Marriott, Focus still hashing out adult-content issue

Background

The Arlington Group, a coalition of Christian organizations that includes Focus on the Family, met with Marriott International officials in Washington, D.C., in April to persuade the hotel chain to stop offering pay-per-view adult movies in its rooms. Marriott offers the programming in most of its 3,000 U.S. hotels, and the Arlington Group representatives urged the chain to adopt an "opt-in" television system, in which guests would have to contact the front desk to receive adult entertainment. Currently, the programming is available in hotel rooms until guests opt out.

At the meeting, the group presented Marriott officials with 102,000 signatures from people wanting the chain to stop offering adult entertainment. Of those signatures, 9,000 were from Marriott Rewards Card members.

Marriott promised to respond to the Arlington Group about its concerns by July 1.

What's new

Marriott responded in a letter dated June 26 to Donald Wildman, president of the conservative Christian action group American Family Association, which is part of the coalition.

The letter said the company was in conversation with its adult-entertainment provider, LodgeNet, about the opt-in procedure, said Roger Conner, vice president of communications for Marriott International. Marriott took no other action but promised it would raise the issue at its owners meeting in late July, Conner said.

In a terse letter to Marriott dated July 14, Wildman imposed a deadline of Aug. 15 to hear a "definite response" on "concrete actions taken toward the removal of pornography from your properties."

"I'm not happy with their response," Wildman said Wednesday. "All we got was their saying it's a difficult process and there are legalities involved."

Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy at Focus, was more positive.

"I appreciate what they are doing," Minnery said Thursday. "They are taking our concerns seriously."

What's next

The Arlington Group won't take further action until after the Aug. 15 deadline, Wildman said. As for what action the Arlington Group will take if Marriott doesn't offer details on ending adult entertainment, Wildman said, "We haven't got a clue."

Conner said Tuesday that no future in-person meetings are planned with the Arlington Group.