What the Hotel Does
Once the integration is set up, your team keeps working only in Mews like normal (reservations, payments, housekeeping/room status).
Inlet handles the rest:
- Guest can book in any channel
- Listens for reservation updates in Mews
- Decides when to retrieve bookings (based on your configured rules)
- Decides when to issue access (based on your configured rules)
- Issues access in your lock system (PIN/mobile key/etc.)
- Sends guest messages (SMS and/or email) automatically
- Updates reservations when changes occur (early check-in, late check-out)
- Removes access at the end of the reservation (Check-out time)
System Roles & Responsibilities
| Feature / Task | Mews (System of Record) | Inlet (Automation Layer) |
| Reservations & Payments | Creates bookings, records ledger entries, and manages guest payment status. | Filters bookings (Today/Tomorrow, Fully Paid/Partially Paid) to control access flow. |
| Room Status | Tracks housekeeping states (Clean, Inspected, Dirty). | Evaluates room status to enforce check-in and access timing rules. |
| Door Access | Stores guest assignments and room details. | Issues, updates, and revokes PINs/mobile keys in connected lock hardware. |
| Messaging | Stores guest contact details. | Sends automated arrival SMS/emails based on access triggers. |
Prerequisites & Required Settings
- Active Mews ↔ Inlet integration paired with a supported, fully mapped lock system.
- Active housekeeping and payment ledger workflows in Mews.
- *** Mews Configuration: Navigate to
Main menu→Settings→Services→ Bookable Service →Visit options. Remove "Check-in marks space as dirty", but keep "Check-out marks space as dirty" enabled.
- *** Mews Configuration: Navigate to
Automated Guest Journey
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Import: Mews receives the reservation. Inlet imports it based on process date and payment status filters.
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Pre-Arrival Messaging (Optional): Inlet sends pre-arrival details (directions, parking instructions, entry expectations) via SMS/email.
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Access Activation Rules: On arrival day, Inlet evaluates your selected rules. These can operate singularly (one condition met) or combined (all conditions must be met):
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- Option A (Time-Based): Activates at standard default check-in time.
- Option B (Room Status): Activates when marked Clean/Inspected in Mews.
- Option C (Guest Checked-In): Activates early if the room is clean and status is Checked-In. (Note: Status updates only via Front Desk or Mews Kiosk. Mews Online Check-In is pre-registration and will not trigger this).
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Key Delivery: Inlet sends credentials (PIN, mobile key, or remote link) to the guest upon meeting activation rules.
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Booking Updates: Inlet adjusts access times based on any changes made, such as early check-in/late check-out
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Check-Out & Revocation: Access is revoked automatically at the default check/out time, followed by optional review/thank-you messages.