Hotel Shops

I don't understand, I liked the post about the irony button, I thought you made a joke somewhere and were being ironic? I often wish there was an irony button. I'm lost here.

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Furthermore I apologize if I somehow insulted you. It wasn't my intent. Try to have a nice Christmas.
I won't do Coyle, just too much $ output and work involved. I will do the small Hyatt Franchise in my town, cost $129.00 one night, pretty easy getaway and fun., darling rooms and hotel. Contemplating one near LAX for an overnight after the holidays with True Guest, would be my first work for them.
Come on guys , even I don't know what's going on .no one's been more insulted on the forum than I, remember my senility, let it go, Spicey, we love ya.
sticky N corrected so sojo won't correct me,,,gotta watch out for the forum police.

Live consciously....


Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2017 01:08AM by Irene_L.A..
I love Cleveland Hyatt, best room service food I have ever had and we have done it probably a dozen times. It's consistently great, which is rare with room service food.
They have a great happy hour, drinks 6 bucks, famous chef, excellent food-5 star...Hyatt gets a heads up, but no one in my town better beat me to it, I'm due again. I would go as far as 30 miles, not downtown, too conjested,
W. side only.....

Live consciously....
@BarefootBliss wrote:

I'd do a hotel shop in Cleveland just for the opportunity to visit the R&R Hall of Fame smiling smiley Of course, I can use points too lol.

I was horribly unimpressed with it honestly. And I am a big music guy. I am not a big pro footbal guy and thought the football hof was significantly more interesting.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
I've never been to the football HOF and have no interest. But I am geeky and nerdy when it comes to music. I was in a band myself in the 80s and I play guitar and keyboards, and I also sing. I used to write songs. I have a huge interest in all styles of music and loved the memorabilia.
Jas, interesting, you in a band (love it). my daughter took 9 years of piano and her Dad got a scholarship to USC in music, played drums around L.A. clubs when young. There was music galore in my home when married, and Jill plays in a small latin trio around Chicago, one reason she picked and got early decision into Northwestern, they have an amazing music dept. Music carried me through much of my life. The arts are so important for our youth, yet many schools are cutting it out.

Live consciously....
Yes, I played piano from the time I was 4 and sat 1st to 3rd chair trumpet in a section of 36 trumpets and cornets throughout high school, then sang lead and played rhythm guitar/acoustic and keyboards in a few bands.
ACL, Merc Sys, Regal, True Guest, Coyle (dubious value for effort), are there others I am missing on this list - CSE maybe? I am signed up but have never seen restos or hotels on their list.(yet anyway since I am new with them).
Bgriffin you are a big into music, but by your own admission you are not as impressed by commercial artists versus indy artists. Perhaps that influenced your opinion?

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.
That is very true. The coolest thing I saw there was a show poster for Uncle Tupelo at Cicero's in Saint Louis from the late 80's or early 90's.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
To the OP, my experience with them has been pretty good. Just follow the guidelines. Its truly that simple. I've done high-end ones where the bill would be $500/night and I'd have 50% of it reimbursed. Others have been in the $350/night range, and I'd have 100% of the charges reversed. For the latter, I would have to follow the instructions of evaluating 6-8 departments with a decent amount of narrative, whereas the former had only 3-4 departments with quite a bit of narrative.

Either way, its a good experience if you happen to be traveling on a mini-route & are on a strict budget, or a longer route where the costs can be stretched a bit if you do 1-2 hotel shops on a weekly basis.

One additional piece of advice- never put your hotel bill on a debit card. Some brands authorize additional incidentals with the estimated charges that would hold your cash as authorization for much longer than you anticipated. All depoends on your bank. Better to authorize on a credit card, if necessary.
@BarefootBliss wrote:

ACL, Merc Sys, Regal, True Guest, Coyle (dubious value for effort), are there others I am missing on this list - CSE maybe?

The original poster inquired about high-end properties.

