International Historic Hotel Key Collection

My interest in hotel key, key tag collecting was ignited by Western International Hotels’ (now Westin Hotels & Resorts) decision in 1974 to eliminate key tags and replace them with what was referred to as a “large bow” key.

Shortly thereafter the Winfield lock was introduced, to be followed by more sophisticated electronic door locking systems. The old key with the hotel identification was soon relegated to a drawer in the engineering department. Many have been rescued by thoughtful and generous hotel managers who have provided me with one of their historic relics.

Those acts of kindness along with my own travels over the years have brought this collection close to 200, representing some 34 countries. The tags are made from plastic, wood, pot metal, pewter, brass, silver plate, leather, fiber board and Merano glass.

Along the way I have corresponded with some wonderful people including: Leone Jannuzzi, Bryan Murphy, Jacques Lecouls, Martin Coufal, Jean-Pieree Siri, Rose Clayton, Marc Zuccolin, Aileen Risk, Didier Boidin, Giuliano Corsi, Lilliana Gomez, Uwe Frommhold, Mariano Albiso, Stephen Alden, Uwe Klaus, J. L. Souman, Simon Calabrese, Paolo Biscioni, Caroline Whitlock, D. Etienne, Benito Palaso, Robin Sheppard, William Banmiller, Kurt Dohnal, Jean-Pierre Hall, Reiner Heilman, Peter Borer, Hans Hauri, Robyn Pontynen, Andreas Matmuller, Ted Wright, Francois R. Touzin, Mario Miconi, Lucia Gianotti, Luigi Ricci, Peter Lederer, Seamus McManus, Monty Brown, L. Hartman, Mary Waters, Susan Holt, Richard Davis, Natale Rosconi and Gianfranco Baroncelli.

To paraphrase Robert Frost, I have keys to get before I sleep. So, if you are so inclined send me a key tag, or should you simply want to discuss this nostalgic facet of the hospitality industry, please let me hear from you.

The Hall of Fame

Key tags listed in the “Hall of Fame” have been selected on the basis of physical composition, design, texture, and over-all appeal.

Ritz-Barcelona, Spain Hand stamped, medallion shaped, combination pot metal and brass

Le Sirenuse-Positano, Italy As its name implies a solid brass figure molded in the shape of a siren or mermaid

Westin St. Francis-San Francisco, U. S.

Relief of the original hotel fronting Union Square, pot metal

Savoy-Florence, Italy Solid tanned leather accented with gold fill lettering

Royal Barriere, France Translucent blue plastic tag designed to replicate a 10,000FF casino chip

Negresco-Nice, France Heavy pot metal includes a crown and raised lettering

The Collection

Austria

Austrotel, Vienna
Grand Hotel Sauerhof, Baden Baden
Imperial, Vienna
Sacher, Vienna

Australia

Boulevard, Sydney
Regent, Sydney
Wentworth, Sydney

Canada

Georgia, Vancouver
Carlton Towers, Ottawa
Princess Marguerite, Victoria

China

Westin Tai Ping Yang, Shanghai
China World, Beijing
Miramar, Hon Kong
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Peninsula, Hong Kong

Columbia

Victoria Regia, Bogota

Czech Republic

Palace

Denmark

SAS, Copenhagen
Grand, Odense
D’angleterre, Copenhagen
Imperial, Copenhagen
Kansas, Copenhagen
Marina, Copenhagen
Royal, Copenhagen

England

Connaught, London
Claridge’s, London
Hyatt Carlton Tower, London
Hyde Park, London
Le Meridien, London
Hilton, London
Park Lane, London
Ritz, London
Tylney, Hampshire
Gilsland Spa, Carlisle
Bay Tree, Burford

Eqypt

Hilton, Cairo

Finland

Kalastajatorppa, Helsinki

France

Du Palais, Biarritz
Auberge Du Pere Bise, Talloires
Carlton Inter-Continental, Cannes
Chambertain Palace, Beaume
Chateau D’esclimont, St. Symphorien
Byblos, St. Tropez

