Housekeeping has long been considered the backbone of hotel operations, but until recently, it was also the department most resistant to technological innovation. From paper checklists to walkie-talkies, hotel housekeeping has largely relied on manual, error-prone systems.
In episode 55 of Matt Talks, Mews CEO Matt Welle sat down with Luka Berger, CEO and founder of Flexkeeping, to explore how modern technology is finally giving housekeeping teams the tools they need – and how pairing it with a modern PMS can amplify that impact.
From housekeeper to innovator
Luka’s journey into hospitality started almost by accident. “We applied for this [work and travel] program and completely coincidentally landed a job as housekeepers in Yellowstone National Park,” he recalls.
That summer provided Luka with firsthand insight into the inefficiencies that plague housekeeping: printed PMS reports, walkie-talkies for communication, and constant scrambling to determine which rooms were ready.
“It was just such a loss of time,” Luka explains. “No one knew what needed to be done. Things lasted longer, check-ins lasted longer for guests, and we made tons of mistakes.” This frustration planted the seed for Flexkeeping: a digital solution designed to streamline operations and empower staff with transparent, real-time workflows.
Iterating toward the right technology
The first version of Flexkeeping was built on e-paper tablets, rugged and battery-efficient, perfect for a demanding housekeeping environment. Yet Luka admits, “Ultimately, it wasn’t the right tech. Within a year, we had the first mobile version ready.” This pivot illustrates a core philosophy: iterate from real-world pain points rather than mimic existing solutions.
The guiding principle has always been simple: technology should support staff, not burden them. “It should shadow you. It should never stop you in your work process,” Luka says. “You should love to use it, not even notice it.”
Breaking down language barriers
Housekeeping teams are often multicultural, with staff members speaking multiple languages. Modern hotel tech can address this with intuitive visual cues, dynamic language translations, and AI-driven task management. “You can speak to the system in your own language, and it will translate and allocate tasks automatically,” Luka explains.
The impact on daily operations is profound. Housekeepers know exactly what to do, managers regain hours previously spent coordinating manually, and hotels can deliver cleaner, faster service. As Luka puts it, “It literally gives managers their life back.”
From reactive to proactive operations
One of the most impactful opportunities for hotels is moving from reactive housekeeping to proactive operations. Think systems that update room assignments in real time, adapt dynamically to check-ins, checkouts and cancellations, and can even recommend the next best room to clean based on operational priorities.
“It’s not just automation. It’s the intelligence to optimize workflows, prevent errors and allow staff to focus on service rather than paperwork,” Luka says. For larger properties, this translates into massive efficiency gains: one hotel automated over 14,000 tasks in just three months, reducing manual workload and improving personalization at scale.
Why housekeeping matters more than ever
Housekeeping is at the heart of hospitality. Cleanliness is a top driver of guest satisfaction, the department represents a significant portion of operating costs, and housekeepers have intimate insight into guest preferences. Yet historically, it has been underinvested in. Flexkeeping, combined with Mews PMS, addresses this gap by providing a unified, data-driven platform for operational excellence.
“The philosophy of Flexkeeping aligns perfectly with Mews,” Luka notes. “Operations is where hospitality happens. You can sell all you want, but execution happens in housekeeping.”
Fast impact and measurable results
Hotels adopting a forward-looking approach can see immediate benefits. Luka describes a typical rollout: “Two days, and it’s an immediate switch. The first thing you notice is relief – no more frantic calls, less stress, more time to focus on quality and training.” Within three months, hotels begin to leverage data from the system to identify patterns, prevent recurring issues, and optimize staffing and workflows.
For managers and owners, the result is clear: lower turnover, improved staff satisfaction, more efficient use of resources, and the ability to deliver a personalized guest experience without increasing manual effort.
Looking ahead: the next five years
Luka envisions a future where housekeeping is increasingly tech-driven, augmented by AI and even robotics. “Robots will enter the game,” he predicts, taking over repetitive tasks like bed-making or vacuuming, while staff focus on hospitality itself. This shift is not about replacing people but enabling them to create more value for guests.
The partnership between Flexkeeping and Mews represents a major step forward for hotels. By combining real-time operational intelligence with a modern PMS, hotels gain a platform capable of holistically managing rooms, staff and guest experiences. For Luka, the timing of the partnership was clear: “You can’t build big things yourself. There’s pure alignment on technological, philosophical, and cultural levels.”
Conclusion
Housekeeping has long been overlooked in the tech evolution of hotels, yet it is central to guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. Flexkeeping, especially in combination with Mews, is changing that. From real-time room updates and AI-powered communication to full operational automation and future-ready robotics, housekeeping is moving from a reactive, paper-driven operation to a strategic, data-driven powerhouse.
Empowering the heart of your hotel with the right technology isn’t optional – it’s transformative.
About Mews
Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. Powering over 12,500 customers across more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud is designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include BWH Hotels, Strawberry, The Social Hub and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024, 2025) and listed among the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) by Hotel Tech Report. Mews has raised $410 million from investors including Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Tiger Global to transform hospitality.
