About Inn on Arsenal
Inn on Arsenal is a 44-room independent hotel in Watertown, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. Formerly operating under a legacy brand and later repurposed as an Immigrant Assistance Program shelter, the property spent more than a year closed before reopening following a full renovation. Moving from ASI PMS to Mews allowed them to fully tech-enable public operations, making day-to-day management smoother and more efficient from the start.
Owned by Abhi Bhakta, a second-generation hotelier and AAHOA member, the relaunch marked a complete reset – brand, building and technology included. With a lean team and a fresh identity, the hotel needed a property management system that could support modern guest expectations while keeping operations automated and easy to manage from day one.
“We were independent, then closed for a while, and decided to do a major renovation. Mews helped us open for bookings quickly and manage everything from one place.”
Reopening fast without dragging legacy systems along
Challenge
After a long closure and major renovation, the hotel needed to relaunch quickly with a modern setup, without relying on outdated systems or manual work.
Solution
Mews PMS became the operational backbone for the relaunch, handling reservations, guest profiles, payments and reporting from a single platform. The team moved away from its legacy ASI setup and focused on automation from the start, enabling online bookings, digital payments and clear policies without unnecessary complexity. With everything configured before reopening, the hotel could go live confidently and take bookings immediately.
Result
- Clean relaunch with all core systems live from day one
- Faster setup without legacy workflows slowing things down
- One platform managing the entire operation
“Mews handled all the connections and automations we needed. The system is easy to use, and the support team is always available if we need help.”
Automation that helps a lean team work smarter
Challenge
The hotel needed to operate efficiently with minimal staff while avoiding manual processes and cash handling.
Solution
Using Mews PMS and Mews Payments, the property launched as fully cashless, with automated pre-authorizations, digital payments and streamlined check-in workflows. Guest communications and policies were set up clearly in advance, reducing questions at the desk and keeping operations predictable. Reporting and daily tasks run automatically, giving the team more time to focus on guests instead of admin.
Result
- No cash handling from day one
- Automated payments and pre-authorizations
- Clear, consistent guest policies
“Mews lets us automate check-in, payments and reporting. We don’t take cash, and everything is streamlined for credit cards and online bookings.”
Revenue decisions without spreadsheets or guesswork
Challenge
The relaunch required dynamic pricing from day one to stay competitive in a busy Boston-area market.
Solution
Atomize RMS was implemented alongside Mews to manage pricing automatically. Rates now adjust in real time based on demand and market conditions, without manual updates or spreadsheets. Onboarding support and easy access to documentation helped the team get comfortable with revenue automation quickly, even without prior RMS experience.
Result
- Automated, real-time pricing from launch
- Faster reaction to demand and market changes
- Less manual work tied up in rate management
“Atomize RMS was ready to use from day one, and the support team helped us get started quickly.”
A guest journey built for a clean slate
Challenge
Legacy reviews and brand confusion made it critical to deliver a fresh, consistent guest experience from reopening onward.
Solution
The hotel launched with a simple, modern guest journey: online booking, digital communications, clear policies and smooth arrivals. By automating the basics through Mews, the team ensured consistency while still delivering friendly, personal service. This helped reset guest expectations and reinforce the property’s new identity.
Result
- Clear, modern guest experience from booking to checkout
- Positive feedback around staff, cleanliness and value
- Strong foundations for rebuilding reputation
Looking ahead
With its relaunch complete, Inn on Arsenal is focused on steady growth and continued optimization. The team plans to refine pricing strategies with Atomize, expand distribution as demand grows and continue relying on automation to keep operations lean.
Integration spotlight
From day one, the property was connected to key distribution channels, including Booking.com, Expedia and Siteminder, ensuring maximum visibility and booking potential.
It allowed the team to streamline operations, reduce manual work and capture bookings across multiple channels seamlessly – a critical advantage for driving occupancy and revenue in such a competitive market.