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In celebration of Kemmons Wilson Week, the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management will be displaying the first-ever hotel made out of key cards. The 400-sq. ft. structure was built by world record-holding cardstacker Bryan Berg from 200,000 discarded hotel key cards. It features a full-scale guest bedroom, bathroom, front desk and signage, all fully equipped with life-sized furniture made out of Holiday Inn key cards. The largest card structure Berg has ever built, and the only one in the world of its kind, the Key Card Hotel will be on display in the lobby of the University of Memphis Holiday Inn March 22-26, 24 hours a day. The hotel is located at 3700 Central Ave.

Intercontinental Hotels Group commissioned the structure to celebrate the re-launch of the Holiday Inn brand. To date, 2,000 Holiday Inns worldwide have been refurbished, including a logo change. They Key Card Hotel marked the 1,200th hotel re-launched and went on display under a tent in New York City’s Times Square last September.

After Kemmons Wilson Week, the Card Key Hotel will be separated and various pieces will be placed in and around the School. A new entrance to the Wilson School will be created using the Card Key front desk, signage and flat screen TV monitor as permanent fixtures. Some of the large walls will be used as décor in the School’s halls. The toilet, sink and smaller furniture may find their way to faculty offices. Other pieces may go to the Wilson Company office, to the fourth floor and to the Wilson Gallery on the second floor. 

Of the project, Berg said, “This is my largest cardstacking challenge to date and the only card creation I have ever made at full human scale, which is fitting since Holiday Inn is one of the largest and most successful brands in the hotel industry. I think it’s a great way to celebrate re-launching 1,200 Holiday Inn hotels globally.”