For as long as I can remember, I've been asked to produce photo ID when checking into a hotel. Reasons for this include: - preventing credit card fraud (probably the major one) - verifying age of the person reserving the room - in case of damage to the room that isn't discovered until after checkout, especially is someone pays for the room with cash. Sometimes the person at the front desk simply checks that the name on the ID and credit card match, and once in a while, a photocopy is made of the ID shown. I am also finding that when staying at out of country hotels I often need to show my passport and a copy is also made of it. With identity theft on the rise, I don't agree with anyone making a copy of your ID.