Hotel Shops
If you’ve never done a TrueGuest report, you’ll find it arduous only because it’s an excel based report. It’s especially awful if you’re on a Mac.
I spoke to Adam about it recently and, although they schedule using a standard platform (Shopmetrics?), they don’t use it for reporting. They can’t justify changing at the moment because so many of their veteran auditors are so used to the excel system, he doesn’t want to piss them off. Understandable.
I spoke to Adam about it recently and, although they schedule using a standard platform (Shopmetrics?), they don’t use it for reporting. They can’t justify changing at the moment because so many of their veteran auditors are so used to the excel system, he doesn’t want to piss them off. Understandable.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Guest Check’s policy of not giving up ANY information about the job prior to committing to it is ridiculous and the reason I can’t be bothered with them.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
@Hoju, once you build a relationship with the scheduler they can be more forthcoming with details.
I am in a short season when I am available for 1-night hotel shops. I am not a one-night stand, mind you, but I have very little time. I have 'my' two very nice hotels that are within driving distance. This is good for me. I won't shop them until Spring or Summer, which is my next available time for hotels. But it is good to know that they are there, waiting for me.
At that time, I can consider more 1-night stays at other properties. Thanks for all the information in this thread!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2017 12:12AM by Shop-et-al.
At that time, I can consider more 1-night stays at other properties. Thanks for all the information in this thread!
My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2017 12:12AM by Shop-et-al.
Coyle is not usually worth a straight fee, but when travel money is paid, that's a better scenario.@Irene_L.A. wrote:
I won't do Coyle, just too much $ output and work involved.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@Hoju, once you build a relationship with the scheduler they can be more forthcoming with details.
There is no way I’m going to commit to a job without knowing where I’m going, whether I’m new with a company or not. That’s just silly. Why some companies make it difficult to work with them is beyond me.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Hi Hoju,
May I ask what is arduous about the report? (TrueGuest) trying to fit lots of data into the Excel cells? Are there lots of questions requiring lots of minute details? do they expect narrative to fit into the spreadsheet? I realize that sounds like a strange question. They've sent me an email to join their list of locals for a potential assignment. Thanks
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2018 07:21PM by BarefootBliss.
May I ask what is arduous about the report? (TrueGuest) trying to fit lots of data into the Excel cells? Are there lots of questions requiring lots of minute details? do they expect narrative to fit into the spreadsheet? I realize that sounds like a strange question. They've sent me an email to join their list of locals for a potential assignment. Thanks
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2018 07:21PM by BarefootBliss.
@BarefootBliss wrote:
Hi Hoju,
May I ask what is arduous about the report? (TrueGuest) trying to fit lots of data into the Excel cells? Are there lots of questions requiring lots of minute details? do they expect narrative to fit into the spreadsheet? I realize that sounds like a strange question. They've sent me an email to join their list of locals for a potential assignment. Thanks
First off, the last reports with TrueGuest have been Word, not Excel. The Word formats are dependent on the project. Some require a typical shop platform for the reports, while others require their Word formats. Also, I found the Word documents compatible with all versions of Word, but best worked with an older version of Word, specifically Microsoft Office 2007. As for the narrative, it works fine and pretty nice when you're on the road with no access to internet. The report volume adds up mainly because it goes question by question. While the reports aren't a narrative-based report, the amount of questions and narrative needed per question adds up, if that makes sense.
Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
@tarantado is right. It was Word, not Excel. The bigger pain is that their reports aren't compatible with Word for Mac, so they have to send supplemental reports and they just take time to process. It's not in the narration or anything. It's completely a formatting thing. If they put it in Shopmetrics, I'd do it in a second.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
How are Regal's reports? I finally snagged one and am already thinking it requires fewer observations than a Coyle report but for the same pay (yay!) I am not able to see the full surveys yet. The only really odd thing is that I have to pay the hotel bill in cash when I check out.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2018 04:07AM by hotsauce1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2018 04:07AM by hotsauce1.
My easiest hotel evaluations, by far, were with regal. However, its difficult for me to find locations in my area.
I've never seen a Regal job where you have to pay the actual room bill in cash. They always have every other interaction be cash, though.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
It depends on the editor, hotsauce. I don't think they're worth the money - asking for a high-end report at very little pay when the hotel is not what I'd consider high-end. YMMV.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
@iShop123 wrote:
It depends on the editor, hotsauce. I don't think they're worth the money - asking for a high-end report at very little pay when the hotel is not what I'd consider high-end. YMMV.
Agreed, if referring to Regal. Looks like we're getting the same mileage.
That is why I have not done a hotel shop!! I agree!
@a171989 wrote:
I personally wouldn't do one. They are expensive and you have to pay for everything from the hotel to food. I don't think I would enjoy it to much because you have to pay attention to everything and remember it. Also, if you mess up somewhere in your report, it may not be verified. In that case, you spent a lot of money on a vacation that you didn't get a chance to enjoy.
I would do them, just not for the $25 fee and measly peasly $15 reimbursement they're offered for in my area.
I have not seen any in my area. I have had several companies cut down on the shops they offer in my area. 
@spicy1 wrote:
I would do them, just not for the $25 fee and measly peasly $15 reimbursement they're offered for in my area.
