I have been using eGiftCards the past couple of weeks and have figured out a foolproof process. Thought I'd share....

• Purchase the eGiftCard for the estimated amount of the stay at least four days prior to arriving at the hotel. It will be emailed within one day.
  
• Call the hotel after you have received the eGiftCard and ask if they will accept it. Whoever answers the phone is likely to say they have never heard of such a thing and will need to check with their manager. You will be asked to email the card to the person on the phone.
  
• One day later, you will receive confirmation from the hotel that the card will be accepted, with an apology for the hotel having to research this. Apparently, the communications from MI on the eGiftCard wasn't something any of the hotels either saw or read.
  
• Usually, IME, the hotel will go ahead an apply the eGiftCard at that point, so when you check in, your credit card will only be swiped for incidentals, without the larger hold. (I have been checking this just for my own curiosity.)
  
• Print the eGiftCard email and the email from the hotel to take with you for check-in. IME, when the eGiftCard has already been applied, you will not have to actually present this, as the hotel had the copy from the email.
  
• If the hotel did not apply the eGiftCard before check-in, ask for it to be applied at check-in. If there is any issue, it can be dealt with during your stay. Doing it this way results in a hold on your credit card for the room rate and incidentals, IME.
  
• Stop by the registration desk the night before or on your way out of the hotel to ensure everything was credited properly. IME, when the card was applied prior to the stay, there are no hitches. When the card is supposed to be applied at check-in, you may have to get them to actually apply the card before leaving.

It's taken some doing to get a smooth process, but the 10x points is worth it!