Conservative groups asking Marriott to pull adult movies

TUPELO, Miss. — Several conservative groups, including the American Family Association, are asking Marriott International Inc. to stop giving hotel guests the option of ordering pay-per-view movies with strong sexual content.

AFA, based in Tupelo, said 47 "pro-family leaders" have signed a letter asking chain's chief executive, J.W. Marriott Jr., for a meeting to discuss their concerns.

Marriott's Web site says the hotel chain has about 3,000 properties in the U.S. and 67 other countries and territories. AFA said most of these hotels offer in-room movies with pornographic content.

Roger Conner, vice president of communications for Marriott International, said Thursday the company would review the group's letter and the request for a meeting.

Former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney was criticized during his campaign by social conservatives who argued he should have tried to halt hard-core hotel movie offerings during his near-decade on the Marriott board.

Among those participating in the letter to Marriott, according to AFA, are James Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family; and Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council.