Connecting your key encoders to Mews Operations is a great way to cut down on check-in time and simplify processes. After you set up the Hotek integration, you can cut keys directly in Mews Operations without ever needing to use the Hotek Interface System.

Mews is compatible with Hotek CLASSIC, ADVANCE, and SMART, as all of these communicate with Mews using the same TCP/IP Protocol.

Note: Although this article is a set up guide for Hotek door locks and systems, depending on the region of your property's location, you may recognize it with a different name. If you can see the name of your key cutter integration in the following list, just follow the set up instructions in the article below to set up your key cutters. 

• Limtech
• ADEL
• KAS

In this article you can learn about:

• System requirements
• How to set up the Hotek integration
  • Step 1: Install and create the Hotek integration
  • Step 2: Set up the Hotek key cutters
  • Step 3: Map Hotek key cutters in Mews Operations
  • Step 4: Activate your key cutters
• Troubleshooting

 

System requirements

To use the Hotek integration, you need:

• A Hotek license that supports PMS connections: To find out if your license supports PMS connections:
  • in the Hotek Interface System, go to System > License and check if your license type is listed as either Fidelio Interface or PMS Interface.
  • If not, contact [email protected] to request a software upgrade.

• Mews Connector and the Hotek Interface System installation on the same computer at your property: If you have not installed Mews Connector at your property yet, see our help article for instructions on how to install it here.

How to set up the Hotek integration

Step 1: Install and create the Hotek integration

Before you can set up the Hotek integration, you need to install the Hotek Interface System on a computer at your property. To run the Hotek application:

1. Open the Hotek Interface System on your computer.
2. Click on the Setting tab,

• Make note of the Interface Port, which you need when creating the Hotek integration in Mews Operations.
• Make sure to select Show message at client and TCP/IP.

To create the integration:

1. Open Mews Operations.
2. Go to the main menu  > Marketplace.
3. In the Facility management category, under Key cutter integration click Explore.
4. Then click Connect integration.
5. In the Name field, enter “Hotek”.
6. In the API URL field, enter the IP address 127.0.0.1 and the Interface Port, which you can find in the Hotek Interface System, in the following format: http://127.0.0.1:Port number. For example, if your port number is 6666, you should enter http://127.0.0.1:6666 in this field.
7. Leave the Username and Password fields blank.
8. Click Create. Then, click OK.

Step 2: Set up the Hotek key cutters

After you create the Hotek integration in Mews Operations, you can set up your key cutters. Mews uses the Hotek TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the Hotek interface system, i.e., their server. With this protocol, Hotek listens on a predefined port. To set up the Hotek key cutters:

1. In the Hotek integration settings, click Key cutters.
2. Click the + button.
3. In the Name field, enter a name for the key cutter based on where it is located or a name that your staff can easily understand. 
4. In the Identifier field, enter the Encoder Number found in the Hotek Interface System. Note: To find the Encoder Number, go to the Client tab in the Hotek Interface System application.
5. In the Data JSON field, enter the following. See a, b, and c options below for other variations.

{
  "Type": "HotekKeyCutter"
}

 

1. To create both mobile keys and physical keys, enter:

{
 "Type":"HotekKeyCutter", 
 "MobileKeyType":"Hotek",
 "EncoderKeys": "true" 
}

Note: If you wish to create only mobile keys, replace the "true" for "EncoderKeys" with "false". 

Important: The guests receive their mobile keys by email, so it's important to make sure that you enter the guest's email address correctly in their customer profile.
 

2. In a hostel environment, where you need to create duplicate keys for guests arriving at different times, enter:

{
 "Type":"HotekKeyCutter", 
 "DuplicateKeyAllowed":"True"
}

3. If you're in a hostel environment and wish to also include mobile keys, enter:

{
 "Type":"HotekKeyCutter", 
 "DuplicateKeyAllowed":"True",
 "MobileKeyType":"Hotek",
 "EncoderKeys": "true"
}

Note: If you wish to create only mobile keys, replace the "true" for "EncoderKeys" with "false".
 

6. Click Create.

Repeat steps 1- 6 for every Hotek key cutter that you use at your property. 
 

Step 3: Map Hotek key cutters in Mews Operations

You must complete key cutter mapping if:

• the space numbers in Mews Operations and the Hotek Interface System do not match exactly. For example, "004" and "4" is not an exact match.
• your space numbers are less than four characters long. For example, if the space number is "101", the mapping must be "0101".

1. In the Hotek integration settings, click Key cutter mappings.
2. Click the + button.
3. Under Room, select a space number from the drop-down list.
4. In the Lock identifier field, enter the corresponding space number as listed in the Hotek Interface System.
5. Click Create.

Repeat steps 1-5 for every space that you need to map in Mews Operations.
 

Step 4: Activate your key cutters

1. Go to the main menu  > Marketplace > My subscriptions.
2. Locate the Key cutter integration, and click on Edit to go to the settings page. 
3. Select the Enabled checkbox.
4. Click Save.

Troubleshooting

If your encoder isn't creating keys,

• check the Device Commands Queue to find out the reason.
• copy the link in the Notes or search by the response message.

You can learn more about general key cutter troubleshooting and key cutter response messages here.

You can read through the list of various other key cutter related articles here.