I've been assigned my first four digit hotel shop this weekend. The lowest night rate is over $950 and i'm super nervous. I read the brief guidelines and sample written examples and i'm confident that I can complete this assignment, however i'm getting slight anxiety thinking about the cost. It would be a tremendous and costly mistake alternatively.
There are many interactions including a spa visit, which I have not done during a hotel evaluation before.
I'm also wondering if i'll have enough time to catch a theatre show sometime during my two night stay.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2019 06:09PM by eyelove2shop.

eye, don't doubt yourself! You will do fine.

I need all the reassurance I can get right now.

Actually, I find that the flexibility for when some interactions take place can make a 2 night shop a bit less stressful.

Just remember, if you are supposed to send out laundry/dry cleaning, to check the latest pick-up time and drop-off times EARLY in the stay. It is all too easy to miss that time window.

Also, ask for an extension of the report deadline.

You are going to rock this!!!! Make a cheat sheet/list of all the interactions you need to do if that will give you reassurance that you won't miss anything.

I make a notetaking template of the information I need to gather during interactions for each section of the report. It looks something like this:

Valet - Arrival
* remember to note A/C and radio settings
* ask a hotel knowledge question
Date:
Time:
Name:
Description:
Name use? Y/N
Notes:

Make a plan for when you're going to do each thing. Be sure to give your guest clear instructions for what you need their help with. For instance, my husband stands back and collects employee names, descriptions, small details (like whether they used certain target phrases), and context info (what other employees were at the desk, etc) so that I can focus on the main interaction. I actually share my notes document with him so he can add right to it for me. I also make use of voice recording either of my interactions (in places where it is legal) or of notes to myself. I combine it all together a few times a day, so that filling the forms is easy and writing the narrative can be consistent.

Of course, you should do your absolute best to follow all guidelines and give the client what they want. However, I also don't think that most shop companies would try to leave the shopper on the hook for thousands of dollars over a small error (forgetting to inspect a lobby restroom a second time, forgetting to ask a particular question at check-in). We all make mistakes when there are lots of things to keep track of. If I notice the mistake during the shop I'll reach out the scheduler and let them know and ask if there is something I can do to make up for it. They usually just tell me to mark the question N/A and note in the report that I didn't do/ask whatever it is. Just remember that the great thing about two-night shops is that some things can be re-done if needed. Didn't do the concierge interaction exactly as requested? Go do it again with a new scenario or when someone else is at the desk. For the things that I get one shot at and are crucial, I add them to the top of my notetaking template.

If the company you’re working for is one of the companies that people here have expressed trust in, you can feel good going in knowing that the MSC absolutely wants you to succeed and almost anything short of either missing huge portions of the work or blatantly lying on your report is forgivable and workable in editing. The less you stress the better off you’ll be. You’ll be fiiiiine.

You should definitely not plan to see a show. WTH?

Yes! @elynbeth has the right idea. I do a similar template for EVERY shop - even ones I've done a million time. I keep it on my iPhone notes. I personally would not take in a show. The 1st breather you get in the room would be an opportunity to look over what info you gathered and strategize your next section of the report. It will be reassuring to know you have a section done & move on to the next.

@SoCalMama wrote:

You should definitely not plan to see a show. WTH?

Why not? I take two hotels every month in NYC and more often than not I get tix for a show at least one of those nights. If you have time, you have time.

@Hoju wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

You should definitely not plan to see a show. WTH?

Why not? I take two hotels every month in NYC and more often than not I get tix for a show at least one of those nights. If you have time, you have time.

If you have never done a high end hotel and don't have confidence, why on earth would OP do that?

You are not the OP.

I don't know the schedule of interactions for that hotel, but there could be a dinner room service and 3 bars in one night if it is a big hotel. I have done as many as 12 F & B interactions in one day. Some did not take long, but they were specific about the time frame. 5:00-5:30 PM at Lobby bar, 8:00-9:00 PM at Sky Lounge, last call 12:00 AM at another bar, etc.

Well yeah. But only she knows what she has for required interactions.

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah. But only she knows what she has for required interactions.

Glad we are on the same page.

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah. But only she knows what she has for required interactions.

Does my font read like a "she"

I am definitely male or female by the way, I just never shared my gender so I am curious.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah. But only she knows what she has for required interactions.

Does my font read like a "she"

I am definitely male or female by the way, I just never shared my gender so I am curious.

Feel free to be X in California. That's a new rule here as of January 1st. We don't assume gender pronouns here. They/them/their.

ETA: You are female based on your posts.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2019 06:22AM by SoCalMama.

Will you enjoy a show if there is something nagging in the back of your mind (did I do this or that)?

City in itself can be a show. If you end up with free time on your hands, just walk around and soak it all up.

Future shops always get easier as you develop routines and cheat sheets that work for you.

Actually, this is VERY good advice. If you can go out and walk around the area you will find that very refreshing. If you sequester yourself to all of the stay you may well feel that you are "on duty" every moment, even if you are not making specific observations at that moment. Even if the show is not in the hotel, you may benefit more from a walk, IMHO. People watching and interesting storefronts can be fascinating!

What is the point of doing a hotel shop if you spend the entire time working? I don't get it.

There are different "types" of hotel shops.

There are some which pay for a night and for which you only have a few interactions. For these most/all of your compensation is generally a reimbursement for your stay. If you do these, you should have some time to do other things, too.

There are also some where you are expected to make use of numerous services offered by the hotel and you wil have so many interactions (massages, room service, restaurants, manager, bellhops, concierge, fitness class, etc. that you may not have time to leave the hotel much at all. These will generally pay a fee in addition to reimbursements.

@Niner wrote:

What is the point of doing a hotel shop if you spend the entire time working? I don't get it.

What city are you staying in, @eyelove2shop?

The City with the best pizza in the world.

Ugh.. You're going to say Chicago, aren't you??

That was cute but Chicago definitely doesn't have the best pizza!

@eyelove2shop wrote:

Does my font read like a "she"

No, but your posts definitely do.