Hotel Experts
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
As far as "developing your ability to assess hotels," I'd have to go with Coyle. Their editors can be harsh, but they're generally consistent and correct. I've yet to have the proverbial 22-year old fresh out of college who makes grammar errors.
"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:
As far as "developing your ability to assess hotels," I'd have to go with Coyle. Their editors can be harsh, but they're generally consistent and correct. I've yet to have the proverbial 22-year old fresh out of college who makes grammar errors.
As a 22-year old fresh out of college with a BA in English, I feel very called out.. I also may have to apply with Coyle to be an editor since I never make no mistakes ever!
I believe that.@MadisonDiem wrote:
As a 22-year old fresh out of college with a BA in English, I feel very called out.. I also may have to apply with Coyle to be an editor since I never make no mistakes ever!
"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
You have to remember that the courts have changed some grammar laws. You now have to have a comma after the and - or in a list, billy, Bob, Jonny, and Herschel went to the lake to go swimming. Something to do with the wording of an overtime policy that some dairy deliver people in New England argued about and they won owed lots of back pay.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2018 03:21PM by 2stepps.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2018 03:21PM by 2stepps.
Ah yes. The ol’ Oakhurst Oxford Comma suit.
Always use the Oxford comma, folks.
[mobile.nytimes.com]
Always use the Oxford comma, folks.
[mobile.nytimes.com]
______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
1. Yes, May is the first month in the past 2 years that I have not done 3 or more major large hotels in one month (but May is not finished yet).
2. Just do it! You're probably going to be more conspicuous if you don't take pictures. Everybody with a cell phone takes pictures of just about everything everywhere nowadays. Some clients do not allow you to take pics of public areas though.
3. The best hotel assignments would be HS Brands and QSI, but the best hotel assignments for developing your ability to assess hotels would likely be Coyle.
2. Just do it! You're probably going to be more conspicuous if you don't take pictures. Everybody with a cell phone takes pictures of just about everything everywhere nowadays. Some clients do not allow you to take pics of public areas though.
3. The best hotel assignments would be HS Brands and QSI, but the best hotel assignments for developing your ability to assess hotels would likely be Coyle.
I am truly looking to improve my ability to asses hotels effectively and completely. What would you say is the difference between HS Brand and Coyle?
Before you get ahead of yourself about hotels you should know that Coyle will not assign a hotel shop to you until you have done SEVERAL of their fine dining shops with quite high marks. The sole exception may be when they are desperate for a hotel to be done. BUT, if that happens, the newbie will not get another Coyle hotel assignment until those excellent fine dining shops have been done.
Coyle shops require excruciatingly long reports. So much so that a fair number of top hotel shoppers do not find them worthwhile, compared with the pay and rewards for other great hotel visits. Why not learn to use the forum's search function and do a search on "Coyle" for "past 12 months" and read, read read. This topic is one of many that has been covered extensively in each and every year here, lol.
Coyle shops require excruciatingly long reports. So much so that a fair number of top hotel shoppers do not find them worthwhile, compared with the pay and rewards for other great hotel visits. Why not learn to use the forum's search function and do a search on "Coyle" for "past 12 months" and read, read read. This topic is one of many that has been covered extensively in each and every year here, lol.
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.
So which agency shop I use to cut my teeth when entering hotel shopping. I travel almost 20 days out of the year exploring hotels for conference and concert host looking for extremely specific requirements demanded by their speakers or performers. I am known as the PRE and POST The Olivia Pope, for people who live, and operate under discretion, privacy and secrecy.
If your interests reach to meeting rooms, and other venues such as private dining rooms and the like, you will be disappointed. Hotel shops tend to cover only what an ordinary business of leisure travel would be looking for: beds, baths, dining, bar, housekeeping, possibly valet laundry (2 night shops only), room service, pool/fitness center. Using an MS visit to also interview hotel staff about conference facilities, group catering, etc. would make you memorable; that is the LAST thing an MSer wants to be. And, it could even get your MS assignment declined. Why not take ordinary hotel shops near venues that you need to explore and then visit those hotels opening seeking information about facilities and amenities? Or have I completely missed the point of you other professional duties?
