Hotel Shops
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charl,
In most cases, you need to have done a certain number of that MSC's other shops before you will get a shot at their hotel shops. In addition, unless you are sitting at the computer and hear the email announcing the shop plop into your inbox, others will be ahead of you in applying. These are quite complex shops and seldom go to shoppers without a LOT of experience.
Be patient, and keep doing the other shops offered by companies that do hotels,; that's how most of us got to do these. Also, if the MSC web site allows you to sign up as a "backup" that's a great way to get started. My first 2 hotels were because someone else canceled at the last minute.
For tons more info on hotel shops, you may want to do a search on "hotel" for "all dates," here on the forum.
In most cases, you need to have done a certain number of that MSC's other shops before you will get a shot at their hotel shops. In addition, unless you are sitting at the computer and hear the email announcing the shop plop into your inbox, others will be ahead of you in applying. These are quite complex shops and seldom go to shoppers without a LOT of experience.
Be patient, and keep doing the other shops offered by companies that do hotels,; that's how most of us got to do these. Also, if the MSC web site allows you to sign up as a "backup" that's a great way to get started. My first 2 hotels were because someone else canceled at the last minute.
For tons more info on hotel shops, you may want to do a search on "hotel" for "all dates," here on the forum.
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 for the info, i'll look it up ! 
Which MSC's do Hotel Shops and pay for air fares as well?
Would appreciate any info.
Would appreciate any info.
CHG posts Hotel shops but you have to bid on transportation, and the max that they pay is usually only $100, and the fee is only $50 to $75. How do some of the shoppers on this Discussion Forum get the air flights all paid for and a huge fee besides?
Shopperfun,
A very few shoppers get that sort of a deal. Most of those have a work history in the hotel or restaurant industry or may be former employees of MSCs. Those gigs are not for the faint of heart, as they may require dozens of pages of narratives and 40 interactions and up.
A very few shoppers get that sort of a deal. Most of those have a work history in the hotel or restaurant industry or may be former employees of MSCs. Those gigs are not for the faint of heart, as they may require dozens of pages of narratives and 40 interactions and up.
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 would also add to Walesmaven's point that CHG has hotel shops where travel is up closer to $500, and pay is over $100. Just because they are not posted at the moment does not mean they do not exist.
That said, you would be getting off easy at 40 interactions and 2 dozen pages for a shop like that. For me it's usually around 60 pages of narrative with close to 1,000 stands that have to be checked. There is a no mysterious hotel shop where you get big money for the report, a hefty travel reimbursement and a simple report to write up. Many of the extensive trips I've taken involved ganging up three monstrous hotel reviews and burning my rewards points for a few days off in between each while I worked on the reports.
That said, you would be getting off easy at 40 interactions and 2 dozen pages for a shop like that. For me it's usually around 60 pages of narrative with close to 1,000 stands that have to be checked. There is a no mysterious hotel shop where you get big money for the report, a hefty travel reimbursement and a simple report to write up. Many of the extensive trips I've taken involved ganging up three monstrous hotel reviews and burning my rewards points for a few days off in between each while I worked on the reports.
Hi Steve, if you take two hotel shops from Coyle to a place like Hawaii, do they help you out by adding the travel reimbursement twice so that will cover travel? I find the travel reimbursement is not sufficient from one hotel.
Yes, you get the reimbursement for each shop if you double them up.
walesmaven Wrote:
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>Those gigs are not for the faint of heart,
> as they may require dozens of pages of narratives
> and 40 interactions and up.
The last hotel shop I did for Coyle was for a two-night stay at a mid-price hotel. The report was over 9,500 words and 39 pages. But I was lucky that it only included 38 photos. The evaluation had only minor problems, mostly at check in and check out. Everything else was fine so I considered it a very easy hotel shop. I had 36 hours to turn in the report and photos and that was plenty of time (because it was relatively easy compared to others I've done).
But I also have to add that the vast majority of them are not "easy".
Edited to add: To answer the OP's questions and assuming you've done several other evalutions with Coyle and received high scores, you just keep requesting them. It took 9 months from the first time I requested it to get my first Coyle hotel shop. Meanwhile I continued doing restaurant shops for them, partly to stay on their radar and partly to keep improving my observational skills. I had already done several hotel shops for another MSC before I got my first one with Coyle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2013 05:54PM by Flippitti.
-------------------------------------------------------
>Those gigs are not for the faint of heart,
> as they may require dozens of pages of narratives
> and 40 interactions and up.
The last hotel shop I did for Coyle was for a two-night stay at a mid-price hotel. The report was over 9,500 words and 39 pages. But I was lucky that it only included 38 photos. The evaluation had only minor problems, mostly at check in and check out. Everything else was fine so I considered it a very easy hotel shop. I had 36 hours to turn in the report and photos and that was plenty of time (because it was relatively easy compared to others I've done).
