Blog

Hotel key card strategy & buyer guides

Quantity math, encoding and finish comparisons, use-case guides, and margin notes — everything you need before you order.

Comparison guide

Hotel Key Cards vs. Mobile Keys: Why Hotels Still Need Physical Cards

11/02/2026

How hotel key cards and mobile keys compare, which guests still rely on physical cards, and how to adjust your card order when you add a mobile key app.

Read more →
Bulk orders

Bulk Custom Hotel Key Cards With Logo: How to Order for a Large Property or Hotel Group

10/29/2026

A practical guide to ordering bulk custom hotel key cards with a logo for large properties, resort campuses and multi-property hotel groups.

Read more →
Care guide

How to Store, Clean and Extend the Life of Hotel Key Cards

10/26/2026

How to store, clean, check and reissue hotel key cards so they last longer, plus when to retire a design and reorder fresh stock.

Read more →
Custom vs. stock

Custom Printed vs. Plain Stock Hotel Key Cards: Which to Order

10/22/2026

A side-by-side comparison of custom printed and plain stock hotel key cards, with a clear verdict on which properties should order each.

Read more →
Seasonal planning

Holiday Hotel Key Cards: Planning a Seasonal Design for November Through New Year's

10/21/2026

How to plan a holiday or New Year's design on your hotel key cards: order dates, design ideas, finishes, quantities and what to check before approval.

Read more →
Weddings

Custom Hotel Key Cards for Weddings and Wedding Room Blocks

10/15/2026

How hotels and couples plan custom hotel key cards for a wedding room block, from monogram artwork to encoding, timing and keepsake designs.

Read more →
Mistakes to avoid

Hotel Key Card Ordering Mistakes: What Goes Wrong on a First Order

10/12/2026

The most common mistakes hotels make on a first custom key card order, from the wrong chip to artwork that fights the magstripe, and how to avoid each one.

Read more →
Casino resorts

Custom Hotel Key Cards for Casino Resorts

10/08/2026

How casino resorts spec custom hotel key cards that carry the property brand, promote the gaming floor and shows, and hold up to heavy guest traffic.

Read more →
Timeline guide

When to Order Hotel Key Cards: Planning Backward From Opening Day

10/05/2026

How to plan a hotel key card order backward from an opening, renovation, rebrand or peak season, with standard and rush options explained.

Read more →
Buyer guides

Foil-Stamped vs. Full-Color Printed Key Cards

07/15/2026

Which finish lasts longer and looks better on a hotel key card, and how to choose.

Read more →
Ordering

How Many Hotel Key Cards Should You Order?

07/01/2026

A simple formula for property openings, renovation cutovers, and steady annual restocks.

Read more →
Buyer guides

RFID vs. Magstripe vs. Full-Color Print Key Cards

06/17/2026

Which encoding and decoration combination fits your property, budget, and lock system.

Read more →
Hospitality

Hotel Key Cards as a Branding Tool

06/03/2026

Why the card in a guest’s wallet is some of the highest-impression real estate a hotel owns.

Read more →
Hospitality

Hotel Key Cards for Boutique Hotels and Resorts

05/20/2026

How design-forward properties match card finish to brand personality.

Read more →
Buyer guides

Hotel Key Card Materials Guide: RFID-Composite PVC, Eco Wood, and Metal-Accent Compared

05/06/2026

A guide to key card materials and which fits your property’s brand and budget.

Read more →
Ordering

How to Order Custom Hotel Key Cards: A Step-by-Step Checklist

04/22/2026

A simple checklist for ordering custom hotel key cards — artwork, encoding, quantity, deadlines, and approval.

Read more →
Vacation Rentals

Hotel Key Cards for Vacation Rentals and Short-Term Stays

04/08/2026

Why branded key cards matter for vacation rentals and short-term stay operators.

Read more →
Corporate

A Hotel’s Guide to Key Card Margins

03/25/2026

How hotels and hotel groups price custom key cards into operating costs for a healthy margin.

Read more →