hotel shop question
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
Well see you saw Freeman. You should search because there is a thread on hotel companies here somewhere but I also have done hotels for Buckalew and B Business Solutions (but they are way more upscale hotels). Goodwin and Regal also have hotels.
I have done nicer budget for A-Closer-Look and Intellishop and SQM It's one of those things where you have companies that pretty much specialize in hotels and then companies that have a chain here and there. Good luck hunting.
Liz
I have done nicer budget for A-Closer-Look and Intellishop and SQM It's one of those things where you have companies that pretty much specialize in hotels and then companies that have a chain here and there. Good luck hunting.
Liz
Thanks Liz - I used to be a Director of Sales for a corporate hotel so I like the hospitality industry anyway, upscale is great but for the soccer travel it's not necessary. I appreciate the info! 
Anabcla Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Liz - I used to be a Director of Sales for
> a corporate hotel so I like the hospitality
> industry anyway, upscale is great but for the
> soccer travel it's not necessary. I appreciate
> the info!
Your biggest problem with trying to get budget hotels for random (not specific) dates is most of the MSCs have fairly particular time frames for the hotel shops. Freeman doesn't but then you are waiting on payment. Their shops however are super easy and if you are getting a hotel anyway it is something to consider.
Liz
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Liz - I used to be a Director of Sales for
> a corporate hotel so I like the hospitality
> industry anyway, upscale is great but for the
> soccer travel it's not necessary. I appreciate
> the info!
Your biggest problem with trying to get budget hotels for random (not specific) dates is most of the MSCs have fairly particular time frames for the hotel shops. Freeman doesn't but then you are waiting on payment. Their shops however are super easy and if you are getting a hotel anyway it is something to consider.
Liz
Try Data Quest as well. I am not sure if they have hotels in your area.
Freeman is good. You just need to require payment for the shop in advance!
Both Buckalew Hospitality and BBS have a pretty wide range of dates you can choose from, but the reports are a lot of interaction and writing. You will not have time to do anything except ms'ing while there and you'll need additional time to write afterward. A Closer Look's hotels can basically be done and you will still have lots of free time in the evening, but they limit you to a 2-3 day shopping window.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
I've heard of hotel shops that have a 100-page report - is that what you're referring to, cubbiecat? I'm guessing the fee is nowhere close to being worth it, yes? One forum said something about having to call the front desk 7 times for individual items such as toothpaste, razor, soap, extra towels, etc. This shopper said it could not have been more obvious she/he was a shopper. Sounds like more trouble than it's worth. Have you done them and can confirm/deny this, please? I'd really like to know for future reference. I haven't seen anything like this in my area, but I may not be signed with the right MSC.
The average interactions are 19-29 for one day stays. The reporsts are not 100 pages. There was barely enough time to get every interaction in and toward evening time, the hotel got it figured out. You have to be very organized and lucky. If engineering does not show up after an hour instead of 15 min., it pretty much threw your schedule off. As crazy as some are, I still enjoying doing them. Six calls are normal: Two front desk, one each Housekeeping, engineering, wake up and IRD. There is one small msc that had the worse format ever, with three separate sets of reports and pictures, and they pretty much expected you to write a novel. Those are two night stays and you have to check everything three times or more.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
Yikes! Have you done these? What kind of fees can an MS expect for this, please?
From reimbursement only to $75. The real payoff is in the form of hotel Rewards Club points, which can be tripled, or even more, with a branded credit card for each hotel chain. With careful shopping for rewards points deals, I can get one free hotel night in a mid-level hotel (or better) for every two nights of shopping in each hotel chain. Also, some of the hotels have very good food. I get a room with a refrigerator and take along some Ziplock bags and Tupperware to bring home excess food and soft drinks. Room service dinners,are especially large and usually provide a second dinner at home for me. Add in a large bottle of sparkling water (ordered with dinner), plus several free bottles of still water, a few cookies, appetizers, etc. from the buffets in the concierge lounge (bought home), free toiletires (which mostly go to my local women's shelter) and you have a nice little swag bag to bring home.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I find the Buckalew ones are not as narrative intensive as the BBS ones but you need to organize your day to get in all of the drinking and eating that is required! Scatter the phone calls and checks in between that and you are good.If the form is set up so you can input as you go then that is even better. I know what order I am doing things then input and on to the next set of items. Typically I do about three required things at a time and then back to the room to input. I leave the hotel only needing to input bell services, check out and valet.
Once you have done a few you can get it down to a bit of a rhythm, have a bit of downtime and I find them very enjoyable. AND I LOVE THE POINTS!