But I also have to add that the vast majority of them are not "easy".
Edited to add: To answer the OP's questions and assuming you've done several other evalutions with Coyle and received high scores, you just keep requesting them. It took 9 months from the first time I requested it to get my first Coyle hotel shop. Meanwhile I continued doing restaurant shops for them, partly to stay on their radar and partly to keep improving my observational skills. I had already done several hotel shops for another MSC before I got my first one with Coyle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2013 05:54PM by Flippitti.
Shopperfun, These are not the cash and prizes you are looking for.
OP. Try ACL.
OP. Try ACL.
~
up, up, down, down, left, right,left,right, B,A, start.
up, up, down, down, left, right,left,right, B,A, start.
Start at the "Do Drop Inn" or "No Tell Motel" types first before shooting for a Ritz. Gotta crawl before you walk.
Even for Ritz, your total travel expenses may not be covered.
IMTrashman Wrote:
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> Start at the "Do Drop Inn" or "No Tell Motel"
> types first before shooting for a Ritz. Gotta
> crawl before you walk.
Totally idle curiosity, and I'm definitely not asking for a company name, but does anyone know if the number-after-five motel is shopped? (This question was not meant as a criticism of it--just that it's more my style.)
-------------------------------------------------------
> Start at the "Do Drop Inn" or "No Tell Motel"
> types first before shooting for a Ritz. Gotta
> crawl before you walk.
Totally idle curiosity, and I'm definitely not asking for a company name, but does anyone know if the number-after-five motel is shopped? (This question was not meant as a criticism of it--just that it's more my style.)
Yes, there are companies out there that pay full travel for their shops. There are more than one, and all pay a fee ($200-$300 per night) on top of the full reimbursement for airfare, car rental, food/hotel, etc. In fact, this can be one of the most lucrative types of shops - yes, more lucrative than video.
There are more than one company like this, and there are FT shoppers who only do hotel, resort, cruise, hospitality shops - and make a modest (but sustainable) FT income doing it.
These shops are not sitting on job boards, they are not available for the asking, and the companies do not post on job finding sites. Some of the companies that do these types of shops also do smaller dollar shops (i.e. the 10-15 per shop that we are all familiar with), others ONLY do this type of shop and work with a very small shopper pool of proven, vetted shoppers.
If you are interested in this type of work, then I offer the following tips:
1. Get to know the company officials that you interact with (scheduler, editor, whatever). You never know who you may interact with that might know someone who knows someone who knows someone.
2. Get to know your fellow shoppers. And I don't mean necessarily posting "hey - who does hotel shops that pay airfare and a healthy fee" but rather network, strike up friendships, offer conversation and develop relationships. I work for a total of eight companies like I describe above. Four of them came from referrals and relationships that I developed with other SHOPPERS.
3. If you take any shop - do your best. Go above and beyond if possible. Take any and all opportunity to shine and set yourself apart. If you cannot do that because the shop is not worth it to you - then don't do the shop at all. Never do the bare minimum.
4. Recognize that this is A LOT of work. It isn't all going to stay at the Ritz and eating bon bons. Yes I have stayed at many Ritzs. And yes, I have had airfare and all travel paid for me to get to and from the Ritz and other luxury properties. But it's not like I have seen anything about the property other than the room service trays, the inside of the bar, the inside of the spa, and the inside of the hotel room. Honestly, I prefer the mid-range clean and comfortable hotel to the 5D/5S property any day. Why? Because in my world, both types pay the same and the former is way easier! I do this for the (modest) income it provides me, the points, and the adventure. I do not do it to stay at luxury properties (for the most part, there are exceptions). There is a way easier way to make the kind of money I make - i.e. a decent gas station route, a couple of video shops - and I probably would make as much or more with a whole lot less "work" involved. (although I don't do video shops - so this is just a guess)
5. You need to be in a metro area - east coast, mid-west, or Florida is ideal. An airport with generally low fares in/out is ideal. That keeps your travel costs to the companies down. Traditionally, Baltimore MD, Raleigh NC, Orlando or central Florida, or STL are all great options. On the west coast - LA is most ideal. Its traditional that companies pay mileage to/from the airport (to fly out of) and parking at the airport as well - so distance to the airport is a factor as well (although less so). When I started, I flew out of RDU, so tons of low cost flights all up and down the east coast and into the mid-west. That's not to say you cannot make this work if you are in other areas - but if you are in a traditionally high airfare market (Memphis for example) or a small town with only a regional airport - then that is a much greater hurdle.
5. If you stick with it, network, stay professional and turn in pristine quality work, eventually - your ship will come in. You will stumble on the right opportunity, meet the right person, encounter the right opportunity that will be your break. Once you start with one company and you have experience and can talk the talk, then it all flows.
