Setting up your Mews Kiosk

Mews Guest JourneyMews Kiosk

The Mews Kiosk app provides a contact-free, self-service, check-in and check-out alternative for your guests. This help article details the steps to set up the app for both iPadOS and Android devices, giving you the flexibility to choose your preferred device.

Mews Kiosk provides a unique experience that helps you save on staff costs, reduce queues in reception and increase guest satisfaction. You can also increase revenue with:

Products attached to your bookable services, for example, early check-in fees, breakfast, late check-outs, and more.

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 to connect the terminal to your network.

In this article, you can learn about:

Pre-requisites for the set up
To set up the Mews Kiosk
Managing multiple kiosks
Kiosk data caching

Setting up your Mews Kiosk

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 16 or higher

Note:

The minimum required version for iPadOS tablet can change at any time due to situations outside of Mews' control.
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 does not 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: Create your kiosk in Mews Operations

In this step, you create and configure a kiosk directly from the Kiosks page.

In Mews Operations, go to the main menu > Settings > Property > Guest experience > Kiosks.
Click Create a kiosk.
In the side-window, complete the remaining fields as explained in the table below. Note: Mews Operations already fills in the recommended settings for you, so you only need to change what is specific to your property.
Click Save. Mews Operations automatically generates a QR code for this configuration, to use in the installation of the Mews Kiosk app in Step 2.

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 in Kiosk data caching below.
Do not edit or delete the Mews Kiosk integration in Mews Marketplace. This is necessary to ensure proper functioning of your kiosks.

Field	Description
Service	Click to select your stay service.
Name	Enter a name to identify the kiosk, for example, “Left lobby kiosk”.
Default language	Click to select the default language you want Mews to display in your kiosk. Mews Operations pre-fills this with your property's language.
Theme	Click to select the colour scheme, Dark or Light. Mews Operations selects Light by default.
Key issuing	Click to select the key cards you want the kiosk to issue. If your property has only one key card device or key cutter connected, Mews Operations selects it for you automatically. If you have more than one, choose the one you want from the dropdown. Note: You can only select a key cutter here after you set up a key cutter integration with Mews Kiosk.
Key cutter	Click to select the key cutting device you want to connect to this kiosk. You need a key cutter to issue key cards.
Payment method	Click to select the payment method you want to use: Terminal: To allow guests to pay via your configured payment terminals. Mews Operations already lists any terminal connected to your property, so you don't need to select it in the Marketplace first. 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 Require full payment for check-in and check-out in the Options enabled field below. You can also remove a connected payment method by clicking the minus icon in the dropdown menu.
Payment terminal	Click to select the payment terminal you want to connect with.
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 10 minutes, guests can check in through the kiosk without charge from 2:50pm onwards. If you do not 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. 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 30 minutes, 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 do not choose a time here, Mews sets it as 15 minutes by default.
What do guests need to check in at a kiosk	Click to select: Last name and confirmation number, QR code or ID scan for guests to input last name and one of the other fields to find their reservation. Last name, QR code or ID scan for guests to input any of these fields to find their reservation. ID scan only for guests to scan their ID card only to find their reservation. Note: Guests may need to enter their confirmation number when the reservation is already checked in, or when there are multiple guests with the same first and last name.
Options enabled	Click the slider switch to enable the following options: Automatic space reallocation: To automatically move a reservation to an available and inspected space if their currently assigned space is not ready. 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. 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. Require full payment for check-in and check-out: Check-in and check-out are allowed only after all reservation charges have been paid. Note: This option only applies when the guest is the owner of the bill and there is no company associated with it. Guests can split bills: To allow guests to split bill items with other guests. 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. Use rear camera to scan IDs in guest mode: To allow guests to scan their IDs and pre-fill their personal details in the Check-in form.
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.
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. Enter the URL in this 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. Enter the URL in this 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.
Images	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 and change the image order.

Step 2: 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:

Download the “Mews Kiosk” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Open the Mews Kiosk app.
Select Set up.
The app asks whether it can access the device camera, select OK.
In Mews Operations, go to the main menu > Settings > Services > Kiosks, then open the kiosk you set up in Step 1.
In the side-window, click the Installation tab to scan the QR code.

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 3: Set up your Terms and 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.

In Mews Operations, go to the main menu > Settings > Services.
Click the appropriate Bookable service.
Click Documents.
Click +.
Under Type, select Terms and conditions.
Click Create.
Enter your terms and conditions using the Markdown editor.
Click Save.

Note:

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

This sets up your Mews Kiosk. You can learn more about all that Mews Kiosk offers to your guests in the The Mews Kiosk help article.

Managing multiple kiosks

From the Kiosks page, you can also manage several kiosks at once. This is particularly useful for properties running many kiosks across multiple bookable services.

Duplicate a kiosk: Copy an existing kiosk's settings to quickly set up a new, similar kiosk.
Bulk edit: Select multiple kiosks to update shared settings across all of them at once, for example, changing their images, guest-facing messages, or options such as space selection by guests.
Bulk delete: Select multiple kiosks to remove them at once.