I’ve just been assigned my first hotel with this company and it’s the Hyatt no-narrative two-night’er.
Does anyone have any experience with this evaluation that can lend some tips? It doesn’t look hard at all but it does look time consuming.

I've done two of these, yet there was a bit of narrative. Not anything major. Maybe a paragraph's worth. There were several departments that I had to evaluate, including phone calls for room service, maintenance, etc. Overall, the shop was excellent. I would do these in a heartbeat while on the road. The only downside with this type of shop is that depending on the market, the rooms can be pricey (i.e., New York, Los Angeles). I think that my room was just at $200 in the Chicago area, yet I do believe that the charges were reversed within 24-48 hours by the MSC.

You are 100% correct on it being time consuming, yet it isn't as bad as you think if you had planned on staying in a hotel anyway + had other work to do (i.e., uploading reports from other assignments). Just keep a notebook handy on names, descriptions, times, and interactions.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2018 02:44PM by Eric in Tampa.

deleted

Whoopsie. Sorry bout that.

Thanks, Eric. This being my first hotel with this MSC, I'm giving it all of my focus. I've done dozens of hotels, for other companies but they gave me a shot with this one so I want to make sure it's perfect.
This is also combined with the status check-in. The scheduler mentioned that they MAY upgrade me from the Discoverist to Explorist or even Globalist, but it depends on what they want to do. I'm hoping that being upgraded is the real payoff with this job.

I've done three of these. Not hard but they are time consuming. I would take as many photos as possible as soon as you enter the room, of every little thing. I usually spend the first day filling out the report. The second day, you take photos that you couldnt take on first day (breakfast, housekeeping) Maybe make a list. You will need a photo of a shampoo bottle, body lotion bottle, etc. how many ml/oz..... I did not have to report on any interactions.
Oh, and if they upgrade your membership level, you will most likely get a great room or a suite. Unfortunately, I did these last year and MSC was not upgrading the membership level then.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2018 07:45PM by MikiNV.

I'm hoping this is a door-opener to more of this MSC's hotels. I didn't get this one via the conventional "do a million restaurants" route and I'm hoping that I don't have to in the future as well.

These are really nothing like the regular hotel evaluations so I'm not sure if it would be a good introduction to those. Also, @Hoju, you can use the status for your own stays at the brand, but if you read the instructions, you will note that you are supposed to decline the upgrade, as they don't want suites tested.

I second all of Miki's advice. Learn what pics are needed and take anything you can on arrival, EXCEPT for the sheets. Tear the bed apart on the day you check out and take those then.

Also, it's not easy to see, but there's a question on the new add-on form where you need a full narrative for the arrival process, so be prepared for that.

Yeah. I saw that they want us to decline the upgrade. That's a shame but I guess it is what it is. Why wait till the end to take the sheets pics? I haven't read that far so I'm not sure what's involved in that part yet.

@Hoju wrote:

I haven't read that far so I'm not sure what's involved in that part yet.

Read the guide, then read it again while taking notes. Once you learn the format it's pretty easy but the standards differ for each sub-brand, so that can be a pain.

The bed situation involves completely removing all bedding and taking photos of everything. Waiting to the last morning gives you 2 things.

1. You won't have to remake the entire bed. The housekeeper is going to strip it that last day anyway, so you are just helping if you fold the linens and leave them on the mattress after the photos. That saves everyone time.

2. I'm often so disturbed but what I find when I strip the bed that I'd prefer to not see that until after the stay. My last mattress was from 1998...

Ah too bad for no upgrade! At least you will have Hyatt membership status upgraded and that could be a huge bonus if you travel on your own and stay at their hotels.
It sounds a little strange to rufuse an upgrade. I assume they will have your keys and room ready by the time you arrive to the hotel. I am not seeing the guidelines and haven’t done the upgrade thing but sounds a bit odd. I was told that I cannot ruturn to the same hotels so I am not doing any of these shops any time soon, unfortunately

How does one refuse a free upgrade? It seems so awkward and a huge red flag.

As an Explorist, I am hopeful I don't get any upgrades - said MickeyB never.... seriously though, that is what I am worried about as I have my assigned now... hoping that I just don't get any upgrades. I mean how does this conversation go...

Front desk: Well Ms. (x) good news, we have upgraded you to this beautiful suite overlooking the ocean and with three bedrooms.

Guest: No thank you Mr. front desk man, I would like to be put into the double room with view of the parking lot, er.. garden, that I booked online.

Front desk: But Ms. (x), this suite features panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, a wet bar, 2 point 5 bathrooms, and a baby grand piano. As a valued member of the World of Hyatt, we are more than pleased to upgrade you to this suite - complimentary!

Guest: No thank you Mr. front desk man, I really want a double bedded room with a view of that parking lot and service area, I like to watch my car and I enjoy observing the service staff chat as they take their cig breaks. Just put me into the regular room that I reserved.

Front desk: I'm sorry Ms. (x), but we are fully committed this evening and all we have left is this presidential suite... did I mention that this is a COMPLIMENTARY upgrade, and features a private soaking tub, a whirlpool on the balcony, and your own butler?

And so it goes...

Right. How do you decline such awesomeness? I’m thinking something like “I really don’t like rooms that big. It’s just me and I always lose stuff when I have a suite.” Or something like that.

