeping these rooms absolutely clean to offer you an essence of luxury and richness. Most of the times, our bedrooms have coloured bedsheets. Hotels have white ones which make them different from the bedroom of our home.
Hence, you can enjoy freshness whenever you enter a hotel room. Moreover, white bedsheets keep your stress away, and you can enjoy a sound sleep. When you book a bed and breakfast hotel in Sheffield, you should look for something reliable, affordable and comfortable.
Why do hotels have doors between rooms?
This post will be published in the February 2016 issue of Doors & Hardware – A door opening between two adjoining hotel rooms is called a communicating door, and is created by installing two doors within one frame – each swinging in the opposite direction. The purpose of these doors is to allow convenience for family or friends sharing two hotel rooms, but the doors also provide security when the rooms are occupied by separate parties, as well as maintaining the fire-resistance of the partition between the rooms.
For security purposes, communicating doors between hotel rooms typically have a single-sided deadbolt, with a thumbturn on the room side and a blank plate on the side facing the other communicating door. This requires the occupants of both rooms to unlock their door to allow access between the rooms.
These doors may also have gasketing, a door bottom, and a threshold, to help prevent the transmission of sound through the opening. Occasionally, one door with two deadbolts may be used instead of two doors, but more sound will likely pass through the opening if only one door is installed.
- The 2015 International Building Code (IBC) requires walls separating sleeping rooms to be constructed as fire partitions in accordance with Section 708 (see Section 420.2).
- Section 708.3 requires these fire partitions to have a fire-resistance rating of 1 hour, with the exception of sleeping unit separations in buildings of Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction which may have a fire-resistance rating of 1/2 hour if the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
According to Table 716.5 in the 2015 IBC, a 1-hour fire partition that is not part of a corridor or an exit enclosure requires opening protectives (fire door assemblies) with a rating of 45 minutes. For 1/2-hour partitions, 20-minute fire door assemblies are required.
The IBC does not specifically state whether one door or both doors are required to be fire doors. Without prescriptive requirements, it is left up to interpretation by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Some AHJs may require both doors to be labeled because using one fire-rated door and one non-rated door could compromise the fire-resistance of the opening protective if the rated door was open during a fire,
Communicating doors between hotel rooms share many of the same requirements as fire door assemblies in other locations, with one exception. Section 716.5.9 requires fire doors to be latching and self- or automatic-closing, but includes two exceptions.
- One of those exceptions applies to communicating doors: “1.
- Fire doors located in common walls separating sleeping units in Group R-1 shall be permitted without automatic- or self-closing devices.” Group R-1 is a Residential occupancy containing sleeping units where the occupants are transient, including hotels, motels, and transient boarding houses and congregant living facilities with more than 10 occupants.
NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code requires 20-minute doors in this location, and also exempts these doors from being self-closing. The NFPA 101 Handbook explains that the fire separation between sleeping rooms is necessary to confine a fire to the room of fire origin.
The Handbook also includes some insight into whether one or both doors are required to be labeled fire doors: “The requirement for a fire barrier separation between the rooms, therefore, necessitates the use of a fire protection–rated door assembly for at least one of the doors in any guest room-to-guest room opening.” Although the Handbook is not technically part of the code, many AHJs rely on it to assist with code interpretations.
The omission of closing devices on communicating doors is also referenced in NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, In the 2013 edition of this standard, section 6.4.1.1 requires every fire door to have a closing device except when otherwise permitted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
In Annex A – Explanatory Material, Section A.6.4.1.1 describes limited circumstances where a closer may not be necessary. One location described in this paragraph where a fire door might be installed without a door closer is a communicating door between hotel/motel sleeping rooms. The reason doors between these sleeping rooms are not required to be self-closing is because when both doors are open, the two rooms become more like a suite which would not typically require a fire separation between them.
Note that the exception refers only to the closing device – the doors are not exempt from the latching requirement, and would require a latchset with an active latchbolt in addition to the deadbolt provided for security. The use of locks which require two operations to retract the bolts is acceptable because communicating doors between sleeping rooms are not required for egress.
Are Gideons Bibles free?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Founded | July 1, 1899 |
---|---|
Founder | Samuel E. Hill John H. Nicholson William J. Knights |
Tax ID no. | 36-2270051 |
Location |
P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 |
Area served | 200 countries and territories |
Members | 269,500 Gideons and auxiliary members (wives of Gideons) |
Key people | Dan Heighway (Executive Director) |
Website | gideons,org |
Gideons International is an Evangelical Christian association for men founded in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin, The Gideons’ primary activity, along with their wives in the Auxiliary, is “encouraging each other to do the work of the Lord, focusing on who they are before God, and strengthening the power of their personal testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ”.
- They are most recognized for distributing copies of Scripture free of charge, paid for by freewill offerings from local churches and from members themselves.
- This Bible distribution is a worldwide enterprise taking place in around 200 countries, territories and possessions.
- The association’s members focus on distributing complete Bibles, New Testaments, or portions thereof.
