Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

I disagree with most of the responses here. If the hotel didn't even indicate to the OP that they planned to move his/her belongings, they should not have done so. IMO it requires explicit permission for hotel staff to move a guest's belongings. OTOH, the OP should have told the front desk that since the new keycard wasn't ready as promised, he/she needed to go out and would change rooms upon return to the hotel. There seem to have been communication problems on both sides.