Liz
Once you have done a few you can get it down to a bit of a rhythm, have a bit of downtime and I find them very enjoyable. AND I LOVE THE POINTS!
Liz
So, you can keep the points from all hotel shops? I have only done shops for one MSC that has hotel and they stated that filling out a survey provided by the hotel would void the shop. However, none of them say anything about putting the stay on a rewards card. How do the reversal shops work? Do they stay on the rewards card? I know this is a lot of questions but I think I have missed out on a major benefit by not putting the stays on a rewards card.
The longest hotel report I have a submitted was 48 pages, and that was for a 3 night stay that included spa treatments, all meals, pool visits, etc. Those reports typically pay over $100.
There are some small hospitality companies with narrative style reports that pay better. I've gotten upwards of $500 for resorts before, but those are very intensive reports that leave you little free time and usually take me an additional 3 days of writing when I return home.
As others have said, a big part of the payoff really is in the hotel point, air miles and credit card points. If you fill your schedule with hotel shops for a year, you will end up with a very nice all-expense paid vacation at the end of the year with no reporting required :^)
There are some small hospitality companies with narrative style reports that pay better. I've gotten upwards of $500 for resorts before, but those are very intensive reports that leave you little free time and usually take me an additional 3 days of writing when I return home.
As others have said, a big part of the payoff really is in the hotel point, air miles and credit card points. If you fill your schedule with hotel shops for a year, you will end up with a very nice all-expense paid vacation at the end of the year with no reporting required :^)
avonlady,
Hotel rewards points have nothing to do with filling out a survey card. They are accumulated when you sign up for the hotel chain's rewards program and then spend money at any of their hotels, while citing your rewards member number. Some hotel shops even require that you have a rewards card and enough points to qualify for some sort of "elite" status in that system.
Most, but not all, hotel shops permit the shopper to keep the hotel stay points. Even if the hotel stay points cannot be kept, the points for paying with an affiliated credit card will accrue to the shopper. Yes, you are missing a major benefit by not joining each "frequent sleeper" program and then getting tens of thousands of free points instantly when you also sign up for the no fee affiliated credit card. I also use my Hilton Honors Amex card for all other shopping expenses (except stays at other hotel chains where I use another chain-affiliated credit card, and fuel, where I use a 3% cash back credit card) and thus rack up tons more points. In 2011 I "cashed in" several thousand dollars worth of hotel rewards points to fund both a vacation and travel to some very heavily bonused shop routes.
Hotel rewards points have nothing to do with filling out a survey card. They are accumulated when you sign up for the hotel chain's rewards program and then spend money at any of their hotels, while citing your rewards member number. Some hotel shops even require that you have a rewards card and enough points to qualify for some sort of "elite" status in that system.
Most, but not all, hotel shops permit the shopper to keep the hotel stay points. Even if the hotel stay points cannot be kept, the points for paying with an affiliated credit card will accrue to the shopper. Yes, you are missing a major benefit by not joining each "frequent sleeper" program and then getting tens of thousands of free points instantly when you also sign up for the no fee affiliated credit card. I also use my Hilton Honors Amex card for all other shopping expenses (except stays at other hotel chains where I use another chain-affiliated credit card, and fuel, where I use a 3% cash back credit card) and thus rack up tons more points. In 2011 I "cashed in" several thousand dollars worth of hotel rewards points to fund both a vacation and travel to some very heavily bonused shop routes.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Thanks WalesMaven! Good information, I never thought of using a hotel credit card to get points. I do have a visa card that I use for cash back but it is only 1% on all puchases except gas which is 2% back. I would love to find out the cc that gives a 3% back reward. If you use the hotel cc for other purchases does the points only go toward hotel stays or can it be cash back too? You can PM me with any information that you do not want to post. Thanks for the great info!
I prefer to use airline credit cards and not have to pay to fly. I charge everything I can every month and just pay it before the due date, no interest and free flights.
I am signed up with every rewards program out there for hotels, airlines, car rentals, trains(amtrak), retail reward cards(such as best buy), restaurant reward cards(like Fridays).
Doing all the shopping/auditing I do, you would be surprised how fast all the points add up from everywhere I travel.
I am signed up with every rewards program out there for hotels, airlines, car rentals, trains(amtrak), retail reward cards(such as best buy), restaurant reward cards(like Fridays).
Doing all the shopping/auditing I do, you would be surprised how fast all the points add up from everywhere I travel.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
Techman01 does having all of those cc cards effect your credit score? I was afraid it would that is why I have stayed with two.
It's my understanding that having more active revolving accounts will help, rather than hurt, your credit score.