I am excited too have been awarded my first-ever evaluation of a Ritz Carlton Hotel. This will also be the first time I will have ever received a facial. I'm going to be extremely disappointed if I do not get slices of cucumber over my eyes.
Now that sounds exciting. 
I hope the facial and cucmbers are beyond your expectations.
Mystery shopping is not as stress free as many people may think it is! Time to relax. ENJOY!
I hope the facial and cucmbers are beyond your expectations.
Mystery shopping is not as stress free as many people may think it is! Time to relax. ENJOY!@thunderdeacon wrote:
I am excited too have been awarded my first-ever evaluation of a Ritz Carlton Hotel. This will also be the first time I will have ever received a facial. I'm going to be extremely disappointed if I do not get slices of cucumber over my eyes.
I've probably had 50 facials (one was almost $300) and have never had a cucumber in anything other than my iced water.@thunderdeacon wrote:
I am excited too have been awarded my first-ever evaluation of a Ritz Carlton Hotel. This will also be the first time I will have ever received a facial. I'm going to be extremely disappointed if I do not get slices of cucumber over my eyes.
They put cool damp cotton pads over your eyes.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
The first time I ever had a facial was part of a mystery shop. It was really confusing since I had no idea what was going on, and your eyes are closed for a lot of it. I've probably had as many as SCM now, and it's much easier when you know what to expect.
@thunderdeacon, remember that you can ask silly questions like, "Are those cucumber slices over my eyes?" or you may never know what they are doing! It's more about asking what each product is, I think, but there could be cucumbers involved.
If it's the hour long facial, my girlfriend said her spa experience at the Ritz was the best facial she's ever had!
@thunderdeacon, remember that you can ask silly questions like, "Are those cucumber slices over my eyes?" or you may never know what they are doing! It's more about asking what each product is, I think, but there could be cucumbers involved.
If it's the hour long facial, my girlfriend said her spa experience at the Ritz was the best facial she's ever had!
You all are great! I am so excited. Thanks for the info and encouragement.
I just finished a Regal shop and it was so much easier than Coyle, and for the same pay. Of course, the exprience could not compare to what Coyle offers so that is the tradeoff.
Hotel shoppers - I don't have kids (yet) but will eventually. Any info on whether you could bring a child to a hotel shop? Either alone or with a partner? Shop guidelines don't say you *can't* but my gut is that they'd say no if I ask.
Hotel shoppers - I don't have kids (yet) but will eventually. Any info on whether you could bring a child to a hotel shop? Either alone or with a partner? Shop guidelines don't say you *can't* but my gut is that they'd say no if I ask.
@hotsauce1, when you comparing pay you have to take more than just the base fee into consideration. Coyle will pay consistently at the end of the following month, rarely require a huge cash outlay and reverse the majority of the charges from a hotel assignment. I don't consider that equal pay even if the base fee may be the same...and then you have to consider travel reimbursement, which is essentially non-existant with Regal.
Some instructions do lay out guidelines for children and some shops specifically allow them, or even require them. I don't have kids, but have done a few shops with my guest's children and have to say that even for the most well-behaved children, it adds another degree of difficulty to the assignments.
Some instructions do lay out guidelines for children and some shops specifically allow them, or even require them. I don't have kids, but have done a few shops with my guest's children and have to say that even for the most well-behaved children, it adds another degree of difficulty to the assignments.
I brought my 16 year old on a hotel shop with ACL, they had no issues. She loves going with me on shops and has been since she was 12, she helps with names, timings, etc. since when is a teen not always using their phone.
When they are very young, I wouldn't. Infants and toddlers are too unpredictable and since they don't have good communication skills yet, that would make it tough to stay focused if they have a meltdown or just an inopportune moment of neediness. And as they get older it would be contingent on that particular child's general behavior.
@hotsauce1 wrote:
I just finished a Regal shop and it was so much easier than Coyle, and for the same pay. Of course, the exprience could not compare to what Coyle offers so that is the tradeoff.
Hotel shoppers - I don't have kids (yet) but will eventually. Any info on whether you could bring a child to a hotel shop? Either alone or with a partner? Shop guidelines don't say you *can't* but my gut is that they'd say no if I ask.
You answered my question about how Coyle compares to what other companies offer. Thanks!
My first time at a luxury hotel coming up.
I have been looking at the questionnaires and number of outlets.
This will be substantial work, but I want to at least do one to see how they are.
Valet, Bell, Check In, Room, Issue, Housekeeping, Dinner, Breakfast and more - all of them separate reports.
I am observant with a decent memory, but not sure I have ever met a human who can retain all the details they are looking for. I think I'll have to try to do the reports as soon as I can and not hold them if I can avoid it.
Any tips for note taking inconspicuously? do you ever quickly type notes into your cellphone?
I have been looking at the questionnaires and number of outlets.
This will be substantial work, but I want to at least do one to see how they are.
Valet, Bell, Check In, Room, Issue, Housekeeping, Dinner, Breakfast and more - all of them separate reports.
I am observant with a decent memory, but not sure I have ever met a human who can retain all the details they are looking for. I think I'll have to try to do the reports as soon as I can and not hold them if I can avoid it.
Any tips for note taking inconspicuously? do you ever quickly type notes into your cellphone?
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