Hi All,

I am doing my first hotel (a simple one night). There are expectations about calling the bellman and him taking my bag upon leaving the hotel. The expectations didn't explain what that means (although I can extrapolate). I travel a lot, but I have never used a bellman on departure. I assume this is something that luxury travelers do. Can you please explain the custom?

I am supposed to call the front desk when I leave and ask a bellman to retrieve my bags? Is that normal? Do people do that? What if I only have one bag (it is for one night)? Is it common to call a bellman upon departure for one bag?

Thanks,
A no frills traveler

I don't know how common it is or how often someone would for only one bag. When traveling for business I tend to have several bags so if the hotels have a bellman I always take advantage at both check in and check out.

Do you have the option of checking out first then performing evaluations like the restaurant? If so, you can call the bellman to hold your bag so you don't have to return to the room.

While I've never had to evaluate the bellman upon departure (although I think my hotel shop coming up in a few weeks I do), it wouldn't be that unusual to request it. I used to work hotel front desk and it was a fairly common request.

Even if it's just a one night stay, if it would help, bring 2-3 bags. They don't have to be packed full of stuff, but put enough stuff in each one to make it obvious it's not an empty bag. That's what I do for each of my shops that require me to evaluate the bellman. Between myself and my partner, we usually end up with 5-6 bags for one night.

All of the bell interactions I have completed for Coyle have stipulated that I call for assistance BEFORE I leave, wait for the bellperson to arrive (you must time them - from the conclusion of the call and the time of bell arrival), interact with them (capture eye, teeth and tone - opening and closing quotes), and either have them accompany you to the lobby (Do they make polite conversation? Do they try to connect personally?) or meet them there. I bring a roll aboard and a computer/messenger bag. I take the messenger bag, they take the roll aboard.

Good luck with your hotel assignment.

Thank you Professional Guest. Yes, that is what is required of me. Is that customary? I would never, in my personal life, call a bellperson for my one roller. How awkward! Is that what luxury travellers do? I just don't want it to be obvious I am the shopper.

Then why don't you take a second bag?

Just learn from this. One of the things I learn for hotel shops is to bring multiple bags. Imagine having a backpack / purse, laptop bag and a roller / dufflebag. Besides, can you really fit your tupperware and thermos into that one roller?

@laur371 wrote:

Thank you Professional Guest. Yes, that is what is required of me. Is that customary? I would never, in my personal life, call a bellperson for my one roller. How awkward! Is that what luxury travellers do? I just don't want it to be obvious I am the shopper.

I wouldn't worry about it. If you like, maybe pack your pillow from home in a duffel. Second bag!

Take a second bag to make yourself less nervous and go get it done. I do hotel shops every month that require bell service at departure. I used to fake a limp so that they would not be suspicious. Got tired of limping, so I had a back story of a bad back. In two years, they've never asked. Enough people use bell service that it will mean nothing to them. Watch your instructions as some require checking (storing) your bags before actually leaving the hotel.

Bell service is very common, but as others have said, I'd pack multiple bags. I think one bag would be obvious without appearing to be in excruciating pain. It is customary to tip the bellman as well. Depending upon what you are carrying, I'd tip a minimum of $1 a bag, but usually more. It depends on the hotel and if they load my luggage into the car. If the bell man takes your luggage and stores it until you are ready to depart the hotel. you would tip him when you take procession of your luggage again.

I have not done a hotel shop yet, but it is something that I would love to start doing. I need reimbursement though for a dog sitter. Good luck on your shop!

Of all the hotel interactions I hate luggage assistance the most. I reallllllly hate evaluations that require it.

I have done it for one bag. While chatting then I mention my recent back/knee/feet problems/lifting restrictions. Lots of travelers use bell services.

Liz

Buy a case of water. Nobody wants to carry a case of water.

I do this almost weekly and always find it a little uncomfortable, especially on arrival since bellmen generally don't jump to help able-bodied men with just one bag. Here are my solutions (Which are Coyle-approved).

Option 1: If I'm driving to the hotel, especially in around this time of year; I have a file box that just says "Taxes" on the side. It actually full of old books, but weighs about 25 pounds. Totally impossible for my to carry in/out of the hotel room with my roller bag. Saying that I have a meeting with an accountant while at the hotel also helps lead with many of the other required tests and gives me an excuse for being there.

