You can accept payments by pairing your Mews Kiosk app with a Mews Terminal or enabling guest device payments via QR code. To connect your Mews Kiosk with a Mews terminal, follow the instructions here.

 

 

In this article you can learn about:

• Pre-requisites for the set up
  • Android tablet
  • iPadOS tablet
  • Payment solution
• To set up the Mews Kiosk
  • Step 1: Set up the Mews Kiosk integration
    • Connect the integration
    • Connect your key encoders
    • Connect Mews Terminals
  • Step 2: Configure your kiosk in Mews Operations
  • Step 3: Install the Mews Kiosk app on your tablet
  • Step 4: Set up your Terms & Conditions
  • Kiosk data caching

 

Pre-requisites for the set up

 

Android tablet

• Android 7.0 or above 
• 10-inch screen, minimum resolution 1080p  
• Front and rear-facing camera  

 

iPadOS tablet

• iPadOS 13 or higher  

Note:  

• Mews recommends iPad Pro. 
• The Kiosk does not support iPad Mini. 

 

Payment Solution

You also need to provide a payment solution such as: 

• A Mews Terminal, which you can easily connect to your Mews Kiosk,
• QR code for guests to scan from their devices, or 
• Payment automation, which you can achieve by enabling automatic payment in your rate groups. 

Note: The payment action you choose doesn't matter here. You need to connect a Mews Terminal or enable guest device payments if you want to process payments directly through the kiosk during check in and check out.   

 

To set up the Mews Kiosk

Step 1: Set up the Mews Kiosk integration

Connect the integration 

1. In Mews Operations, go to the main menu  > Marketplace. 
2. In the search bar, type in Mews Kiosk to locate the integration and click Connect integration. 
3. On successful connection of the integration, the system directs you to the My subscriptions tab. 

 

Connect your key encoders

1. In your list of active integrations, locate the Mews Kiosk and click Edit.
2. Under Connected devices, select every key encoder you plan to use with a Mews Kiosk.
3. Click Save.

 

Connect Mews Terminals

1. If you want to connect Mews Terminals, under Connected devices, select the terminals from the dropdown menu. 
2. Click Save. 

 

Step 2: Configure your kiosk in Mews Operations

Before you can install the kiosk app on your tablet, you need to configure it in Mews Operations.

1. In Mews Operations, go to the main menu  > Settings > Services.
2. Click on a Bookable service. 
3. Click Kiosks. 
4. Click the + button. 
5. Complete all other relevant fields as explained in the table below.
6. Click Save. Mews Operations automatically generates a QR code for this configuration, to use in the installation of the Mews Kiosk app in Step 3.  

Note: Changes to kiosk configuration can take up to 15 minutes to appear on the device. Clear the cache on the kiosk to apply changes immediately. Learn how to do so below.

 

