Even the big brands (including the luxury end) take cash as payment for the stay upfront (or per day) and cash as a security deposit equal to the amount they would pre-authorize on a credit card. That has not changed as far as I know. [I am referring to hotels as varied as the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carltons, Marriotts, Fairmonts, Swissotels, Hiltons, etc.] In certain countries refusing payment by cash (read: legal tender) is illegal.