Running a small hotel with an AI assistant: how SMRTROOM’s MCP integration works
Short answer: SMRTROOM, a hotel management system for small hotels, includes an MCP server and a REST API. Once it is connected, an AI assistant such as Claude Desktop or Cursor can read and change your reservations when you ask in plain language: “Is there a room for three people from 12 to 15 May?”, “Book it for Ana Petrović”, “What does today look like?”. The assistant uses the same calendar, rules and overbooking protection as the SMRTROOM web app. During early access we set up the connection together with you.
What MCP is, in one paragraph
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets an AI assistant use tools from other software. SMRTROOM’s MCP server gives the assistant a small set of hotel tools. The assistant decides which tool to call from what you write, SMRTROOM checks and saves the change, and the assistant tells you the result. Nothing is copied into the AI model’s training data by SMRTROOM; the assistant only sees what it asks for while helping you.
What you can ask
| You write | What happens in SMRTROOM |
|---|---|
| “Who arrives today and which rooms are free tonight?” | Today’s arrivals, departures, occupancy and free rooms (today_summary, list_reservations) |
| “Find a room for 3 guests, 12–15 May.” | Rooms and reservations are checked against capacity and dates (list_rooms, list_reservations) |
| “Book room 203 for Ana Petrović, 12–15 May, 3 guests.” | A reservation is created; the server refuses it if the room is taken on any of those nights (create_reservation) |
| “Move the Novak booking to room 104 and add one night.” | The reservation is updated, with the same conflict check (update_reservation) |
| “Check in room 302.” / “Check out room 101.” | Status changes to checked in / checked out (check_in, check_out) |
| “Mark 101 and 201 as clean.” | Housekeeping status is updated (update_room_status) |
Because the assistant understands ordinary language, staff can write in the language they are comfortable with; SMRTROOM itself supports multiple languages as well.
Why it makes the front desk easier
- Fewer clicks for routine questions. “Is anything free this weekend?” is one sentence instead of scrolling a calendar.
- Booking e-mails become reservations faster. Paste a guest’s message and ask the assistant to create the booking; check the details it shows before it saves.
- A morning summary in seconds. Arrivals, departures and rooms to clean, ready to send to the team.
- No new rules to learn. The assistant works through the same API as the app, so double bookings are blocked exactly as they are when you drag a reservation on the calendar.
How it is set up
- Start SMRTROOM and add your rooms (30-day free trial, no card).
- Create an API key in Settings → API keys. Give it a label such as “AI assistant at reception”. The key is shown once.
- Connect the assistant. During early access we send you the SMRTROOM MCP server and set it up with you on the computer where you use your assistant (it runs with Node.js and is configured with your hotel ID and the key). Write to info@smrtroom.com; it usually takes a short call.
- Ask your first question, for example “What does today look like?”.
Safety and control
- One key per integration. If a computer is lost or a key may have leaked, revoke that key in Settings; the web app and other integrations keep working.
- The server has the last word. Room-per-night locks and capacity checks run on SMRTROOM’s server, not in the AI, so a misunderstanding cannot create an overlapping booking.
- Changes are logged. Reservation changes are written to the hotel’s audit log.
- Your AI provider sees what the assistant reads. Guest names and dates that the assistant looks up or that you paste into it are processed by your AI provider under its own terms. Choose a provider and plan that fit your privacy rules.
- Treat the key like a password. An API key gives full access to the hotel’s reservations; only the hotel owner can create one.
What it does not do
- It does not connect to Booking.com or other OTAs: SMRTROOM has no channel manager.
- It does not take payments.
- The assistant can misread a request like any person can. Read what it is about to change before you confirm, especially for deletions.
Questions
Which AI assistants work with SMRTROOM?
Any assistant that supports MCP servers. We have tested Claude Desktop and Cursor. Other assistants can use the REST API directly.
Is the AI integration included in the price?
Yes. The API and MCP server are part of every plan, including the free trial. See pricing and the 2026 price comparison.
Do I need to be technical?
No. During early access we do the setup with you; after that you only type questions.