How members' clubs can benefit from digital wallet passes

Published on 14th February 2025

Let’s face it, having to carry around a physical membership card which can fall down the back of the sofa, get left at home, or worse, fall into the wrong hands is not the best user or member experience.

But those days could be over soon thanks to digital wallet passes, leaning on the technology of Apple Wallet and Google Pay.

Most private members clubs pride themselves on being exclusive, secure and providing a personalised service. Digital membership cards are the perfect fit for enhancing the experience of your members:

Why wallet passes for members' clubs make sense

Stay exclusive

Private members clubs are all about that exclusive feel. Digital passes can be beautifully branded with your club's colours, logos and images. Every time a member pulls out their phone, the digital card will be a reminder of their membership and a digital badge to proudly show off to friends and contacts. Plus, a wallet pass just feels more premium than a smudged plastic card that's been knocking around in someone's wallet for months.

Rock-solid security

One of the biggest headaches for a private members club is members sharing their cards between friends (we've all heard the stories). Digital wallet passes are limited to one digital wallet per person and cannot be transferred. So there’s no more passing around key fobs, cards or even entry codes. Each pass can be scanned using NFC to prove it's unique and genuine, meaning less confrontation for your staff on the door.

Make it personal

Want to make members feel special? Their name is right there on the pass, along with their membership level and any other details that matter. It's their personal key to your club, sitting right there in their phone. You can make live updated onto the pass as well as sending out personalised notifications. How about telling John he has a free drink today? Just send him a notification straight to his mobile.

What members' clubs can do with wallet passes

Smarter member identification

Forget plastic cards, you can scan digital passes in seconds using bar code or NFC technology. The system instantly notifies a member of staff whether the membership is valid and it can even display a photo of the member on screen for extra security. Plastic cards can be forfeited with a different person’s ID photo. When digital passes are linked to the central system, it’s harder for intruders to penetrate.

Room access

Many modern access control systems work with wallet passes, see our sister site Doorflow. Members can simply tap their phone to get into the building or access different areas like the gym, spa, or members-only lounges. No more lost keys or forgotten cards. Centrally, you can manage access to different areas. Maybe bronze members don’t have access to the gym. With group permissions, updating who can access what is simple and easy.

Running a tab (and rewarding loyalty)

You can even link a wallet pass to payment methods and loyalty programmes. Members can start a tab at the bar, earn points when they spend, and use those points for perks like free drinks or guest passes. The pass can even show their current balance and available rewards right on the screen.

Keeping members updated

Do you want to let members know about tonight's live music? Or maybe there's a last-minute space for wine tasting? Send live notifications straight to members’ phones. You can even personalise these messages based on their interests so that members only get updates which are relevant to them.

One pass, many benefits

Digital wallet passes are for more than just being exclusive, secure and personalised. They solve real problems for both clubs and members thanks to their ease of use and simplicity to issue. Digital membership cards are more secure than physical cards, can't be forgotten at home, and make everything from entering the building to running a tab smoother and easier.

What’s more, they give clubs new ways to connect with members and make the whole experience feel more premium.

How to get started

If you’d like to issue wallet passes in your private members club…

We'd love to discuss your project - Book a Demo Today