It's part of almost any hotel these days: hotel key cards form the basis for a convenient and effective system of guest use that has revolutionized the industry. But, like any system, the hotel room key card method isn't perfect, and a lot of its effectiveness depends on the staff and management teaming up to deliver good policy and administration. From keeping the cards straight, to explaining their use to customers, training for front desk and other staff is highly important.

The Internet offers a wide array of resources for helping managers decide how to train staff on a hotel key card system. Readers can find lots of info on these tools online, including the following:

1. Options for on-site training where professionals will instruct staff about how to develop an entire hotel electronic key process for checking guests in and out.

2. How-tos or online guides for using electronic key card tools or directive sites with details about opinions on their use.

3. Learn about "green" hotel electronic key or hotel door card options.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find options for on-site hotel key cards training online

Some companies offer actual staff training through the web: find one of these resources and talk to reps about how their organizations can help staff figure out the tricks of using key card hotel and motel tools every day, or how to develop a program for best use of electronic keys and other tools.

I recommend: For remote training on hotel key cards, try resources like Kaba Ilco's DVD set for front desk users. Check out degrees.info for degrees in general hotel security management, where the use of hotel key cards is part of the course. View the Keri Systems website for training sessions.

Look for resources on hotel key cards and their use

Another thing the web has is a vibrant debate over aspects of the use of hotel key cards: specifically, a lot of the online discussion focuses on security details that may or may not be on a hotel key card. Staff can use these sites to educate themselves about how to deal with this potentially problematic factor.

I recommend: Look at Duracard for basic information on the hotel key card. Then see some of the debate over the use of hotel key cards at the Consumer Affairs site. Find more on the debate issue at sites like Dolans, where research results are discussed. These kinds of info resources help staff to make the right decisions about using hotel card key systems or informing guests.

Learn about 'green' key cards

As a typical medium-size hotel may use 10,000 to 15,000 keycards a year, alternatives to this wasteful plastic are being sought, such as recyclable products.

I recommend: Check out Green Key for an environmentally-friendly alternative to the plastic card. For more education on this, go to Environmental Leader.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hotel key cards education and training can really improve the customer service of a front desk -- but only if it's directed at the right people! Find out how to streamline your business to deliver the intended results, through thoughtful training and follow-up.

Safety and comfort are what guests seek from your hotel: Magnetic key cards can assure them that's what they're getting. When your guests check in and your front desk manager hands them electronic cards, they know that they'll be safe and comfortable in their rooms, with few worries of theft or intrusion.

Hotel key cards are also easy for your guests to keep track of, since they can just stick them in their wallets with their credit cards for safe keeping. If you have a "cash-free" resort, your guests can use their room cards to charge items to their rooms, and then pay the entire bill when they check out.

Here are a few hotel key card suggestions to get you started:

1. Set up a hotel key card system with special locks and card readers. These will allow your guests to gain access to their rooms as well as serve as functional door handles.

2. Consider giving guests a plain hotel room key card to save you a bit of money. This works well for smaller motels and for hotels that are just opening.

3. Design your own hotel magnetic key card. After you create your design, you can order cards in bulk so you never run out.

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Install hotel card key systems for security

Of course your guests are going to need a locking door for their rooms. It's no longer practical to hand each guest a real key when they check in at your front desk. There would be too many keys to organize and it would get pricey to rekey a lock every time someone forgets to return a key. You can provide safety for your guests at an affordable price by installing locking key card systems.

I recommend: Fill out a request for a Maglocks salesperson to get back to you with a quote for locking systems. Take a look at the selection of nice-looking door handles and locksets at Orbita Technology.

Save money by using generic hotel room key cards

If you just own a small hotel, you may just want to use generic cards instead of spending the money to get them custom made with your logo or name. Also, if your hotel is just opening, you may want to use generic cards in the interim until you can afford to get nicer ones made up.

I recommend: Choose from the three styles of key cards available from Keymart. Pick your choice of color for the cards offered at LOC International.

Use custom hotel key cards as marketing tools

Putting your hotel's name or logo on the key cards is not only great in case some go missing, it's also a smart way to advertise services offered in your hotel. For instance, you can entice guests to use your spa, restaurant or bar just by adding some graphics to the key cards. The increase in sales brought from customized cards will pay for the cards themselves in no time at all.

I recommend: Get magnetic key cards made up at idealapeel. Take a look at pricing options and place an order with eCard Systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have a key card hotel, make sure you have all the accessories you need, including hotel door card encoders and front desk software. You'll need to reprogram the key cards each time a guest checks out or if someone loses one. The software allows you to monitor the use of the card, which is particularly nice if you use the cards as a charge system, where guests can charge meals and drinks to their room.

A home floor plan is a scale diagram or drawing of a room. With the help of home floor plan software, you can get an idea about the view of a room before actually building and furnishing it. You can make changes in the home floor plans according to your requirements. This will definitely save money that you will spend in actual changes.

Before using home floor plan software, you will need to understand basic terminology associated with this software. This guide covers some of the key terms related to home floor plans software, such as house electrical plan, kitchen designs, interior design, landscaping, virtual tour and blueprints.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

CAD

CAD (Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting) is one of the most important parts of home floor plan software. CAD is a tool, which you can use to create designs of goods as well as architectural designs. Use of CAD proves to be very efficient for designing a floor plan for your home.

I recommend: Best Price Computers, a reputable manufacturer of personal computers, provides detailed information on CAD.

GIS

GIS (Geographic Information System) is another important part of home floor plan software. You can use GIS to visualize, interpret and understand data in several ways.

I recommend: You can read through detailed information on GIS at GIS.com, an online knowledge resource.

Interior design

Interior design is the art of visualizing and planning the space inside a specific enclosed area. If you wish to build your dream home, you will need to pay extensive attention to its interior design. Home floor plan software packages enable you to design the interiors of your home or business.

I recommend: You can learn about the definition and various aspects of interior design at American Society of Interior Designers (PDF).

3D

3D stands for three dimensional. Many advanced home floor plan software packages provide 3D view. It gives the perception of length and breadth as well as depth. Therefore, 3D view enables you to comprehend your home floor plan better and improves your visualization.

I recommend: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, a reputable company that deals in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, provides detailed information on 3D.

Virtual tour

Once you create your home floor plan with the help of home floor plan software, you can get a comprehensive idea about the actual appearance of your home or business by taking a virtual tour. This is a collection of photographs or floor plans of actual locations arranged in a sequence, which give you a feel of being there.

I recommend: You can read through the definition and detailed information on virtual tour at Yes San Francisco, a leading virtual tours provider.

Virtual landscaping

Virtual landscaping is creating your own landscape on a computer with the help of CAD, image processing and GIS. Some software packages also use animation instead of GIS for virtual landscaping.

I recommend: You can read through information on virtual landscaping at Repair-Home, an online resource of home improvement information.