Mews Secured EMI Licence for Hospitality Payments
Hospitality operators can now leverage Mews infrastructure to manage payment flows directly, reducing reliance on third-party processors.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Financial Services
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Mews Financial Services B.V. has received an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence from De Nederlandsche Bank, making it the first hospitality-specific operating system to hold such authorization in the European Economic Area. This regulatory status allows the company to process payments directly on its own infrastructure.
Why it matters
The licence allows Mews to own the reconciliation layer of hotel payment flows, enabling the firm to retain facilitation fees previously paid to third-party providers. This move shifts the company from a software-only provider toward a vertically integrated financial services model.
Mews processed $19.7 billion in hotel transaction value during 2025 across its network of 15,000 properties. The company currently holds a $2.5 billion valuation following a $300 million Series D funding round completed earlier in 2026.
The players
Mews
A hospitality-focused operating system and technology provider serving 15,000 properties across 85 countries.
De Nederlandsche Bank
The central bank of the Netherlands responsible for supervising financial institutions and granting regulatory licences.
The details
By operating under the EEA EMI framework, Mews gains passporting rights to offer payment services across all EU member states. The licence requires the company to safeguard client funds separately from its operational balance sheet, though it does not permit the firm to take deposits or lend against them. This structure enables the company to internalize payment facilitation, changing how it handles money movement for its 15,000-property client base.
Timeline
Mews processed $19.7 billion in hotel transaction value during 2025.
The firm completed a $300 million Series D funding round earlier in 2026.
The Electronic Money Institution licence was granted on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
Mews is leveraging the European Economic Area's EMI framework, which is governed by the revised Payment Services Directive, to standardize payment processing across international borders. This move follows a broader trend where vertical software companies are seeking to internalize payment facilitation to capture increased margin.
Hospitality operators using Mews should prepare for potential updates to their payment processing agreements and fee structures as the company begins internalizing these functions. Owners should consult with their finance teams to evaluate how this change impacts reconciliation workflows compared to previous third-party setups.
The takeaway
Operators are increasingly seeking to reduce reliance on third-party processors by bringing payment reconciliation in-house. Monitor future product rollouts from Mews as the firm begins leveraging its new regulatory status to launch additional hospitality-specific financial tools.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Financial Services section.
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