These copies are printed in over 108 languages. The association is most widely known for its Bibles placed in lodging rooms. The Gideons also distribute to hospitals and other medical offices, schools (usually in first year) and colleges, military bases, as well as jails and prisons.
- The association was named after the Biblical figure Gideon depicted in Judges 6,
- In 1908, the Gideons began distributing free Bibles.
- The first Bibles were placed in rooms of the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana,
- Members of The Gideons International currently average distribution of over 70 million Bibles annually.
On average, more than two copies of the Bible are distributed per second through Gideons International. As of April 2015, Gideons International has distributed over two billion Bibles. The headquarters of Gideons International is in Nashville, Tennessee,
What happens if you accidentally take a towel from a hotel?
According to Travel + Leisure, it is highly unlikely you’ll be thrown in jail for taking one towel (though they do share a cautionary tale) but you may find yourself on a list. For really serious hotel offenders—the rude, the gross, the theft inclined—there’s a hotel blacklist.
Is it OK to take robes from hotels?
Whether it’s a miniature set of Molton Brown shampoo and conditioner, or a pair of comfy slippers; there are very few of us who have been able to resist the urge to slip something into our luggage upon checking out of a hotel. Confronted with the array of potential freebies, a sudden attack of kleptomania can hit even those of us equipped with the most well adjusted of moral compasses.
But where do you draw the line? What is theft, and what are hotel managers expecting you to pocket? Read on for expert advice on what you can and can’t steal. TOILETRIES Kicking off with the most obvious, the consensus is that toiletries are fair game. “The general rule of thumb is that if it can be reused then it can be taken,” says Hotels.com marketing manager, David Spasovic.
“Miniature toiletries, shower caps, combs, disposable razors and toothbrushes. These are all goodies that can be swiped.” Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel’s general manager, Kim Mahaffy, agrees: “We expect guests to either use or to take consumable items, including soap.
But preferably not two dozen from the housekeeping cart!” TWO WORDS YOU WANT TO HEAR AT CHECK IN THE SECRET TO GETTING A HOTEL UPGRADE THE TRUTH ABOUT HOTEL SLIPPERS CONFESSIONS OF AN A-LISTERS’ HOTEL BUTLER ROBES AND SLIPPERS Long a staple of hotel thievery, the bathrobe is one of the most debated ‘can I steal this?’ items, but in general these are off limits and will be laundered and reused for the next guest.
Most hotels will also charge you if one does go missing. The slippers, however, are a different matter. “Slippers won’t be used again,” explains David. “So you may as well stash them away for you to use on your next flight – they’re ideal for wearing on a long haul.
Hold back on robe though.” STATIONERY Hotels brand these amenities in the hopes that you WILL take them. “Hotel-branded pens and writing pads are cheap to replace and are actually free advertising for the hotel, so these are fair game,” says David. TOWELS AND LINEN Towels and bed linen also rank highly on the radars for would-be thieves.
According to the “Huffington Post”, the average hotel loses 10 to 20 per cent of its linens per month. While some properties now install electronic tags to help curb their losses, many savvy hoteliers are selling everything, including beds, linen and towels.
“We have all of our bedding for purchase,” says Four Points by Sheraton Melbourne Docklands general manager, Stephen Ferrino,” And many other hotels are doing the same.” HOW ABOUT THE REST? Shoehorns and sewing kits all sit in the ‘acceptable to steal’ camp, as do magazines – incidentally, research from Hotels.com has shown that magazines and books are some of the most nicked items in a room.
Bibles are also a perennial on the ‘most stolen’ lists, but seriously, if you’re hankering after a free bible, you should probably heed the ‘thou shalt not steal’ commandment. Similarly bizarre are light bulbs. According to a survey of 8,000 hotels by LateRooms.com, they are the second most stolen hotel room item.
- Then there’s remote control batteries (yes, really), coat hangers and toilet rolls.
- What’s built into the cost of the room varies from hotel to hotel,” says Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast, general manager, Mark Sexton.
- However, as a general rule, bathroom toiletries, tea bags and coffee sachets, magazines and any welcome amenities are all acceptable to take within reason.” WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE If you find yourself thinking: ‘those curtains would go nicely in my spare room,’ stop and have a serious word with yourself.
“Sometimes guests can get carried away,” says Debra. “We’ve seen a picture frame removed from the wall, a docking station takenand it’s not just items from guest rooms. I’ve also seen a large carpet runner go astray and someone once tried to walk away with some furniture from the lobby.
The curtain-less window, the blank space on the wall where the plasma used to hang – the absence of these items will be noted and you will be held accountable. Remember, your credit card details are on file. CONSEQUENCES Nobody is going to bat an eyelid if you take a few soaps, but remember that constant incidences of theft can impact a property’s bottom line and while bigger chains may be able to absorb more of the cost, for smaller independents, the loss can really hurt.
This aside, hotels can, and will, put thieves on a barred list in their database, which – when dealing with a mammoth chain like Hilton – will prohibit you from checking into any of their properties worldwide. Then there’s the prospect of actual criminal charges.