The key is keeping the balances down. I recently found out that I took a credit hit when I had two very expensive hotel stays back to back that pushed my balance to over 90% of the card limit. My new policy is to use a different card for each hotel I stay at during a month (which can be a lot).
It was mostly due to bad timing on the credit score hit, since it was a hotel that reversed off the card and it happened over my billing cycle, so I could not pay the balance down before the cycle ended.
The key is keeping the balances down. I recently found out that I took a credit hit when I had two very expensive hotel stays back to back that pushed my balance to over 90% of the card limit. My new policy is to use a different card for each hotel I stay at during a month (which can be a lot).
It was mostly due to bad timing on the credit score hit, since it was a hotel that reversed off the card and it happened over my billing cycle, so I could not pay the balance down before the cycle ended.
Your credit score is largely based on how much total available credit you have vs how much you use. To achieve the highest possible score, should never keep an overall balance between your cards of over 30%. Less then 20% is even better. So if you have 20,000 in total for your credit lines, don't keep a balance of more then 6,000 for 30%.
Not always possible for everyone, but if you know you are going to be putting a heavy expense on a credit card and not pay it off the following month, open up another one before you do to keep your available amount high.
Also to make sure your credit card counts towards your current score, use it at least once every other month, even for just a small purchase like a coffee.
Not always possible for everyone, but if you know you are going to be putting a heavy expense on a credit card and not pay it off the following month, open up another one before you do to keep your available amount high.
Also to make sure your credit card counts towards your current score, use it at least once every other month, even for just a small purchase like a coffee.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
I have about a dozen credit cards and a credit score well north of 700.
The 3% cash back on gas is one of the several Discover cards from which you can choose. The hotel-linked credit cards vary concerning the election to earn hotel points and/or frequent flyer miles. Also, you get a better deal with hotel points than with cash back! One percent of a $400 hotel bill is $4.00. But two to four $400 stays, placed on the affinity credit card, will get you a very nice hotel in the family of hotels, worth about $125 to $150. Even more if they are running a "special deal" for points. You do the math; 4 stays at $4 per stay, or 4 stays worth a $125-150 hotel stay for free.
The 3% cash back on gas is one of the several Discover cards from which you can choose. The hotel-linked credit cards vary concerning the election to earn hotel points and/or frequent flyer miles. Also, you get a better deal with hotel points than with cash back! One percent of a $400 hotel bill is $4.00. But two to four $400 stays, placed on the affinity credit card, will get you a very nice hotel in the family of hotels, worth about $125 to $150. Even more if they are running a "special deal" for points. You do the math; 4 stays at $4 per stay, or 4 stays worth a $125-150 hotel stay for free.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Wow, thanks for all of the information. I have learned alot from this thread on credit cards that I did not know and probably needed to.
There's a lot of factors involved in choosing the right card for each shop.
Like Walsemaven mentioned, having an associated card for each hotel and airline purchase will often get you the best rewards.
I've been doing a lot of international travel recently and have also had to keep up on how currency conversions are handled by each of my credit cards. Some will not charge a fee and are better for the reimbursement shops, while others that charge a fee may offer a better rate and full reimbursement of the fee if the hotel charges are reversed.
I tend to focus on the accrual of the hotels points and put the travel and dining reimbursements on a card I have the offers 3% back on travel expenses. That's the best way for me to realize the free vacation. I use the air/hotel points for the basic trip and the the travel rewards to zap any ancillary charges from trip off of my card.
Like Walsemaven mentioned, having an associated card for each hotel and airline purchase will often get you the best rewards.
I've been doing a lot of international travel recently and have also had to keep up on how currency conversions are handled by each of my credit cards. Some will not charge a fee and are better for the reimbursement shops, while others that charge a fee may offer a better rate and full reimbursement of the fee if the hotel charges are reversed.
I tend to focus on the accrual of the hotels points and put the travel and dining reimbursements on a card I have the offers 3% back on travel expenses. That's the best way for me to realize the free vacation. I use the air/hotel points for the basic trip and the the travel rewards to zap any ancillary charges from trip off of my card.
Does anyone know if Marketstat still does hotel shops? If so, what parts of the country, please? I am NOT asking which clients, thanks.
Editied to correct the name of the MSC. Oooops!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 08:18PM by walesmaven.
Editied to correct the name of the MSC. Oooops!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2012 08:18PM by walesmaven.
Ooohh, brain overload! I think I get this: I start doing some hotel shops and accrue points and swag. I plan an overnight route of shops across the state that are bonused - post office, gas, bank. I get a free hotel stay (or a shop) that will cover my room and most of my meals the next day on the road. I get discounts on my gas if I have the right card. I get room service, access to a concierge and spa treatments in between writing my reports. The only thing out of pocket and not reimbursed is my discounted gas. Is this a rudimentary summary of the potential?
