The key party is over: could contactless check-in kill a classic hotel come-on?

Digital hotel keys are on the rise. They may be cheaper, more convenient and better for the environment, but they can’t be slid suggestively across a table

West Wing fans won’t need much reminding. It’s in season seven, when Donna finally climbs astride the mountain of sexual tension between her and Josh, and slides her hotel room key over on the low table. She throws back her wine and bids the group goodnight, lingering a look Josh’s way, hotly returned. Their sexy plan, however, is cockblocked when a colleague snatches it up – “Donna forgot her key!” – and gives it bloody well back.

Didn’t matter. Point made. Sliding over one of the cards that have (mostly) replaced metal keys would have worked too. As deeply unromantic as the plastic rectangles are, there remains a frisson of possibility when the front desk asks “one card or two?”