I cannot remember exactly when I started collecting hotel room key cards, or why. I have a small collection of room key cards from different hotels I have stayed at, plus a few duplicates, which are not pictured. 
As a collector, I am fascinated by things that are “the same, but different.” In this case, the format is the same: a credit card-sized electronic key card with a magnetic stripe on the back. However, the designs are as varied and different as you can imagine.
I think that the uniqueness of the designs is part of what makes hotel room key cards so interesting! Key cards allow more than just access to your room – they give the hotel a chance to brand them as part of their image or marketing. Some keys are used as advertisements for rewards programs or entertainment, while others have purely functional, simple designs. Some have cheeky, fun, or light hearted messages.
While different companies have their own internal design standards, there are no industry-wide standards for design, which is why some cards are vertical (portrait) and others are horizontal (landscape).
Shown here are 26 different key cards I have gathered. While I have stayed at most of these hotels myself, a few of the key cards I found on the ground, or were given to me by friends or relatives.
My favorite card is from The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which ceased operation in July 2024. Though I have never stayed at the Mirage, I always felt a special connection with that property. I had visited several times over multiple trips to Vegas and always liked the colors, fonts, and imagery, as well as the decor and aesthetic of the place.