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.
My every interaction is being discrete and observing not inquiring while I am actually at a hotel being considered. Any questions I have regarding the particular hotel is done by telephone or by email.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2018 04:34PM by ALLFORtheSMONEY.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2018 04:34PM by ALLFORtheSMONEY.
No, I would not use an assignment to evaluate the location for an explorative booking. When I am evaluating a hotel for the purpose of an assignment first I don't ask questions, I merely observe and search to see if this particular location meets the needs of the client. I rarely stay in the requested hotel and if I do it is just for one night which is reimbursed by the client. But for the rest of my time in town or in the vicinity I stay at a local hotel to map outside side streets, stairways to a back entrance to the hotel, locate a chef, find a liquor store will to order particular expensive champagne, wine or coniac on the list, finding a florist to supply 500 or more of a particular often rare flower daily, or locate a restaurant willing to close down for private parties just to name a few.
I hope this makes it clear.
Just looking to complete a shop while in town seeking to complete the list of requirements.
I hope this makes it clear.
Just looking to complete a shop while in town seeking to complete the list of requirements.
Very clear. So, you do not need an MSC to supply shops for top hotels, you just need a hotel in the city where you are evaluating a different hotel for your client. In that case, you want to sign up with and get experience with EVERY MSC that offers hotel shops because, before an MSC is going to let you take an assignment a long way from your home base, you need to establish a reputation with that MSC for quality work. And, that may mean evaluating the down-market end of a major hotel "families" such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and Choice hotels. before they will let you move up to the better hotels in the chain. and, for several MSCs that have hotel shops, you will never see any on their job boards until you have done a bunch of their dining shops and cultivated good relationships with their schedulers and editors. Also, be sure to join every hotel family's rewards program AND get the affiliated credit card to start racking up more rewards points to use to support stays where no MS assignment is available when you need one.
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.
Exactly, you have been extremely helpful, saving me lots of time and providing me with a great deal of direction and clarity.
Is there a shortcut the agencies that assign hotels and fine-dining? Or should I simply search the list by looking for the words "HOTEL" or "HOSPITALITY"?
No short cuts AND many that do hotels and fine dining have no such indication in their names. You now own an MS business; time to invest a little sweat equity by signing up with more MSCs.
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.
Try Buckalew's beginner shops or BBusinessSolutions. The former are easier, the latter offers better compensation.@ALLFORtheSMONEY wrote:
So which agency shop I use to cut my teeth when entering hotel shopping.
"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
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/20/2018 08:01PM by iShop123.
RE: QSI, do they only have shops in Nevada, or across the US, also? thanks
Allforthesmoney - are you also tasked with seeking out suppliers of vast amounts of M & Ms, but with the brown ones removed? lol.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2018 10:28AM by BarefootBliss.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2018 10:28AM by BarefootBliss.
Do you also buy M & Ms of a specific color and throw out all the Ws?
BAREFOOTBLISS & OPTIKDAVE - Actually yes, thank you for your expertise in the M&M segregation, industry.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2018 12:24PM by ALLFORtheSMONEY.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2018 12:24PM by ALLFORtheSMONEY.
No, I find people like you who prove themselves to be experts at such task. Thanks for your expertise.
Who is QSI?
Don't see anything that references them in the MSC list or what that might be an acronym for.
Don't see anything that references them in the MSC list or what that might be an acronym for.
@iShop123 wrote:
I believe that.@MadisonDiem wrote:
As a 22-year old fresh out of college with a BA in English, I feel very called out.. I also may have to apply with Coyle to be an editor since I never make no mistakes ever!
Are you unfamiliar with the concept of sarcasm? What about irony? I have some great handouts from English class I could share with you on those topics.
It can be difficult to determine intent on a message board where visual cues are not available. Thank you for the offer, but I am well educated in those topics.
"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
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.