LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Josephs and Marys in search of a room at the inn this Christmas are being made an offer they ca n't refuse . Mary and Joseph ride a donkey to Bethlehem in a performance of the Nativity story near Guildford , England . A British hotel chain is promising free accommodation to couples who share their first names with the couple from the Christian Nativity story . Almost 30 Josephs and Marys had already signed up for the free night 's stay at the Travelodge , said Shakila Ahmed , a spokeswoman for the hotel chain . `` The 'gift ' of a free night 's stay is to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2000 years ago when the original 'Mary and Joseph ' had to settle for the night in a stable , '' the company says on its Web site . The offer is good at any one of the chain 's 322 hotels in the United Kingdom , the Web site says . The couples must bring proof of identity and must prove that they are in a long-term relationship . `` If you satisfy the criteria , you get a free night in a family room for two adults and two children , '' Ahmed said . `` There 's also parking space for a donkey if needed , '' she joked . Ahmed said the offer , which will run from Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night -- December 24 to January 5 -- had been very well-received . `` We 've had a lot of interest . I think people like the fact that it resonates with the Nativity story at a time when the actual meaning of Christmas often becomes forgotten in festive overkill , '' she said . Couples can register their names at a special e-mail address set up by Travelodge , which has hotels across the Britain , Ireland and Spain , Ahmed said . E-mail to a friend .
Couples who share names with the couple from the Nativity story get free room . Almost 30 Josephs and Marys have signed up for the free night 's stay . Couples have to bring proof of identity . They also have to prove that they are in a long-term relationship .