"Elite Member" Key Cards
 

So, this may be an OCD observation but thanks to MegaBonusSM I've been staying in Marriott Properties of all shapes and sizes lately.

Has anybody else noticed the slight nuances of color variation in the "Elite Member" keys issued? The words Elite Member, the script "E" and the rectangular border along the perimeter of the card are always printed in the same color set on to the white background. Problem is, there are several different color schemes floating around out there that the various properties issue. I can't for the life of me assemble a pattern of what type or brand of property vs. what color the key will be.

Field Observations:

Light gray/silver type and border: this is the most common for all MR brands. I have received the silver at FI, CY, FS, TPS and REN properties.

Medium blue type and border: seems to only happen at RI and TPS properties.

Light Green: mostly at FS and Ren properties. Perhaps the green indicates an upgrade and/or lounge access?

No data from JWs or Ritz properties... it's a down economy :P

Also, it's 50/50 at CYs whether you'll receive an "Elite Member" keycard or one of the standard Courtyard keys.

Has anybody else noticed this? What could it all mean?

I think you are reading too much into it. I am at the Fullerton Marriott at California State University right now. They have no elite room cards, but they do have a pretty good lounge, free internet for platinum members, and free breakfast on the weekends with a closed lounge. I found out tonight from the evening concierge that I can go down Monday morning when the lounge is open and get a free omelette made in the restaurant.

I'll take all of that over a different room key any day.

Does anyone else feel like the Elite Member room keycards are a little tacky? A small "we appreciate your business" comment from the agent at the check-in desk is worth far, far more to me than a special room key.

Yes, but how would you flaunt your status in front of other guests during your stay without this shiny piece of plastic? :p

Besides, why does a silver member get the same key as a gold or a plat? DYKWIA? ;)

To me, it indeed means very little ... but hey, you can always start a collection of room keys to see how consistent they are or not.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

somebody was bored

I think it means that different properties got their cards from different suppliers at different times and the design, price, ink prices, etc. vary over time.

I actually think the Marriott elite keys don't elite at all. Before I was "elite" and staying at a Renaissance, they had very nice black and gold keys. ~Those~ looked nice.

Just some data on the different Marriott cards... This link is for the company that makes the cards.

http://www.plicards.com/section1/lev...Id=9&brandId=5

I see a contest coming!!!
 

Who can be the first to get one of each of the 35 different keys from all the Marriott brand properties?

Even that's not complete. The Flora in Rome, for instance, has a picture of the hotel on its keys, and I don't see that one among those shown.

so does numerous other FS Hotels,3 off hand are JWMarriott Quito, Marriott West Beijing, Mar Santiago,Chile I have a few others just dont remember offhand which they are

I would have assumed that to be the case, but the Flora was the first one that came to mind.

That is a really cool link, great find!

The "Elite Status" cards take some of the fun out of keeping the keys... they're all the same. Well, the same with minor differences.

The strangest keycard I've ever received was from a the Marriott Courtyard in Clive, IA. It was an ad for some weird pig vaccine, Enterisol Ileitis. Oh, Iowa.


Keycards are fascinating.

Sounds like a strange place for a Marriott....:)

Interesting key card! The only time I have had a different card was at a Marriott in Toronto. They had advertising for a local pizza pizza..

Such banality!

But just to think, in 50 or 75 years, these key cards might be worth money on some collectors market.