The credit card you gave on reservation as guarantee.The guest can pay the amount upon check in. A pre-authorization is a security guarantee for payment only. The pre-authorization fund is not held by the hotel, the company who provide the credit card system or by the authorizing bank. The pre-authorisation fund is held on your card by your own issuing bank. A pre-authorisation can be held on your card for a minimum of 3-5 weeks. Pre-authorisation should be released by your issuing bank automatically, if not you will need to contact your home issuing bank..