Latest news with #RichardValtr
Skift
23-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Rewiring Hotel Tech for Humans
Mews founder Richard Valtr argues hospitality needs to embrace technology more, a point he made during this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Learn More This episode of the Skift Travel Podcast featured a discussion with Richard Valtr, founder of cloud-PMS provider Mews, which took place during the Mews Unfold conference in Amsterdam. Valtr talked with Head of Research Seth Borko about the company's vision and why hospitality undervalues technology. Listen Now Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Five Key Points Hotel Tech Is Burdened by Legacy Systems: Valtr explains that many of the entrenched problems in hotel tech stem from the early adoption of digital systems that were ahead of their time. These legacy systems, like those used in airlines (e.g., Sabre), became rigid and unable to adapt to modern needs. Mews aims to address these limitations by building more flexible and intuitive systems designed with hoteliers in mind. Industry Standardization Needs to Evolve: While hotel brands have historically emphasized standardization to scale globally and ensure consistency, Valtr argues that today's technology enables personalization and richer guest experiences. Mews seeks to elevate industry norms by leveraging modern tools—like AI and automation—to recapture the personal touch once common in hospitality. Modernizing Hospitality Employment and Operations: The industry needs to rethink traditional hospitality roles and working conditions — like long front desk shifts — and introduce more flexibility and automation in back-end operations. Leveraging automation can help reduce unnecessary labor while improving both employee well-being and operational efficiency. Industry Resistance to Tech is Cultural, Not Logical: A persistent challenge in hospitality is a cultural reluctance to embrace technology, particularly among older leadership. The next generation of hoteliers is expected to drive more tech-forward, guest-centric operations by seeing tech as an enabler, not an obstacle. The Future: Interoperability, Empathy, and AI: Technologies like computer vision and data-sharing (e.g., from platforms like Uber) can create truly personalized, seamless guest experiences. Mews envisions a future where tech augments human empathy—identifying guest moods or preferences on arrival—and blends invisible data flows into intuitive service that defines modern luxury. Episode Summary Borko and Valtr discussed the evolution of hotel technology. Valtr explained that the original vision behind Mews was to eliminate the impersonal and transactional nature of hotel check-ins by creating a more human-centric, tech-enabled guest experience. Although Mews has grown into a Property Management System (PMS) that acts as a hotel's central nervous system, integrating booking, guest data, and operations, Valtr emphasized that Mews is more than a PMS. It's evolved into a guest management and profitability optimization platform. Valtr also said that while standardization helped the hotel industry scale efficiently — enabling tasks like cleaning 100 rooms quickly — it should now serve as a foundation, not the goal. With modern technology, it's possible to return to a more personalized, 17th-century-style guest experience, once impossible due to technological limitations.
Hospitality Net
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
The Heart of Hospitality - A Day at Mews Unfold Volume 06
Exactly one week ago, we had the pleasure of attending Mews Unfold 2025 in Amsterdam. Now in its sixth edition, Unfold has grown into one of the most anticipated hospitality events in Europe, drawing over 700 hoteliers, tech partners, and innovators from around the world. What began in a single room just a few years ago has evolved into a multi-floor experience, full of energy, insight, and meaningful connection. This year's event was a powerful reminder of what hospitality is really about: not just technology, but people. From organizers to speakers, the Mews team curated a day that balanced operational insights with heartfelt conversations and hands-on learning. It didn't feel like a typical tech conference, it felt like a gathering of a community that genuinely cares about the future of guest experience. The opening keynote by Mews Founder Richard Valtr and CEO Matt Welle set an open and honest tone for the day: in a world marked by global conflict, economic uncertainty, and shifting guest behaviors, they encouraged the audience to stop asking 'why?' and start focusing on 'how to respond.' Their message was clear: hospitality must be agile, blending human instinct with data-driven decisions. 'Don't wait for the impact. Be it,' said Richard. Throughout the day, attendees explored the connection between technology and human service. Whether in the thoughtful one-on-one conversation with Monica Galetti, the dynamic panels on automation and personalization, or the breakout sessions on revenue management and tech integration, one message kept coming through: hospitality is, and will always be, about connection. Source: Hospitality Net Unfold was not only about the sessions; the Mews Product and Partner Zones offered an additional layer to the experience. These spaces provided a relaxed setting for networking and connecting with clients, industry suppliers, and speakers in between sessions and during breaks. As the official program came to a close, the Mews Unfold Awards offered well-deserved recognition to those pushing boundaries, celebrating excellence in guest experience, innovation, sustainability, and leadership. It was a great ending to a day filled with learning and new ideas. Source: Hospitality Net The day wrapped up with a lively gathering, complete with great food, drinks, and a buzzing atmosphere. Conversations deepened, new connections were made, and the energy of the day continued in full force, offering a fitting end to an inspiring and well-executed event. Unfold 2025 reminded us why we do what we do. Technology plays a crucial role, but the magic lies in the moments we create for others. Hats off to the Mews team for delivering a day full of energy, warmth, and vision. We are already looking forward to Unfold Volume 07, because if this year showed anything, there's still so much more ahead. This was just the beginning. Over the coming days, we will be sharing more in-depth articles from Unfold 2025, exploring some of the key sessions, expert insights, and ideas shaping the future of hospitality.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hospitality technology platform Mews raises $75m in funding
Hospitality technology platform Mews has secured $75m to expand its presence in the US and DACH (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) regions. The business will also use the funding to accelerate platform innovation with AI-powered revenue management capabilities, and drive strategic acquisitions. Spearheaded by investment company Tiger Global, the latest funding round saw participation from existing investors Battery Ventures, Kinnevik, and Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. With its continuous investment in technology, Mews is fuelling innovations tailored to the modern hospitality sector's needs, such as scalability, automation, and operational intelligence for hospitality brands globally. Mews founder Richard Valtr said: "This investment reaffirms our dedication to the US market, where we have established strong leadership and have invested over $50m to expand our business in the last couple of years. We will continue to invest substantially in the market, reinforcing our long-term strategy of global growth and leadership.' During 2024, Mews witnessed global growth, with a year-on-year increase of over 50%. In addition, the company processed more than $10bn in transaction volume and generated revenues exceeding $200m. Other achievements include the signing of marquee customers such as BWH Hotels, the acquisition of Atomize, and achieving a 20% market penetration in the DACH region. Mews has been gaining market share, particularly in North America, where it has seen a doubling of revenue year-on-year, along with a twofold increase in the number of hospitality brands adopting its platform. The company has welcomed brands such as BWH Hotels, Lark Hotels, and Weekender, more than doubling the number of rooms and spaces managed through its system. Tiger Global spokesperson Sara Eadie said: 'Mews is redefining what it means to deliver exceptional guest experiences in the hospitality sector and beyond. 'Our partnership with the Mews team marks an exciting step as they continue to expand in North America and strengthen their global market leadership.' In January 2025, Mews expanded its reach by acquiring Clarity Hospitality Software Solutions, which increased its presence in the APAC and UK markets. This move is in line with Mews' strategy to revolutionise guest experiences through advanced technology. "Hospitality technology platform Mews raises $75m in funding" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
