MEWS

Using MEWS Exports for Group Label Prep

MEWS already contains the names you need. PrintKey turns that list into printable keycard holder labels: paste the group export, collect the names, choose a few print options, then print from your computer. Guest lists stay on the workstation during prep. They are not uploaded to a PrintKey cloud database.

Estimated read: 8 min Audience: Front desk and operations

MEWS is the source of truth

There is no better place to take a group list from than MEWS. The names and rooms you need are already there. You do not need a second list, a spreadsheet, or a long check of whether MEWS is “right.”

The one thing worth deciding before you print room numbers: have the assigned rooms been locked in MEWS? If rooms may still be swapped, print names without room numbers (or use inspected-only). You can always print room numbers later once the assignment is locked.

Copy a list that includes guest name, and when you want rooms on the holders also room number and housekeeping status (Inspected / Dirty). That status is what PrintKey uses for the inspected-only option.

Step 1: Copy from MEWS, paste into PrintKey

  1. In MEWS, open the group (or arrival list) you need.
  2. Copy the names, ideally including room numbers and Inspected/Dirty status.
  3. In PrintKey, paste everything into the left field: Paste Mews raw export.
  4. Click Collect the names.

PrintKey filters out a lot of noise you do not need for labels (for example currency lines, “Check in”, “Send to kiosk”, and similar metadata). What remains becomes the working guest list.

Step 2: Review the cleaned names

After Collect, the right side shows Cleaned names (editable). You should see guest names, and when they were in the raw paste, room numbers. Inspected status can appear as a small indicator on the row when PrintKey detected it.

Here you can still fine-tune before printing:

  • Edit a name or room if something looks wrong
  • Remove lines that should not be on the table (for example a driver or a date that is not part of the group)
  • Add a missing row with + Add row

When the clean list looks right, click Generate Labels.

Step 3: Label options (what each choice does)

Generate Labels opens a short wizard. Each step only affects this print run (except where noted).

Name order, breakfast, breakfast-only

  • Name order: First Last prints e.g. Anna Andersson.
  • Name order: Last, First prints e.g. Andersson, Anna. Useful when the pickup table is sorted or read by surname.
  • Breakfast time is editable for this generation only. It overrides the hotel default for this run (for example today’s conference window).
  • Print only breakfast time skips the normal guest list and produces a breakfast-only label run. Use this when you only need breakfast cards, not a full name/room set.

Include room numbers?

Skipped if you chose breakfast-only. Otherwise choose:

  • None: names (and breakfast) print without room numbers. Useful early, or when rooms are still changing.
  • All: every row that has a room number prints it.
  • Only inspected: room numbers print only for rows marked Inspected. Dirty (or unknown) rooms still get a name holder, but without a room number. That lets you stage early without locking wrong numbers onto the table.

Label order

  • Keep current order: same order as the cleaned list.
  • Alphabetical by last name: helpful for surname-first pickup tables.
  • Alphabetical by first name: helpful when guests look for given names.

This is the same idea as making a group check-in feel personal: choose the sort that matches how the table should be read.

Confirm and printer check

PrintKey shows a short summary of your choices, then a Printer check: confirm the correct hotel printer / paper path before you generate. Choosing the wrong printer can send labels to the wrong stock or format.

Click Generate Labels to build the PDF.

The PDF opens in a new browser tab. Review a few pages, then start your computer’s print dialog:

  • Mac: Command+P
  • Windows: Ctrl+P

Select the correct printer and settings in that dialog, then print. If you closed the tab, use Open PDF again from the PrintKey print-ready panel.

Check the PDF before you print the full run

Open the PDF and look at it as a holder, not as a file. Does the spacing of name, room number, and breakfast time sit where it should on your sleeve?

  • If you are unsure, print one page first, not all 100.
  • Double-check breakfast time. A group can have a different window, and weekend days sometimes do too.
  • When the sample looks right, print the rest with Command+P (Mac) or Ctrl+P (Windows).

Where PrintKey fits

PrintKey is built for this MEWS path: paste → collect → review → options → PDF → print. If your team still moves names through spreadsheets or sticker tools after exporting from MEWS, this is the shorter route to table-ready holders.

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