Option 2: If I'm flying in and traveling light; Approach the bellman on arrival, ask him to store your bag and let him know you will be checking in later. You can g tot he coffee shop and write the interaction up, or walk the grounds for a public inspection, then go check and and request the bag to brought to your room. Same thing on departure. Call to have your bags stored, write that section, check out of hotel with only computer bag, go write that section, return to bell desk and collect bag, then you have very little left to do or remember for the final impression.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I do this almost weekly and always find it a little uncomfortable, especially on arrival since bellmen generally don't jump to help able-bodied men with just one bag. Here are my solutions (Which are Coyle-approved).

Option 1: If I'm driving to the hotel, especially in around this time of year; I have a file box that just says "Taxes" on the side. It actually full of old books, but weighs about 25 pounds. Totally impossible for my to carry in/out of the hotel room with my roller bag. Saying that I have a meeting with an accountant while at the hotel also helps lead with many of the other required tests and gives me an excuse for being there.

Option 2: If I'm flying in and traveling light; Approach the bellman on arrival, ask him to store your bag and let him know you will be checking in later. You can g tot he coffee shop and write the interaction up, or walk the grounds for a public inspection, then go check and and request the bag to brought to your room. Same thing on departure. Call to have your bags stored, write that section, check out of hotel with only computer bag, go write that section, return to bell desk and collect bag, then you have very little left to do or remember for the final impression.

Great tips! Option 2 is definitely something I would never have thought of. That would actually cut down the writing time even more and can finish everything with just the valet departure left in the report!

Thank you so much! It is one night, I will be joined by my husband, and we are both able bodied in our 20s. A bellman would be suspicious unless I use an approach like you suggested. Thank you!

Can I ask you another question? The hotel is one mile from my home. They will know that based on my rewards account address. If staff makes conversation, why should I say I am in the hotel? I thought about saying it is my anniversary, but a random weeknight is a strange night to stay. Odd to say a business trip since I live local... Any ideas?

again..two options:

1. Say your address is old, you moved away recently but wanted to finish up your taxes with your trusted accountant. They won't ask you to update your address in the system

2. Your house is being fumigated.

They usually ask what brings you to the hotel, but they don't do it because they suspect you. It's a standard that's part of the shop. Desk staff check people in and out all day long and don't often look at the address. I did a 1-night last weekend using the bag drop. The agent asked what brought me there and interrupted me to move on to the next question before I could even finish answering. They could care less what brought me there. They just have to ask....

This is almost always an issue for me- I'm a strapping young lad who often takes public transportation to and from the hotels, which means I rarely check in with more than one or two bags for a two-day stay and it's pretty weird to imagine I might be having trouble with what little luggage I brought.

My best bet is to fake an injury and explain it to the bellman when they come up. Lean to the side and let your arm hang limp or something. I usually complain about a "pinched nerve." Alternatively, ask them to take your bags down to the front desk and store them for a bit, explaining you have to make a phone call or have some business to do (the implication being you wouldn't be done with said business before the check-out time, assuming you're checking out close to noon) and then go do something for a few minutes and go to the front desk to pick up your bags. Usually you're not precisely and explicitly required to walk down to the front desk with the bellman, so that makes it a bit less awkward.

The good news it the bellman is one of the last people you're going to have to interact with at the hotel. If they didn't already suspect you of being the mystery shopper, you're going to be out the door within a few minutes, anyway, so things won't be too awkward.I've done a metric buttload of hotel shops for Coyle and I'm sure I've done things that pegged me as the shopper (some being direct instructions, some just being the way I handled things) and I've never been refused payment or reimbursement, so hang in there!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2016 07:49AM by Misanthrope.

I worked my way through college as a bellman. Trust me, y'all are way overthinking this. Bellmen are like waiters/waitresses...they depend on tips. Have something in mind just in case, but 99+% of the time, they won't ask about one bag. They will be happy to tell you about the hotel amenities, local attractions, etc.

@laur371 wrote:

Thank you so much! It is one night, I will be joined by my husband, and we are both able bodied in our 20s. A bellman would be suspicious unless I use an approach like you suggested. Thank you!

Can I ask you another question? The hotel is one mile from my home. They will know that based on my rewards account address. If staff makes conversation, why should I say I am in the hotel? I thought about saying it is my anniversary, but a random weeknight is a strange night to stay. Odd to say a business trip since I live local... Any ideas?