I've completed reports for several of the above listed MSCs and a few not listed, and NONE of them compare to the opportunities provided by Coyle. I'm happy to give credit where credit is due, but none of the other MSCs match the depth and breadth of the luxury opportunities that Coyle offers. Yes, some of those companies offer some high-end properties, but primarily offer mid-range properties and most for one night only. Many have the same narrative requirements, one requires you to write in the third person. Some offer opportunities that are literally roach motels. I don't care how easy the report is if the place is a dump.

I do not find Coyle's value for effort to be dubious whatsoever. My shops for Coyle, average over $3,000.00 per two night stay, some more than three times that amount, and some, obviously, less than that amount. ALL have been at beautiful properties - many in drop-dead, bucket list, aspirational locations, some at critically acclaimed and traveler rated #1 properties, and many offered once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Happy to expend my efforts for these opportunities.

YMMV.
Many of us are just not "lifestyle" shoppers. I have my priorities; you have yours. One is not better than the other.

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.
@walesmaven wrote:

Many of us are just not "lifestyle" shoppers. I have my priorities; you have yours. One is not better than the other.

Not sure if this directed towards me. I never stated nor implied that your priorities were less than mine. I replied to the original poster who inquired about high-end hotel opportunities and the other poster that I quoted above that stated that Coyle had dubious benefits to the level of effort expended, and provided my insight. I challenge any poster to dispute my objective statements - number and quality of opportunities available, report length and possible narratives required, reimbursement turnaround time, aspirational properties and shops, level of effort required, etc., . Dispute my subjective statements all you want, because, hey, they're subjective.

I actually admire route shoppers and their stamina, and their seemingly tenacious ability to submit multiple reports within a short time frame. You do you.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/26/2017 09:56AM by Professional Guest.
After 40 years, Cicero's closed this summer. Several months ago they were hoping to find a buyer to reopen, but I'm not aware of anything in the works. So sad.

@bgriffin wrote:

That is very true. The coolest thing I saw there was a show poster for Uncle Tupelo at Cicero's in Saint Louis from the late 80's or early 90's.

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.
@Professional Guest thanks for your well written informative posts on the hotel side of things. You certainly know your stuff.
I am a high end shopper. I did my first 5 Star hotel shop last week. It was one of my easier reports. Although it required a lot of walking around and sitting in various locations, the report itself was simple. The narratives were short three to five sentences. My shop was approved within 7 days. I found this Editor to be easier than many others. I used it to entertain friends who were in from out of town. We got many perks because we were in the highest reward level. The hotel was fabulous, had a great View and within a shopping area Christmas time. I am sold!
Would it be too much to ask for the MSC's name since it is Christmas...thanks i advance.

Live consciously....
In several threads recently 'hotel shoppers' have been the victim of snide comments. I wouldn't blame them for keeping a few secrets.
Thank god we have people who are able to see "snide comments". What about one "type" of hotel shoppers "snide comments" toward another "type" of hotel shopper? Call it......go get 'em!!!!
My comment was NOT directed at anyone. It was a statement of the reality that shoppers do this work for many different, good, reasons.

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.
True, but I believe this was about lifestyle, so, those that don't need/want to improve lifestyle, that' fine...everyone is able to do their own thing, but following the thread, lifestyle is what we were speaking of.....heavens to betsy....

Live consciously....
No, this thread is titled "hotel shops" though there is another one titled lifestyle.
@JASFLALMT wrote:

No, this thread is titled "hotel shops" though there is another one titled lifestyle.
Your right, i was answering her post about lifestyle, just above my post.

Live consciously....
As @Professional Guest pointed out, the OP's question was about getting high-end hotel assignments.

Many of Coyle's shops can be a lot of work, but you really can't apply that as a general philosophy anymore. Some of the higher end properties I have been to recently had much easier reporting with limited narratives.

Also, True Guest has some exceptional 5-star properties....and Guest Check has some assignments that are in a class above the average Coyle hotel.
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