A hotel key card does more than open a room door. It is also one of the first things a guest receives after checking in.
With paper hotel key cards, hotels can use this small space to share useful information, promote their brand, and make the guest experience easier. The card can include a hotel logo, Wi-Fi details, a QR code, contact information, or even a special offer.
The best part is that you don’t need to make the design complicated. A clean and useful card often works better than one filled with too much information.
Here are 10 useful things hotels can print on their key cards.
The hotel logo should be one of the first things guests notice on the card.
Add the hotel name and logo in a clear position. Use the same colors and design style found across the hotel website, signs, menus, and other guest materials.
This creates a consistent brand experience from the moment a guest checks in.
For hotels using custom paper hotel key cards, the card itself becomes a small branding tool that guests carry during their stay.
Wi-Fi information is one of the most useful things to put on a hotel key card.
Guests often need internet access as soon as they enter their room. Printing the Wi-Fi name and password on the card saves them from calling the front desk or searching through a welcome folder.
Keep the information easy to read.
For example:
Wi-Fi: HotelGuest
Password: Welcome123
Hotels can also add a QR code that takes guests directly to the Wi-Fi connection or hotel information page.
A small QR code can turn a simple key card into a useful digital guide.
The QR code can link to a hotel webpage or guest portal containing information such as:
This feature is especially useful because the hotel does not need to print every detail on the card.
The card stays clean while guests can still access more information when they need it.
A guest may need to contact the front desk at any time.
Adding the front desk phone number to the card gives guests an easy way to get help.
Hotels can also include numbers or extensions for services such as:
Keep the list short. The key card should provide useful information without looking crowded.
Check-out time is another simple detail that can be useful on a hotel key card.
For example:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Guests may forget the check-out time during a busy trip. A small reminder on the card can help them plan their morning.
Hotels can also print a QR code for online check-out if the service is available.
Hotels can use the key card to introduce guests to their dining options.
A card could include the name of the hotel restaurant, breakfast timing, or a QR code for the menu.
For example:
Breakfast: 7:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Room Service: Dial 9
This provides guests useful information without requiring another printed card or brochure.
It can also help hotels guide guests toward their own dining services.
A key card can also carry a simple promotional message.
Hotels could promote:
For example:
Enjoy 15% off at our hotel spa. Scan the QR code to book.
Keep promotional messages short. The main purpose of the card is still room access, so the offer should not overpower the essential information.
This can be particularly helpful for guests who are staying in a large city or traveling frequently.
The card can include the hotel address, phone number, and a QR code for Google Maps or another map service.
This makes it easier for guests to return to the hotel after visiting restaurants, shopping areas, tourist attractions, or business locations.
For hotels that serve international travelers, the address can be especially useful when guests need to show their hotel details to a taxi or ride service.
If a hotel has a strong sustainability focus, the key card can help explain that effort.
For example:
This key card is made from paper as part of our effort to reduce plastic waste.
Hotels can use paper hotel key cards to support sustainability-focused branding while still providing RFID-based room access. DBS states that its paper RFID hotel key cards use a 13.56 MHz chip and are designed for use with compatible RFID hotel lock systems.
Hotels considering other sustainable materials can also look at PLA hotel key cards. Made from plant-based PLA material, PLA cards can also be customized with hotel branding.
However, PLA requires industrial composting conditions to fully degrade, so hotels should not treat it as the same material as ordinary paper.
Sometimes, a simple message can make the card feel more personal.
Something as short as:
Welcome to [Hotel Name]. Enjoy your stay!
can make the card feel less like an access device and more like part of the guest experience.
Hotels can also add a short message connected to their location, brand, or service style.
The key is to keep it short and easy to read.
More information does not always make a better key card.
Avoid filling the entire surface with text, small fonts, or too many promotional messages.
Guests should be able to quickly find important details such as the hotel name, Wi-Fi information, phone number, or QR code.
Avoid adding information that guests are unlikely to use during their stay.
A clean design with a few useful details will usually be easier to understand than a card packed with content.
Good custom paper hotel key cards should balance branding, useful information, and readability.
Start with the hotel logo and brand colors. Then decide which information guests are most likely to need.
A simple layout could include:
Front of card
Back of card
The exact layout can change based on the hotel's needs.
DBS's paper RFID hotel key cards are available in CR80 size, with matte or glossy finishes and full-color double-sided printing.
Both paper hotel key cards and PLA hotel key cards can support hotels that want alternatives to traditional plastic cards.
Paper cards are a practical choice for short-term use and can carry custom branding, QR codes, and guest information. DBS describes its paper RFID cards as suitable for short-term stays, events, and promotional bookings.
PLA cards are made from plant-based plastic and offer another option for hotels with sustainability goals. They can also be customized with logos, artwork, QR codes, and other branding elements.
The right option depends on the hotel's access system, expected card use, design requirements, and sustainability goals.
A hotel key card does not need to be complicated to be useful.
The best designs give guests the information they need while keeping the card clean and easy to read.
A logo, Wi-Fi details, QR code, contact number, and a short welcome message can turn a basic access card into a helpful part of the guest experience.
For hotels looking for a more sustainable option, paper hotel key cards and PLA hotel key cards can also support a different approach to traditional plastic cards.
Dennison Business Solutions LLC (DBS) provides custom paper hotel key cards for hotels, resorts, and hospitality businesses.
DBS customizes its paper RFID hotel key cards with hotel branding and offers them with 13.56 MHz RFID technology. DBS also supplies PLA RFID hotel key cards for businesses looking for plant-based card options.
From choosing the right card and RFID chip to printing your design and arranging bulk orders, DBS can help hotels find a suitable key card solution.
Contact Dennison Business Solutions LLC to discuss your hotel key card requirements and request a quote.
What information should be printed on a hotel key card?
A hotel key card can include the hotel logo, Wi-Fi details, front desk number, check-out time, QR code, restaurant information, special offers, and a short welcome message.
Can paper hotel key cards be customized with a hotel logo?
Yes. Custom paper hotel key cards can be printed with a hotel logo, brand colors, images, QR codes, guest information, and other details. The design can be printed on both sides.
Are PLA hotel key cards an alternative to paper hotel key cards?
Yes. PLA hotel key cards are another option for hotels looking for alternatives to traditional plastic cards. PLA is made from plant-based material and can also be customized with hotel branding and RFID technology.