Do the Gideons still put Bibles in hotel rooms?
Why Are There Gideon Bibles in Hotel Rooms? Mar 18, 2012 istock.com/mrod / istock.com/mrod Because the Gideons put them there! The Gideon Bible is not some special version or translation of the Bible that hotels really like (the books are usually plain old King James Versions); they’re named for the group that distributes them.
- Gideons International got its start in 1898, when two traveling businessmen, John H.
- Nicholson and Samuel E.
- Hill, arrived at the crowded Central Hotel in Boscobel, Wisconsin, for the night.
- The two had never met, but there was only one double room left, so they decided to share it.
- The men got to talking and found they shared a common faith and had both toyed with the idea of creating an evangelical association for Christian businessmen.
They decided to give it a shot together. They called a meeting the following year for men who were interested in joining together for “mutual recognition, personal evangelism, and united service for the Lord.” Only one other person showed up to that meeting—William J.
Nights, who suggested they name their organization after Gideon, an Old Testament judge who led a small band of men to defeat a much larger army. As the group expanded in its first few years, most of the new members were men who frequently traveled for work and spent many of their nights in hotel rooms.
They wondered how they might be more effective witnesses for Christ on the road, and hit upon the idea of providing Bibles to hotels. They could be used not only by the Gideons’ members as they traveled around the country, but also borrowed by other guests in need of them.
- They started with the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana, then set out to put a Bible in every hotel room in America.
- Since 1908, they’ve distributed more than 1.7 billion Bibles, expanding beyond the U.S.
- To more than 190 other countries.
- The Gideons don’t go room to room themselves, slipping the books in nightstands like Bible elves.
When a hotel opens, local Gideons members will present a Bible to the hotel’s general manager in a small ceremony and then give enough books for each room and some extras to the housekeeping staff for distribution. In addition to hotel rooms, the Gideons also give Bibles to military bases, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and to students on college campuses.
Each Bible handed out is free of charge, and the project is funded entirely by donations to the group. The Gideons will also replace any books that go missing or get worn out, and the group says that the books have a six-year life expectancy, on average. They don’t get bent out of shape when people ignore the “thou shalt not steal” rule when it comes to the Bibles, either.
They’d rather you just take the book if you need it that badly. Based on the success of the Gideons’ Bible project – the group’s own statistics claim 25% of the people who check into a hotel room will read the Bible placed there – other religious groups have begun distributing their own free literature to hotels.
Are Gideons Bibles free?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Founded | July 1, 1899 |
---|---|
Founder | Samuel E. Hill John H. Nicholson William J. Knights |
Tax ID no. | 36-2270051 |
Location |
P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 |
Area served | 200 countries and territories |
Members | 269,500 Gideons and auxiliary members (wives of Gideons) |
Key people | Dan Heighway (Executive Director) |
Website | gideons,org |
Gideons International is an Evangelical Christian association for men founded in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin, The Gideons’ primary activity, along with their wives in the Auxiliary, is “encouraging each other to do the work of the Lord, focusing on who they are before God, and strengthening the power of their personal testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ”.
They are most recognized for distributing copies of Scripture free of charge, paid for by freewill offerings from local churches and from members themselves. This Bible distribution is a worldwide enterprise taking place in around 200 countries, territories and possessions. The association’s members focus on distributing complete Bibles, New Testaments, or portions thereof.
These copies are printed in over 108 languages. The association is most widely known for its Bibles placed in lodging rooms. The Gideons also distribute to hospitals and other medical offices, schools (usually in first year) and colleges, military bases, as well as jails and prisons.
- The association was named after the Biblical figure Gideon depicted in Judges 6,
- In 1908, the Gideons began distributing free Bibles.
- The first Bibles were placed in rooms of the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana,
- Members of The Gideons International currently average distribution of over 70 million Bibles annually.
On average, more than two copies of the Bible are distributed per second through Gideons International. As of April 2015, Gideons International has distributed over two billion Bibles. The headquarters of Gideons International is in Nashville, Tennessee,
Do you get charged for taking hotel towels?
Consequences of Taking Hotel Property – If you take something from your hotel room, you can expect an extra charge on your bill. Robes and towels are so commonly stolen that many hotels now list the charge right on the hanger; they will automatically bill the credit card they have on file for the extra cost of replacing these items.
- Robert Thrailkill, the General Manager of the Conrad Miami, once said: “A guest room should feel like a home away from home.
- If the guest enjoys something enough to want to take it home with them, they are welcome to do so, but at a charge.
- We give guests the option to purchase the items that they are fond of, with everything from the 700 thread count linens and mattresses to the Conrad Miami signature terrycloth and waffle robes.” In some countries, including Nigeria, hotel guests have faced jail time for stealing items such as towels.
Again, it’s best to be cautious and ask reception if you are unsure whether something is complimentary—especially when you are traveling in a foreign country and are unfamiliar with the laws.