Le Bristol, Paris
Negresco, Nice
Royal Barriere, Normandy
Prince De Galles, Paris
Ritz, Paris
Sofitel, Paris
Meridien Etoile, Paris
Buena Vista Palace, Orleans
Bora Bora, Bora Bora
Vernet, Paris
St. James, Paris
Meurice, Paris
Trianon Palace, Versailles

Germany

Atlantic Kampinski, Hamburg
Brenner’s Park, Baden-Baden
Grand, Berlin
Taschenbergpalais, Dresden
Vier Jahreszetten, Munich
Bellevue, Dresden

Greece

Akti Myrina, Lemnos

Guatemala

Camino Real, Guatemala City
Casa Santa Domingo, Antiqua
Antiqua, Antiqua

India

Oberoi Towers, Bombay

Ireland

Glendalough, Glendalough
Kildare Hotel & Country Club, Straffan
Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare
Shelbourne, Dublin
Dunraven Arms, Adai

Italy

Europa & Di Roma, Venice
Albergo La Speranza, Pistoia
Elimo, Sicily
Excelsior Gallia, Milan
Hermitage, Florence
Albion, Florence
Bellevue Syrene, Sorrento
Bristol, Rapallo
Cipriani, Venice
Europa & Britannia, Venice
Excelsior, Florence
Excelsior, Naples
Excelsior, San Benadetto-Tronto
Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento
Goya, Venice

Gritti Palace, Venice
Locarno, Rome
Le Sirenuse, Positano
Parco Dei Principi, Rome
Palace, Milan
Palazzo Della Fonte, Fiuggi
Palazzo Vendramin, Venice
Savoy, Florence

Malta

Bernard
Cavalieri
Plevna, Sliema
Leo Palace Resort
Bellevue
Sheraton, St. Julian

Malaysia

Penang Mutiara Beach, Penang

Mexico

Camino Real, Mexico City
Galeria Plaza, Mexico City
Fiesta Palace, Mexico City
Las Palmas beach Hotel, Puerto Vallarta
Palmilla, Cabo San Lucas
Princess, Acapulco
Las Brisas, Acapulco

Monaco

Hotel De Paris, Monte-Carlo
Hermitage, Monte-Carlo

Netherlands

De L’europe, Amsterdam
Pulitzer, Amsterdam

Norway

Scandinavia, Oslo
SAS, Oslo
SAS Globetrotter, Oslo

Philippines

Philippine Plaza, Manila
Peninsula, Manila

Portugal

Reid’s, Madeira

Romania

Hotel Astoria, Arad

Scotland

St. Andrews Old Course, St. Andrews
Gleneagles Hotel, Perth
Turnberry, Ayr

Singapore

Girdwood
Hilton International
Hyatt
Raffles

South Africa

Carlton, Johannesburg

South Korea

Chosun Beach, Busa
Chosun. Kyongju
Chosun, Seoul

Spain

Puente Romano, Marbella
Melia Don Pepe, Marbella
Ritz, Madrid
Villa Real, Madrid

Sweden

Esso Motor Lodge, Gottenberg
Grand Hotel, Stockholm
Grand Hotel, Odense
Sheraton, Stockholm
Hanohus, Stockh

Switzerland

Palace, Lausanne
Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz
Grand National, Lucerne

Thailand

Dusit Thani, Bangkok

United States

St. Regis, New York
Ana, Washington, D.C.
Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix
Benjamin Franklin, Seattle
Carlton House, Pittsburgh
Edmond Meany, Seattle
Kahala Hilton, Honolulu
Kauia Lagoons, Kauia
Mauna Kea Beach, Kona
Miyako, San Francisco
Olympic, Seattle
Plaza, New York
Mayflower, Washington, D.C.
Lenox, Atlanta
Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta
Westin, Seattle
Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
Del Monte Hyatt, Monterrey

Bellevue Stratford, Philadelphia
Fairmont, Philadelphia
Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs
Harrah’s, Stateline
Hyatt Regency, Chicago
Maxim, Las Vegas
Ritz Carlton, Boston
Ritz Carlton, Atlanta
Mark Hopkins, San Francisco
Mayo, Tulsa
Shoreham, Washington, D.C.
Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.
Alyeska, Girdwood
Whitehall, Chicago
Innesbrook, Tarpon Springs
Warner Springs Ranch, Scottsdale

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