Overview
The Emblem is an independent, five-star luxury boutique hotel in Prague.
With 56 rooms just steps from Prague’s Old Town Square, the property is defined by its contemporary art, design and a deeply personal approach to hospitality. This includes curated local experiences that guests wouldn't discover on their own.
With an extensive art collection, an intimate rooftop wellness space called M Spa, George Prime Steak restaurant and exclusive access to city landmarks, The Emblem attracts leisure guests from all over the world, particularly in the UK and US, who value individuality and a tailored experience.
The Challenge
The Emblem was the first hotel to run on Mews when the platform launched in 2013, putting the new system to the test in a live hotel environment. This leap of faith was based on a mutual belief that technology can be more intuitive when designed around how hotels actually operate.
The team don't have the administrative resources of a large chain, making efficiency and the removal of repetitive work essential. The hotel relies on rapid communication between departments to help deliver its high standards. For instance, when a guest arrives early after a long-haul flight, the difference between a smooth stay and a frustrating one can come down to how quickly the front office and housekeeping can coordinate.
The Solution
Through 13 years of partnership, Mews has evolved from a system for the fundamentals (reservations, check-ins, billing and housekeeping) into an AI-native hospitality operating system that sits at the center of The Emblem’s daily operations.
The front office manages arrivals, departures and guest profiles. Housekeeping uses it to coordinate room status and preferences. Management uses the system to report on occupancy, rates and revenue patterns.
There are no more big computers stuck behind reception desks. The team uses automation to reduce repetitive manual processes, with guest information at their fingertips to anticipate needs and deliver outstanding hospitality.
"Mews is proof that a slightly crazy idea, a great deal of determination and one very patient hotel willing to be the guinea pig can eventually change an entire industry."
The Results
For Helena Hons Valtrova, General Manager at The Emblem, Mews means visibility and control. She can check occupancy, average daily rates, booking patterns, distribution channels and revenue herself, without having to ask several people for separate reports.
There are big improvements around accessibility of information, operational coordination, reporting and the ability to integrate with other technology. Helena’s ambition is not only to complete tasks faster, but to eliminate unnecessary ones so that her team can focus on creating special moments with guests.
"For me, luxury isn't about how many times you address someone by their surname. It's about remembering what matters to them, anticipating their needs and making their stay feel effortless."
Mews product Spotlight
Mews RMS takes much of the manual work out of pricing decisions while the hotel keeps control of the revenue strategy, allowing the team to react quickly to market conditions.
Looking forward, the hotel is exploring further automation with Mews, including the ability to flag reservations that fall below defined rate thresholds. This would eliminate the need to review reports manually every day.
Why Mews?
After 13 years, The Emblem and Mews continue to evolve alongside each other with a shared goal: making hospitality more effortless. By taking repetitive work off the team's hands, technology can fade into the background, leaving more time to anticipate what guests need and deliver the personal experiences that set The Emblem apart.
Run an independent hotel? Talk to the Mews team.