Originally Posted by DillMan

Well that explains part of this issue. This hotel has an obsession with rules. I stayed here a few months back. If the keys to my room aren't made up when I check in, I generally tell the person checking me in that I'll just take the keys without the little keyholder. I figure it is kind of wasteful to take a full color glossy print piece of cardstock only to toss it in the trash 3 or 4 minutes later.

As the front desk clerk was making my keys I said, "I'll just take the keys if that's ok." and she handed me my keys. As I was walking away to go to my room, a gentleman (manager?) from the office came running out and called out for me to stop. He handed me the key holder and told me that the allocation of such was "HOTEL POLICY" and that I shouldn't expect them to deviate from policy just because I prefer the keys by themselves.

He was incredibly rude and reacted as if I was trying to get them to repaint the lobby to satisfy my tastes. It was a very weird experience.