Bear in mind that I post this information just to dispell some myths and to also encourage anyone that really wants to do this but isn't sure if it is even viable. 13 years ago I read a post on a mystery shopping discussion board much like this one where the poster had just gotten accepted into a IC shopping program for a major cruise line and was going to be doing something like 15 cruises per year - at that moment I decided that I wanted to do this - and if she could do it, so could I. I did my first hotel shop 2 years later, got my first "big break" in 2005, and have not looked back sense.
There are more than one company like this, and there are FT shoppers who only do hotel, resort, cruise, hospitality shops - and make a modest (but sustainable) FT income doing it.
These shops are not sitting on job boards, they are not available for the asking, and the companies do not post on job finding sites. Some of the companies that do these types of shops also do smaller dollar shops (i.e. the 10-15 per shop that we are all familiar with), others ONLY do this type of shop and work with a very small shopper pool of proven, vetted shoppers.
If you are interested in this type of work, then I offer the following tips:
1. Get to know the company officials that you interact with (scheduler, editor, whatever). You never know who you may interact with that might know someone who knows someone who knows someone.
2. Get to know your fellow shoppers. And I don't mean necessarily posting "hey - who does hotel shops that pay airfare and a healthy fee" but rather network, strike up friendships, offer conversation and develop relationships. I work for a total of eight companies like I describe above. Four of them came from referrals and relationships that I developed with other SHOPPERS.
3. If you take any shop - do your best. Go above and beyond if possible. Take any and all opportunity to shine and set yourself apart. If you cannot do that because the shop is not worth it to you - then don't do the shop at all. Never do the bare minimum.
4. Recognize that this is A LOT of work. It isn't all going to stay at the Ritz and eating bon bons. Yes I have stayed at many Ritzs. And yes, I have had airfare and all travel paid for me to get to and from the Ritz and other luxury properties. But it's not like I have seen anything about the property other than the room service trays, the inside of the bar, the inside of the spa, and the inside of the hotel room. Honestly, I prefer the mid-range clean and comfortable hotel to the 5D/5S property any day. Why? Because in my world, both types pay the same and the former is way easier! I do this for the (modest) income it provides me, the points, and the adventure. I do not do it to stay at luxury properties (for the most part, there are exceptions). There is a way easier way to make the kind of money I make - i.e. a decent gas station route, a couple of video shops - and I probably would make as much or more with a whole lot less "work" involved. (although I don't do video shops - so this is just a guess)
5. You need to be in a metro area - east coast, mid-west, or Florida is ideal. An airport with generally low fares in/out is ideal. That keeps your travel costs to the companies down. Traditionally, Baltimore MD, Raleigh NC, Orlando or central Florida, or STL are all great options. On the west coast - LA is most ideal. Its traditional that companies pay mileage to/from the airport (to fly out of) and parking at the airport as well - so distance to the airport is a factor as well (although less so). When I started, I flew out of RDU, so tons of low cost flights all up and down the east coast and into the mid-west. That's not to say you cannot make this work if you are in other areas - but if you are in a traditionally high airfare market (Memphis for example) or a small town with only a regional airport - then that is a much greater hurdle.
5. If you stick with it, network, stay professional and turn in pristine quality work, eventually - your ship will come in. You will stumble on the right opportunity, meet the right person, encounter the right opportunity that will be your break. Once you start with one company and you have experience and can talk the talk, then it all flows.
Bear in mind that I post this information just to dispell some myths and to also encourage anyone that really wants to do this but isn't sure if it is even viable. 13 years ago I read a post on a mystery shopping discussion board much like this one where the poster had just gotten accepted into a IC shopping program for a major cruise line and was going to be doing something like 15 cruises per year - at that moment I decided that I wanted to do this - and if she could do it, so could I. I did my first hotel shop 2 years later, got my first "big break" in 2005, and have not looked back sense.
Wow one can dream... Are you doing a lot of cruises now?
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charlhenri Wrote:
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> How on earth do you get assigned for overnight
> stays hotel shops? I've been relentlessly applying
> to these shops, but I never get assigned, despite
> having great evaluations otherwise.
>
> I sent emails to inquire about how to get these
> shops to schedulers, they never bother to
> answer... why is it so hard to get those shops?
One bit of advice I can give you is to sign up with A Closer Look. I can't name the lodging brand they have shoppers evaluate due to ICA issues, but if you sign up with them, it is a lower end brand that they let new shoppers have a go at and this particular shop is often bonused here in Phoenix. It was my first hotel shop and I snagged a $25 bonus on top of the room reimbursement. The report platform that ACL uses was all new to me and I was so glad they are based in suburban Atlanta as I started inputting my shop here in Phoenix at 7 AM the next morning and they are on Eastern Time so the office was open when I had questions and they were so nice and patient with my questions - I was really impressed.
