Landed my first hotel hotel shop - have any tips/advice?
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I would prepare as much as possible and be organized. Bring your laptop so you can do as much as possible while it's fresh in your mind. Try to get as many of your interactions done as soon as you reasonably can so that you have breathing room. Create a schedule and try to stick to it. Hotel shops are some of my favorite, but they can be stressful at first because they're so involved and it's a lot of money on the line.
Shopping the South Jersey Shore
I have only done one chain for ACL and it has been years. Wish they still had that one. It was quite easy to do. I did everything except the checkout end of the stay while I was there. I don't think it took any more time than some of the restaurant shops I have done for them. But, each shop is different. The more features the hotel has the more involved the report will be so you may or may not, aside from the basic hotel stay have to do valet, restaurant, room service, spa, pool, concierge, morning buffet etc. Everything you add to the basic stay makes more work...and perhaps more pleasure.
But I had heard ACL has some of the easiest hotel shops out there. I have never done one for ACL (Coyle and Regal I have). Walesmaven does lots of ACL hotel shops, I am sure if you PM her she can answer any questions you have (or maybe she will see this thread).
ACL hotel shops are a great place to start. I do them for the rewards points, of course. If you let me know which interactions are included, one or 2 night stay, I can give specific pointers.
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.
Thanks, I am sending you a PM! .
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 06:26PM by callinectes.
@walesmaven wrote:
ACL hotel shops are a great place to start. I do them for the rewards points, of course. If you let me know which interactions are included, one or 2 night stay, I can give specific pointers.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 06:26PM by callinectes.
They very well may be - I have no frame of reference another than a few repetitive and tedious retail shops I've done for them. Either way, I am looking forward to the experience.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
But I had heard ACL has some of the easiest hotel shops out there. I have never done one for ACL (Coyle and Regal I have). Walesmaven does lots of ACL hotel shops, I am sure if you PM her she can answer any questions you have (or maybe she will see this thread).
ACL reports are pretty easy in general. Some tips:
Do the report as you go! (True for all hotel shops)
Get as much done as you can the first night.
Don't forget your photos. I make a checklist.
If it's the company that is now making you book 2 nights and cancel the second beware! At least one location will not allow you to cancel and will charge you for both nights. The client will then not believe that you weren't allowed to cancel because they're supposed to let you. It turns into a big mess where YOU become responsible for proving that you DID get charged for both nights and did in fact not use the second night. I asked to be removed from that client. Never again.
Do the report as you go! (True for all hotel shops)
Get as much done as you can the first night.
Don't forget your photos. I make a checklist.
If it's the company that is now making you book 2 nights and cancel the second beware! At least one location will not allow you to cancel and will charge you for both nights. The client will then not believe that you weren't allowed to cancel because they're supposed to let you. It turns into a big mess where YOU become responsible for proving that you DID get charged for both nights and did in fact not use the second night. I asked to be removed from that client. Never again.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
In addition to all the excellent information above, please remember to take a few deep breaths and relax. I am the weirdo who did a few hotel shops because it was fun to see if I could fit everything in to the given schedule. It was funner after I took a few deep breaths and relaxed for a few minutes. You do not want to be the hotel guest who looks like they are about to explode! You want to be there but not be noticeable there.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
This is all great advice, thank you!
@bgriffin it isn't a 2 night shop.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2019 01:05AM by callinectes.
@bgriffin it isn't a 2 night shop.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2019 01:05AM by callinectes.
You will be fine. While there are a lot of sections to fill out, just make sure that you get all your photos and check them of your list. Always take more just in case, and just go through each section one by one, filling it out as you go, as everyone else has already let you know. Make sure to ask for a 24 hour turn around, time i.e. 24 hours from when you check out. Make a list if you need, wake up call, guest request, manager interaction, and just check them off until you are done. Congratulations, I know it can be exciting and stressful, but you are on your way!
Such a nice, helpful thread. Love how @walesmaven came in right on cue, prior to the PM.
Do esch section as you complete it
Do check in, then room, then public area
Do check in, then room, then public area
I don’t do any hotel shops except for ACL because I don’t want anything too time consuming. I always take tons of pictures and very detailed notes in my phone of my entire visit, times etc. I don’t type up any of my report while I’m there but that’s because I always take my mom and I want to focus on our time together. She absolutely loves getting away for a night and I’m happy MS allows me to do that for her. I would say for most doing the report while there is a great idea.
calli,
I just finally recovered from EOQ shps and reports and posted a more extensive PM, responding to the specifics that you supplied by PM. Enjoy!
I just finally recovered from EOQ shps and reports and posted a more extensive PM, responding to the specifics that you supplied by PM. Enjoy!
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.
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