Field	Description
Add translation	Click to select any languages you want kiosk to support. When you select a language that is different from your property's default language, some fields on this screen display an additional line for you to add translations.
Name	Enter a name to identify the kiosk, for example, “Left lobby kiosk”.
Theme	Click to select the color scheme, Dark or Light.
Connector integration	Click to select the Mews Kiosk integration you connected in Step 1.
Default language	Click to select the Default language you want Mews to display in your kiosk.
Key cutter	If you are using Mews Kiosk with a key cutting device, click to select the device that you want to connect with. Note: You can do this only after you set up a key cutter integration.
Payment method	Click to select the payment method you want to use: Terminal: To allow guests to pay via your configured payment terminals. Guest device: To allow guests to pay via their phones by scanning a QR code. Note: If you have not configured a terminal and you wish to take payments via guest device during check in, you need to select Balance check in the Options enabled field below.    Note: You can also remove a connected payment method by clicking – in the drop-down menu.
Payment terminal	Click to select the payment terminal you want to connect with.
Options enabled	Click to select Automatic space reallocation: To automatically move a reservation to an available and inspected space if their currently assigned space is not ready.    Click to select Automatically create company profiles: To automatically create a new company profile. Note: If you do not select this, the system creates a task for staff to manually create the company profile.  Click to select Balance check: To ensure that guests can check in or check out only if they pay for their current reservation at the Kiosk. Deselect to allow guests to check in even without having paid for their current reservation.  Note: The Balance Check option only applies when the guest is the owner of the bill and there is no company associated with it. Click to select Guests can remove other guests: To allow guests to remove other guests during check in. Note: Mews Kiosk only allows this if it does not impact revenue, for example, guests cannot remove other guests if there is a per person product in their reservation. Click to select Guests can split bills: To allow guests to split bill items with other guests. Click to select Space selection by guests: To allow guests to select their space during check in. Note: Before you can enable this, you need to add a description and space features to each space.  Click to select Space upgrades: To allow guests to upgrade their space during check in.  Note:  Mews Kiosk automatically calculates the upgrade price, you cannot adjust it. The upgrade price is the difference between the guest’s original booking price and the current price of the upgraded space. For example, if the guest originally books a space at €100 per night and then selects a space at €120 per night, Mews Kiosk offers the upgrade for €20 per night.  If the new space costs less than the original room, the Mews Kiosk does not offer an upgrade.  Click to select Staff mode: To switch from "guest mode" to "staff mode" via pin code, or Deselect to keep the Kiosk app locked to "guest mode”.  Click to select Use rear camera to scan ID's in guest mode:  To allow guests to scan their IDs and pre-fill their personal details in the Check in form.
Check-in grace period	Enter a time duration to allow guests a grace period within which they can check in through the kiosk without being charged an early check in fee. For example, if the check in time for a reservation is 3pm and you configure the grace period to 10mins, guests can check in through the kiosk without charge from 2:50pm onwards.  If you don't configure an early check in fee, you can use this setting to block guests from checking in at the kiosk ahead of time. For example, if the check in time for a reservation is 3pm and you configure the grace period to 2 hours, guests cannot check in through the kiosk until 1pm.
Early check in fee	Click to select Early check in fee from your list of products. You can configure it as a product within your bookable service here. If you do not configure an early check in fee, guests can check in early for no charge. Note: You need to connect a Mews Terminal to your kiosk or enable guest device payments to take payment for early check in fees.
Check out grace period	Enter a time duration to allow guests a grace period within which they can check out through the kiosk, after the official check out time. For example, if the check out time for a reservation is 11am and you configure the grace period to 30mins, the guest can check out through the kiosk until 11:30am.       You can configure the 'Check out grace period' between 0 minutes and 2 hours. If you don't choose a time here, Mews sets it as 15 minutes by default.
Information required to check in on a kiosk	Click to select: Last name and confirmation number for guests to input both to find their reservation. Last name only for guests to input only their last name to find their reservation. Note: Guests may need to enter their confirmation number when: The reservation is already checked in, or There are multiple guests with the same first and last name.
Information required to check out on a kiosk	Click to select: Only room number for guests to input only their room number to check out. Only last name for guests to input only their last name to check out. Either room number or last name for guests to input either their room number or their last name to check out. Both room number and last name for guests to input both their room number and last name to check out.
Take key instructions	If you are using Mews Kiosk with a key cutting device, enter a message for the first step that the guest should take when cutting their key, for example, "Take a key from the stack". Guests can view this message on the left-hand side of the screen.
Cut key instructions	If you are using the Mews Kiosk with a key cutting device, enter a message for the second step that the guest should take when cutting their key, for example, "Place your key in the key-cutting device". Guests can view this message on the right-hand side of the screen.
Thank you message	Enter a custom message for guests to see when they complete their check in, for example, "Your check in is complete. We wish you a pleasant stay.” Note: If you have configured an External Name and Directions for the space, the system also displays this information to the guest here alongside your thank you message.
Contact instructions	Enter a message for your guests when they click on the Help button, for example, "If you are having trouble checking in, please call 555-555-555." Note: Mews Kiosk displays the Help button only if you complete this field.
Instructions to check out	Enter a message for your guests to see once they successfully complete their check out. For example, “You are checked out, if you need a copy of your bill, please call 555-555-555."
Cut key video URL	If you are using Mews Kiosk with a key-cutting device, enter the URL of an instructional video that demonstrates how to use the device. You need to enter the URL in the following format: https://www.example.com. Note: This address needs to be a direct and publicly accessible link. You cannot provide a link to a video-sharing website such as YouTube.
Screen saver video URL	Enter the URL of a screensaver video for your device to play after 10 minutes of inactivity. You need to enter the URL in the following format: https://www.example.com. Note: This address needs to be a direct and publicly accessible link. You cannot provide a link to a video-sharing website such as YouTube.
Upload	Upload images for the kiosk to display in the Welcome, Find reservation, Reservation overview, and Final Check-in screens. The kiosk displays the images in the order of their upload.   Note: You can upload up to 4 images change the image order by clicking on the icon.

Step 3: Install the Mews Kiosk app on your tablet

If your tablet is new and not yet set up, complete the tablet set up as per the instructions on the device. Once you set up the tablet, follow the steps below to install the kiosk:

1. Download the “Mews Kiosk” app from the Apple app store or Google Play store.
2. Open the Mews Kiosk app.
3. Select Set up.  
4. The app asks whether it can access the device camera, select OK.
5. In Mews Operations, go to the main menu  > Settings > Services.
6. Select your bookable service. Then go to Kiosks > select the Kiosk you set up in step 2.  
7. Scan the QR code at the bottom of the kiosk settings page through the Mews Kiosk app.  

When you use the Mews Kiosk app in "guest" mode, your guests can self-check in with the Mews Kiosk.

Caution: Make sure to ‘lock’ the kiosk app to the device to prevent guests from accessing other device capabilities, such as the internet browser or messaging apps. 

• For iPadOS follow the "Guided Access” instructions 
• For Android, follow the “Pin the app” instructions

   

Step 4: Set up your Terms & Conditions

Before you start using the Mews Kiosk, it is important that you complete your property's terms and conditions in order to be compliant with requirements from your payment gateway provider, such as Adyen or Stripe. 

1. In Mews Operations, go to the main menu  > Settings > Services. 
2. Click on the appropriate Bookable service. 
3. Click Documents. 
4. Click +. 
5. Under Type, select Terms and conditions. 
6. Click Create. 
7. Enter your terms and conditions using Markdown editor. 
8. Click Save.  

Note:

• The Mews Kiosk does not support the Options field, so your guests can see only the Terms & Conditions that you enter in Documents. If your property uses Mews Kiosk, you need to fill out your T&Cs using Markdown editor. 
• To add and display the House rules, in step 5 in the Type field, select Rules from the drop-down. Enter the house rules in the Content section and click Save.  

You can learn more about all that the Mews Kiosk offers to your guests here.   

 

Kiosk data caching

Note: Changes to kiosk settings do not appear on the device immediately.

 

Mews Kiosk caches configuration and property data on the device. This improves performance and reduces loading times.

• Changes to kiosk settings take time to appear on the kiosk
• The kiosk updates data automatically after a set time
• You can clear the cache on the device to apply changes immediately

 

Cache refresh timeframes:

• 15 minutes: Kiosk configuration and exchange rates
• 24 hours: Enterprise settings and service documents

 

To apply changes immediately:

1. Press and hold the hotel name in the top-left corner of the tablet
2. Enter your PIN
3. Select Settings
4. Select Clear cache
5. Start a new session

 

Note: Use this option after you update settings and need to see the changes immediately.