In a recent Safe & Sound column found in the Wisconsin State Journal written by Anita Clark a reader asked: Do hotels in Wisconsin add credit card numbers to room key cards?
The answer is NO. Over the past few years several clients have asked me the same question. I've done several web searches on the subject and have never found one article that supports the urban legend that says hotel key cards contain personal information.
In fact, card keys are a huge security upgrade from the days when regular keys and locks were used. These keys were routinely accidentally taken home by hotel guests...at least that is what a hotel manager wanted to believe. Each time this happened, the lock was switched with another room lock. The problem with this process was that room keys were accidentally taken home by guests on a daily basis. It was almost impossible to keep up with the process of switching locks. If a General Manager said they replaced/exchanged every room door lock the day the key went "missing"...They would be lying.
