As someone who has worked in the newspaper industry, I hope this isn't the case if only because these hotel purchases of newspapers help pad the circulation figures of newspapers thereby allowing advertisers to be charged a higher amount. I wouldn't be surprised if Gannett, which owns USA Today, is partly kept in business by all of its hotel sales as I don't know anyone who otherwise buys USA Today.

The cost is negligible considering the number of newspapers most hotels buy every day. They could easy build the +/- $1 into the room rate. Alternatively, they could buy less and make them only available in the restaurant and executive lounge.

My issue is that less than 50% of Marriott hotels deliver a newspaper to my room, despite my preference to receive one.

In my experience, most U.K. hotels will ask if you want a newspaper and then order one for you from a news agent for each day that you're staying at the hotel. Sometimes they charge the newspaper to your room. Other times it's included in the rate.