Extreme conditions, effortless hospitality: Mews at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
In the heart of the Arctic, this remote Finnish hotel runs complex food and beverage (F&B) operations with ease, thanks to Mews.
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos customer story
1h
saved per staff member each day on manual tasks
-5°C
and Mews Terminal S2 still works reliably
Greater wait-staff efficiency
with digital order-taking and payment on one device
About Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
As one of the largest snow and ice hotels in the world, Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos is a truly unique destination in Finnish Lapland. They're part of the Snowhotel Family, a group that uses Mews across multiple properties to stay efficient, flexible and guest-focused - even in the most extreme conditions. Guests flock here for the full winter wonderland experience, from snowshoeing and ice sculpting to catching the Northern Lights.
With three restaurants and two bars including an Ice Bar that's rebuilt from scratch every year and operates at sub-zero temperatures, their F&B setup is far from ordinary. But so is Mews. To keep things running smoothly in such a dynamic environment, Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos relies heavily on the seamless integration between the Mews PMS, POS, Payments and Terminals.
Making F&B simpler, smarter and more enjoyable
Challenge
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos struggled with a complex, multi-outlet F&B setup. The team used separate devices for order-taking and payments. The seasonal nature of their Ice Bar and Restaurant (spoiler alert: they melt) created difficulties in managing space layout each time the restaurant was rebuilt.
Solution
The team adopted the Mews Terminal S2, a portable handheld device that combines order-taking and payment processing in one easy-to-use system. With it, staff can take orders from anywhere in the restaurant that are sent directly to the kitchen or bar. They can also split checks and process payments right at the table. This streamlined workflow significantly, simplified F&B operations and staff efficiency as they can do everything with just one device. Because Mews Payments is fully embedded into Mews POS and integrated with S2s, it supports direct room charges and synchronizes seamlessly with Mews PMS. Restaurant managers can now easily update table layouts in the Mews POS application - especially handy during seasonal reconfigurations of the Ice Bar.
Result
- 1 hour saved per F&B management staff member, every day, thanks to Mews
- 6 Mews Terminal S2s operate flawlessly, even in extreme conditions
- Shorter wait times and fewer errors
"Mews Terminal S2 saves us so much time. Human errors have dropped significantly because everything goes directly into the system, making reporting easier. No more time wasted fixing mistakes."
Seamless sync: POS and PMS, finally in harmony
Challenge
Before Mews, the hotel's systems were disjointed, with staff using multiple devices and manual processes for tracking inventory and guest data.
Solution
With Mews, Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos connected PMS and POS systems for real-time coordination between reception, restaurants and bars. Manual input and errors are a thing of the past, replaced by accurate product performance data and better oversight of product availability. Online check-in has eased the workload for staff, while eSignatures captured at the table or Ice Bar are sent directly to the PMS, helping speed up guest check-outs.
Result
- Smoother communication between departments thanks to real-time sharing of guest data between PMS & POS
- Live inventory tracking saves staff time and ensures complete stock visibility
- Staff complete daily closing tasks much faster
"We no longer spend time searching for product-specific sales during the day. Monitoring inventory has become much faster - products are clearly displayed, and the search function is very easy to use."
Stress-free onboarding and reliable customer support for Mews POS
Challenge
The F&B team needed an efficient solution that could be quickly integrated across multiple venues in a challenging environment. The team was also looking for responsive support to ensure smooth operations in extreme conditions.
Solution
Thanks to a structured and well-planned Mews POS onboarding, staff were able to set up Mews (including terminals) with minimal training, making the transition smooth. The POS support team provided ongoing assistance and helped Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos quickly resolve any issues, even introducing innovative solutions to match their unique set-up and make the most out of the new system.
Result
- The team feels understood and supported
Empowered, happier staff
Challenge
The previous system was complex and lacked visibility, with no ability to view product availability on one device. Staff often used pen and paper and then had to manually input orders into the system.
Solution
Since moving to Mews POS, the team has noticed increased efficiency across both hotel and F&B operations. The system's ease of use, combined with excellent support, made everyone more confident in using Mews. Staff no longer waste time running back and forth to the bar to enter orders or fetch separate payment terminals. Plus, with tipping enabled on the S2, staff are seeing more tips - a great morale booster.
Result
- The daily reporting functionality is a favorite among both staff and managers, keeping everyone in the loop and on top of performance
"Our waitstaff find Mews Terminal S2 brilliant. Everything they need is right there, all in one easy-to-use and portable machine."
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Make it remarkable.
Ready to take the first step towards a more efficient, flexible, guest-centric approach to hospitality?