A multifunction, direct thermal recording material made up of a base support having opposing planar surfaces, at least one thermal layer formed on at least one such planar surface for displaying a digital photographic image, graphical, numerical or textual information, or combinations thereof, and at least one machine readable information storage system (e.g., magnetic stripes, bar codes, RFIDs) contained on or within the base support and/or the thermal recording layer, is provided. In one embodiment, the inventive multifunction, direct thermal recording material is a hotel or hospitality establishment guest card which serves as both an identification card as well as a room access "key card", and in another embodiment, the inventive recording material is a "declining balance" gift card or credit voucher which serves as a debit card and displays (or is capable of displaying) the original and declining value of the card or voucher.