Why hotel asks for ID?

Why hotel asks for ID?

Some guests are surprised when they are asked for a passport or ID card during hotel check in. Some of them just are not used to that, because this is not practiced in their own country. However, during my receptionist work, I experienced many situations when the guest was feeling bad about showing the ID and was asking “why hotel needs my ID?” and he/she was trying to refuse to show it. Let’s see then, why you have to show your ID at the hotel and why you should not refuse to do that?

Why hotel needs your ID or passport?

The answer to the question why you need to show your ID card or passport during check in is very simple:

  • first of all, to prove your identity and confirm the name on the reservation;
  • second of all, for safety reasons;
  • third of all, for the hotel’s security.

Why you have to prove your identity at the hotel?

Firstly, the hotel asks for your ID card to check if your name is the same as the one on the reservation. This is needed to avoid situations where the wrong guest will be checked into the room. Sometimes there are two or more reservations for the same or very similar name. The hotel needs to make sure who is who. The mistakes in that field could cost the hotel a lot.

Think about it from your perspective. You book a hotel and pre-pay for the reservation. Then someone comes to the hotel and gets your room by mistake. You come to do the check in and hear that your room was already taken. How do you feel? I think no one would like to experience that situation. To avoid it, the hotel needs to check guest ID during the check in.

As well without showing the ID, someone may come and try purposely to check in on your name to the hotel. Why? Maybe because he/she is a thief who wants to steal your reservation. You may ask how is it possible? Cheaters have different ways to do their “job”. Some of them may hack. Others may just try to give the most popular surname and check if the reservation exists. When the hotel asks for the ID, the cheater cannot prove that his / her identity is the same as the one on the reservation.

Your safety is hotel's priority

Secondly, the hotel asks for your ID card or passport because of safety issues. The hotel needs to make sure that the guest is not illegally in the country and has a valid ID document. This lets to avoid checking in to hotel criminalists and people who may be dangerous to the safety of other guests. (Criminalists or illegal immigrants may not have a valid document with them).

Do not think that the hotel thinks that you are a criminalist and therefore they ask you for the ID document. Take a look at that from a different perspective. You can be sure that the hotel does not let inside anyone dangerous. Therefore you can feel safe during your stay.

Hotel own security and legal issues

Legal issues are very important for hotel security. The hotel needs your ID to register your name, nationality, date of birth, and valid document number. It is a kind of insurance for the hotel. When you have no problem with registering those data it means that you are a trustworthy person. Probably you will not do anything that may cause hotel money loss or legal problems, because you know you can be identified.

As well the hotel is sure that it will be easier to find and identify you in case you do something illegal during your stay or make significant money loss for the hotel (like destroy the room), and then disappear.

 

As you can see you should not be worried if the hotel asks for your ID. This is all made for safety reasons and the good of all guests living in the hotel. You are not the exception, everyone applies the same rules. Therefore you can be sure that you will get the right room and no one will steal your reservation. As well you can feel safe during your hotel stay because potential cheaters and criminalists are deleted.

 

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