We (Expedia Corporate Travel) recently hosted an online seminar about travel safety. One traveler's question focused on hotel security and specifically the hotel key card. She asked if it was necessary to dispose of or destroy hotel passkey cards after your stay. The assumption is that the card retains your personal information, such as name, address, and credit card information. It's a question I hear often.

In fact, I've even received several chain emails regarding this hotel passkey card conjecture. You know the ones that state unequivocally if you don't forward the email to 15 friends to warn them about the inherent danger of the keycard, you'll experience lifelong flatulence, insistent telemarketing calls and bad hair days for the rest of your life!

My hunch was this was all hooey, but considering the dire consequences (and my proclivity for bad hair days) I sought the expertise of some in-house technical experts and hotel gurus. (At Expedia, we have an inexhaustible source of travel know-it-alls, and thankfully most do indeed know it all.) And thanks to their insistence on using small words and speaking slowly, it all began to make sense to me, rolling eyes notwithstanding.

Here's the scoop. The passkey card chain email is rife with urban legend inaccuracies. (They were mocking me at this point.) While the magnetic card does hold some information, it's usually limited to room number and lock sequence, as the door's lock box is most often battery powered, localized and rarely if ever connected to the hotel's computer system. Basically, there's no need or economic benefit for the hotel to have any more information directly on the card.

I was also directed to an article in Computerworld where staffers tested 100 hotel cards in an effort to unlock the urban myth. It's a good read if you want to know more information on the subject, and also take a look at the additional links to related passcard topics.

Computer World: It's Just the Key to Your Room

Snopes: The Keycard Myth

How Things Work: Security Passcards

Hopefully, this information (like the mint on your hotel pillow) will make you feel better about your next hotel stay.

Have a question for Tom?
Tom, who reminds you that a few careless raids on the hotel mini-fridge can jeopardize your financial future, looks forward to your comments.