That would be the graduate level course, but yes, that is the possibile outcome.
I tend to set up a video shop route and then look for nearby hotel or timeshare shops. Spa treatments tend to be included in hotel shops that are so time intensive that it may be difficult to leave the hotel at all during your stay, i.e., from 3PM checking to noon checkout. So, be careful what you pray for, lol.
Access to concierge level rooms and the concierge lounge comes with having attainted a certain level of accrued points with that hotel chain's loyalty program, so it will not be automatic. Also, some hotel shops require that you NOT book the more expensive concierge floor rooms.
I tend to set up a video shop route and then look for nearby hotel or timeshare shops. Spa treatments tend to be included in hotel shops that are so time intensive that it may be difficult to leave the hotel at all during your stay, i.e., from 3PM checking to noon checkout. So, be careful what you pray for, lol.
Access to concierge level rooms and the concierge lounge comes with having attainted a certain level of accrued points with that hotel chain's loyalty program, so it will not be automatic. Also, some hotel shops require that you NOT book the more expensive concierge floor rooms.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Traveliz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I find the Buckalew ones are not as narrative
> intensive as the BBS ones but you need to organize
> your day to get in all of the drinking and eating
> that is required! Scatter the phone calls and
> checks in between that and you are good.If the
> form is set up so you can input as you go then
> that is even better. I know what order I am doing
> things then input and on to the next set of items.
> Typically I do about three required things at a
> time and then back to the room to input. I leave
> the hotel only needing to input bell services,
> check out and valet.
>
> Once you have done a few you can get it down to a
> bit of a rhythm, have a bit of downtime and I find
> them very enjoyable. AND I LOVE THE POINTS!
>
> Liz
Liz, I feel the opposite, I can finish writing BBS' report by 10:30pm, whereas by 1:30am, I am nowhere near complete with Buckalew's. (All interactions for the first evening). I also keep a check list in order of the events so I don't miss any. The easiest to forget is the wakeup call.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I find the Buckalew ones are not as narrative
> intensive as the BBS ones but you need to organize
> your day to get in all of the drinking and eating
> that is required! Scatter the phone calls and
> checks in between that and you are good.If the
> form is set up so you can input as you go then
> that is even better. I know what order I am doing
> things then input and on to the next set of items.
> Typically I do about three required things at a
> time and then back to the room to input. I leave
> the hotel only needing to input bell services,
> check out and valet.
>
> Once you have done a few you can get it down to a
> bit of a rhythm, have a bit of downtime and I find
> them very enjoyable. AND I LOVE THE POINTS!
>
> Liz
Liz, I feel the opposite, I can finish writing BBS' report by 10:30pm, whereas by 1:30am, I am nowhere near complete with Buckalew's. (All interactions for the first evening). I also keep a check list in order of the events so I don't miss any. The easiest to forget is the wakeup call.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
the.avon.lady1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks WalesMaven! Good information, I never
> thought of using a hotel credit card to get
> points. I do have a visa card that I use for cash
> back but it is only 1% on all puchases except gas
> which is 2% back. I would love to find out the cc
> that gives a 3% back reward. If you use the hotel
> cc for other purchases does the points only go
> toward hotel stays or can it be cash back too?
> You can PM me with any information that you do not
> want to post. Thanks for the great info!
American Express Hilton Honors card offered 60,000 bonus points when I signed up and a gold status. The gold makes a world of difference because the amount of points are on tiers. Also, Hilton stays allows you both Hilton and airline points, so I'm earning both for every stay. However, to retain gold, you need 16 nights a year...not that hard to do, when you start ms'ing hotels.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks WalesMaven! Good information, I never
> thought of using a hotel credit card to get
> points. I do have a visa card that I use for cash
> back but it is only 1% on all puchases except gas
> which is 2% back. I would love to find out the cc
> that gives a 3% back reward. If you use the hotel
> cc for other purchases does the points only go
> toward hotel stays or can it be cash back too?
> You can PM me with any information that you do not
> want to post. Thanks for the great info!
American Express Hilton Honors card offered 60,000 bonus points when I signed up and a gold status. The gold makes a world of difference because the amount of points are on tiers. Also, Hilton stays allows you both Hilton and airline points, so I'm earning both for every stay. However, to retain gold, you need 16 nights a year...not that hard to do, when you start ms'ing hotels.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
Doesn't Amex charge you a massive annual membership fee? Or do the points and other things make up for the difference. I've started applying to some MSCs who do hotel shops, but I'm going to take it really slow and give myself plenty of time to report. Sounds like a really interesting project!
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.