Renovations or fumigations tend to work well. Another idea I've used is saying that my mom was willing to watch the kids at our place for a night, so I jumped at the chance. (I don't even have kids. . .)

A married couple taking a "night away from home or the kids" isn't at all odd. Even if it's mid-week, you can say it's your anniversary or your birthday, or that you both need a "mental health" break. To me, those would be much more natural than saying my house was being fumigated. Or, another eminently believeable scenario is that you're having your hardwood floors refinished and you can't walk on them until the varnish dries.

What's unnatural about fumigation?

The issue with saying it's your birthday or anniversary is that it then colors the interaction and makes you memorable...not to mention the fact that you will probably be handing over identification with your birthdate when you check in.

If it's a special occasion, the desk agent may be inclined to try to upgrade the room, or offer something nice, which ultimately for shoppers, just makes more work for us, as nice as it may seem.

Having the floors re-done is a good idea, though. I think it's best to make the excuse as banal and unmemorable as possible. If every time a doorman opens the hotel doors for you they wish you a happy anniversary, it will take some extra explaining in the report...

@SteveSoCal wrote:

What's unnatural about fumigation?

I think it's best to make the excuse as banal and unmemorable as possible. If every time a doorman opens the hotel doors for you they wish you a happy anniversary, it will take some extra explaining in the report...

Yes, I agree, and didn't stop to think that the anniversary scenario might make someone stand out. By the same token, having one's house fumigated would definitely stand out, too. At least around here! I think having work done on one's home is a pretty plausible scenario. Not just floors being refinished, but having the bathroom remodeled, or your attic dormers raised. Stuff like that.

@BirdyC wrote:

By the same token, having one's house fumigated would definitely stand out, too. At least around here!

It doesn't have the be the tent covering your house, scenario.

My previous house had issues every spring with fleas. Each spring I would be waiting for the hotels that allow pets to post so I could grab a local stay and set off a flea bomb in the house while we (pets included) were gone for a few days.

My question is when will I get picked for a Coyle hotel shop? I've done several restaurants with great ratings but haven't been picked yet for a hotel.

Ive done 10+ fine dining shops, most with perfect scores. This is my first hotel - an easier 1 night shop, on a weekday, in the city I live. It is true they require a lot of experience before taking a chance on someone. Hopefully I do well!

Maybe this is just my personality but I've got no qualms with subtly insinuating to the hotel staff that I'm booking a room to plow. Doesn't matter if I actually have a guest with me or not.

That being said I did get chewed out by another high-end hotel shopping company when the front desk person saw my birthday had recently passed and asked if I was staying there to celebrate. I was told not to tell them anything that'd make me "memorable"- but he's the one who asked me! And for the record, the hotel room came with a goddamn butler so it's not the kinda place you just check into when you're getting your floors waxed (other things waxed, on the other hand- their space was to die for)

@Misanthrope wrote:

And for the record, the hotel room came with a goddamn butler so it's not the kinda place you just check into when you're getting your floors waxed (other things waxed, on the other hand- their space was to die for)

Yes; With experience you learn what scenarios work with different hotels.

An excuse I sometimes use when checking in solo to high-end hotels that are local to me is that I'm, "Meeting up with a friend." I will then add a guest name to the reservation so that she can pick up a key and have access to the room if I am not there. That shuts down all questioning and usually end with a wink, and them wishing me an enjoyable stay.

@laur371 wrote:

Thank you so much! It is one night, I will be joined by my husband, and we are both able bodied in our 20s. A bellman would be suspicious unless I use an approach like you suggested. Thank you!

Can I ask you another question? The hotel is one mile from my home. They will know that based on my rewards account address. If staff makes conversation, why should I say I am in the hotel? I thought about saying it is my anniversary, but a random weeknight is a strange night to stay. Odd to say a business trip since I live local... Any ideas?

I have done two hotels in my own city. One was an economy hotel with a kitchen and my story was my hardwood floors were being refinished in my house. For the five star hotel, I asked how a visitor would contact me in my room. I stated I was meeting with a client of my law firm and he was uncomfortable coming to the office. That shut down any further questions quickly! LOL

This thread is hilarious. I always use a bellman if there is one. I got a bellman once (on a shop) because I mistakenly thought that my report needed it. The maintenance guy brought my bags. I still laugh about it. He was very sweet. I am a city girl. It was a country place.