Imprint Plus Canada
In hospitality, the smallest details can have the biggest impact. From the moment a guest walks into your lobby, they begin forming impressions about your brand. One of the first touchpoints? Their room key. It might seem like a basic necessity, but the right key card does more than just unlock a door. It can influence how smoothly check-in goes, how secure the guest feels, and even how they remember your hotel experience later.
RFID key cards are now the industry standard for hotels and resorts. They offer a cleaner, faster, more secure alternative to outdated magnetic stripe cards. And now, Imprint Plus is making it easier than ever to get high-quality RFID key cards designed for your system and your brand.
Whether you're a hotel manager, procurement specialist, or operations lead, this guide will help you understand what RFID key cards are, how they work, and how to choose the right type for your property.
What Is an RFID Key Card?
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It is a type of contactless technology that allows guests to access their rooms by tapping or hovering a key card near a reader installed on the door. Inside the card is a small chip and antenna that communicate wirelessly with the lock. If the card is recognized by the system, access is granted instantly.
This technology is popular in hospitality because it simplifies the guest experience while improving security and efficiency. Unlike magnetic stripe cards, RFID cards do not wear out as quickly and are less prone to data errors. They also support touchless interactions, which have become increasingly important in today’s hygiene-conscious environment.
From a staff perspective, RFID cards are easier to manage and reprogram, which reduces wait times at the front desk and improves overall guest satisfaction.
Imprint Plus Now Offers RFID Key Cards
Imprint Plus is best known for name badges and signage that help hospitality teams look polished and professional. Now, we are expanding that same commitment to quality and consistency into the access control space. We offer a full range of RFID key cards compatible with the most common hotel locking systems.
By sourcing your key cards from Imprint Plus, you get more than just a product. You get a vendor who understands the fast-paced needs of hospitality and can help you keep branding, inventory, and ordering all in one place.
Whether you manage a single boutique property or coordinate purchases across multiple locations, our RFID cards are designed to help you maintain a smooth guest experience from check-in to check-out.
Understanding Your Options: Types of RFID Key Cards
Not all RFID key cards are created equal. The card you need will depend on your hotel’s door lock system and how you manage guest access. Here are the main types of RFID cards available through Imprint Plus, and who they are best suited for.
Unencoded Key Cards
These cards are completely blank and ready to be programmed by your internal team. If your property has encoding equipment and software on-site, unencoded cards are a flexible and cost-effective choice. You can program them as needed for each guest, giving you full control over access settings.
Unencoded cards are popular with hotels that already have strong IT support or prefer to manage encoding internally for security or operational reasons.
Salto Encoded Cards
Salto is a widely used access control system in hospitality, and these RFID cards are pre-encoded specifically to work with Salto locks. If your property uses Salto hardware, these cards offer a plug-and-play solution that eliminates the need for additional setup or encoding. They are ideal for hotels that want simplicity, speed, and guaranteed compatibility.
VingCard Encoded Cards
These RFID cards are configured for VingCard systems, which are part of the ASSA ABLOY family and commonly found in hotels worldwide. Like Salto cards, they come ready to use, so your staff can focus on delivering a great guest experience rather than troubleshooting access issues.
Kaba Encoded Cards
Kaba systems, now part of dormakaba, are standard in many North American hotels. Our Kaba-encoded RFID cards work seamlessly with dormakaba locks and provide another easy, ready-to-use option for properties already using this platform.
MIFARE 1K and MIFARE Ultralight Cards
MIFARE refers to the chip technology inside the card. The 1K version has more memory and is often used in properties that need to store additional data, such as meal plan access or spa appointments. Ultralight cards are more budget-friendly and are great for short-term access, such as events, conferences, or single-night stays.
If you are unsure which chip type works with your system, we can help you confirm compatibility before you place an order.
How to Choose the Right Key Card
Selecting the right card depends on a few key factors. First, identify the brand and model of your existing door lock system. This is usually the most important determinant of what type of card you’ll need. If you are using a system like Salto, VingCard, or Kaba, ordering a matching pre-encoded card ensures hassle-free performance.
Next, consider how you manage access. Do you have encoding hardware on-site? Do you prefer the flexibility of blank cards or the convenience of receiving cards that are ready to use?
Guest volume is also important. High-traffic hotels may benefit from encoded cards that require minimal setup. Smaller or boutique properties may prefer unencoded cards that allow more customization.
Finally, think about the branding experience. RFID cards can be printed with your logo, brand colors, QR codes, or even custom messaging. This is your chance to turn a basic key card into a professional, on-brand touchpoint for every guest.
Brand the Experience with Custom Printed RFID Cards
RFID cards are often the one item your guests carry with them throughout their entire stay. That makes them a powerful branding opportunity.
At Imprint Plus, we offer full-color printing for your RFID cards. You can include your hotel’s name, logo, Wi-Fi credentials, key contact info, or even a QR code that links to your digital concierge or amenities page. It's a simple way to elevate the guest experience and reinforce your brand identity with every tap of the card.
Custom printed cards also reduce the chance of mix-ups with other properties and add a polished, thoughtful detail that guests will notice.
Why Order Your RFID Key Cards from Imprint Plus?
We’ve been helping hospitality brands create consistent, high-quality guest-facing materials for over 40 years. Our expansion into RFID key cards means you can now source access solutions with the same reliability, ease, and customer care you expect from our name badge and signage products.
By centralizing your ordering with Imprint Plus, you simplify your vendor relationships and ensure consistency across your team’s presentation and your guests’ experience.
We support everything from small property orders to large-scale distributor programs, and we are always happy to help with product selection or technical guidance.
Need Help Getting Started?
If you're unsure which card type to choose or need assistance figuring out compatibility with your current lock system, we're here to help. Our team can walk you through the options and make sure you’re ordering exactly what you need.
Ready to simplify your RFID card sourcing and elevate the check-in experience? Contact us directly to learn more about our RFID key cards solutions.