Didn't mean to get so long winded here but this can be an easy get your feet wet shop with lodging evaluations - just bear in mind this is not a five star property/brand.
-------------------------------------------------------
> How on earth do you get assigned for overnight
> stays hotel shops? I've been relentlessly applying
> to these shops, but I never get assigned, despite
> having great evaluations otherwise.
>
> I sent emails to inquire about how to get these
> shops to schedulers, they never bother to
> answer... why is it so hard to get those shops?
One bit of advice I can give you is to sign up with A Closer Look. I can't name the lodging brand they have shoppers evaluate due to ICA issues, but if you sign up with them, it is a lower end brand that they let new shoppers have a go at and this particular shop is often bonused here in Phoenix. It was my first hotel shop and I snagged a $25 bonus on top of the room reimbursement. The report platform that ACL uses was all new to me and I was so glad they are based in suburban Atlanta as I started inputting my shop here in Phoenix at 7 AM the next morning and they are on Eastern Time so the office was open when I had questions and they were so nice and patient with my questions - I was really impressed.
Didn't mean to get so long winded here but this can be an easy get your feet wet shop with lodging evaluations - just bear in mind this is not a five star property/brand.
The only thing I don't like about ACL is they don't pay a fee where I work, not even reimbursement for a tip for the required delivery/problem resolution task.
I just finished back to back hotel shops for CHG. The first hotel had so many defects I wound up with 80 pictures on that report. I was by myself and visiting some relatives in my off time so finished the first report soon after I checked into the second hotel and then worked on the second report while in the second hotel and at home after checkout. Unfortunately just got a note from the editor that my days/dates did not match up on the second eval. This is the first time I tried doing two evals in a row without time on my own, or a very simple one in between, and will probably not do it again.
You are brave. Did you at least enjoy staying at the hotels?
I can second ACL. Once you get the hang of the report, it can easily be done in under 2 hours.
Mickey B - thank you for your post. It was filled with information and did not violate any confidentiality agreements. I have been thinking about video and hotel shopping but have not started so any informative posts are appreciated. You gave a very concise post - I can see why the MSC's like your reports.
Oooh. Just got my very first hotel assignment! It's a midrange 2.5* type hotel for ACL. Any hints/advice/well wishes appreciated!
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Good luck--I hope it goes well! And please post back with your experience; I've passed on two hotel shops over the last two months because I'm "afraid" of them!
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I'm "afraid" of them too but I reallllly want to do them. I checked the site before I applied and the rate is only about $75. I need a hotel that night there anyway and would probably stay at this one because it's the brand I usually stay in. So I figure if I bomb it and don't get reimbursed I'm really not out anything.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
That is certainly the best way to get started with hotels.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I generally do two A-C-L back to back. I think the chain locally is a different one then the other parts of the country have on A-C-L. The best part is that dogs are welcome and the dog fee is reimbursed. I have not had a problem with free time at the site on these reports as I do most questions in the evening and then finish up quickly the next day after checkout. The last one I did was for the Economy part of the chain. That one I will not do again. I submitted over 30 pics of problem areas and needed to describe them all. The room itself was only $45 so not worth the extra time involved for so many problem areas. But I was glad I did it and felt I was in part paying it forward for some of the nicer properties in the future where the majority of questions will rate a YES.
That sounds like their week long stay type hotels, this one is for the chain that practically invented the 2 1/2 star category.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
bgriffin Wrote:
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> That sounds like their week long stay type hotels,
> this one is for the chain that practically
> invented the 2 1/2 star category.
bgrif...2.5 stars is being very generous. I have stayed in 1 star hotels that beat this one. Fortunately the room was clean if not anything else. Unfortunately the internet, the refrigerator, the phone and various other things were not working correctly. Had to keep my food in my cooler, spend several hours with the computer people to no avail and then do the entire report after my arrival home. I was promised everything would be fixed "tomorrow". The personnel attitude got 5 * but it did not help getting my report done.
-------------------------------------------------------
> That sounds like their week long stay type hotels,
> this one is for the chain that practically
> invented the 2 1/2 star category.
bgrif...2.5 stars is being very generous. I have stayed in 1 star hotels that beat this one. Fortunately the room was clean if not anything else. Unfortunately the internet, the refrigerator, the phone and various other things were not working correctly. Had to keep my food in my cooler, spend several hours with the computer people to no avail and then do the entire report after my arrival home. I was promised everything would be fixed "tomorrow". The personnel attitude got 5 * but it did not help getting my report done.
No, I'm saying the stay I have booked is for the 2.5* chain, as opposed to the chain you're talking about.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
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