Jealous! I’ve been applying for those and they’re just sitting there.

Yeah, I have applied too, but unfortunately someone at the MSC is not willing to give one to me so far. I check the rates for my available dates before I apply and for some of the properties it is very tough to get nights below the limit at standard rates. The out of pocket upfront is rather high in some cases too (with required interaction areas, $1k easily). As my requested dates pass, I delete and reapply with new dates. I've done other shops for this company in the past, and it is one of the few companies where if I don't get a job assigned, it just sits there still not taken.

I have a sense that they will have a hard time getting these done nearer the deadline or they will have to pay significant travel costs to get their "preferred" shoppers. It is too bad they won't take some available shoppers in the near-term when I can better plan my dates to be available. It is just how this MSC rolls as well-documented...

@Hoju wrote:

How do you decline such awesomeness?

On the good news front; I have been provided upgrades on my last four visits and none of them were in a way that could be declined. Some were as simple as them saying, "We have you in a XXX room," and others were me being told that due to capacity, the only available rooms were suites.

It's somewhat strange since SPG almost always mentions the upgrade being related to status...and Hyatt almost never does. Even stranger when you realize it's a standard they are apparently testing.

If it ever gets to the point of being offered as an option, I would just play it off as, "There's really no need. I won't be spending much time in the room."

@MickeyB and I have already discussed this, but the reality is that the room has most likely been blocked out for you prior to arrival and it's more work for them to reduce you to lower category room. I'm not going to argue for a reduction in room classification. Give it a polite decline and then take whatever they give you as far as I'm concerned.

As long as the MSC is fine with me doing it that way, I'm good with handling it just the way you explain.
So they don't prefer that suites be evaluated, but they'll accept it if it ends up happening?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2018 05:14PM by Hoju.

Jeez @Hoju....stop with mentioning the MSC!

I have never had any pushback about getting a suite. Yet...

Oh for crying out loud! You'd think I'd be more aware by now. I fixed it. Thanks for letting me know.

Know that it's those kind of slip-ups that can get you into trouble with this MSC, however.

Saying that you forgot to get a picture of X, didn't call or eat during the required time period or didn't insist on your laundry being back by a certain time CAN get your report rejected.

My advice again is to know the instructions cold. Take pictures of everything and then take a few more pictures of things that you might not even think you need, because you may. It's not enough to say that the bottom of the safe had non-slip materials. They want a pic for everything! If there's no Do-Not-Disturb sign, take a pic of the empty door with no sign on it.

Oh I'll be sure to be 'on' when I'm working on this. Thanks, Steve.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Know that it's those kind of slip-ups that can get you into trouble with this MSC, however.

Saying that you forgot to get a picture of X, didn't call or eat during the required time period or didn't insist on your laundry being back by a certain time CAN get your report rejected.

My advice again is to know the instructions cold. Take pictures of everything and then take a few more pictures of things that you might not even think you need, because you may. It's not enough to say that the bottom of the safe had non-slip materials. They want a pic for everything! If there's no Do-Not-Disturb sign, take a pic of the empty door with no sign on it.

So if I ever decide I need to do one of these, be prepared to tag along and mentor me. TIA

Oh please! Try not to edit out the name of the msc so fast...But from some of the comments in the thread I think I might know which it is anyway. This might be my venture into this company as it sounds more like a job I would not mind doing over the labor and narrative intensive other hotel shops.
But oh, a sweet suite overlooking the ocean is not great for me. As my brother says, in our family we get sea sick in the bathtub. So I would so much rather have the parking lot view.

Use your context clues, Sandy!

While we're at it, that "emergency, need it done last night" restaurant that I did last Friday is still sitting in "Pending Validation" and I haven't received a report summary from them yet. What gives, MSC-who's-name-I-finally-remembered-to-not-include-in-this-post?"

@Hoju wrote:

What gives, MSC-who's-name-I-finally-remembered-to-not-include-in-this-post?"

Haha...last I heard, they were very backed up in editorial. I had one of these Hyatt's sitting for over 2 weeks before they sent me clarification questions.

The MSC has grown a bit too much for the existing staff to handle. I know they brought in some outside schedulers to help get all the shops assigned, but it seems like that resulted in the current editorial backlog.

How long, from the time you submitted the report, did it take for them to reverse your folio?

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Haha...last I heard, they were very backed up in editorial. I had one of these Hyatt's sitting for over 2 weeks before they sent me clarification questions.

The MSC has grown a bit too much for the existing staff to handle. I know they brought in some outside schedulers to help get all the shops assigned, but it seems like that resulted in the current editorial backlog.

@MSF wrote:

How long, from the time you submitted the report, did it take for them to reverse your folio?

I'll let you know when it finally gets reversed....I generally give it 2 weeks before I say anything and it's been less than that since it got finalized.

If you are not in a position to let a hotel charge stay on your credit card for a month or more, I would not recommend taking one of these assignments.

Has anyone whose done these ever had their elite status upgraded and if so, for how long? On a Starwood shop I did for another MSC, it looks like my Platinum (now Platinum Premier thanks to the merger) status will have been good for a year-and-a-half before it lowers back to gold.