Anyone familiar with Five Diamond Hospitality?

[www.fivediamondhospitality.com]

I applied but was informed they had no opportunities in my area. Yeah right. Neither did Coyle or Buckalew, but that didn't stop them from accepting me. And Coyle said the same thing to my gf, even though I was looking at the Coyle site and knew it was untrue. That's what they say when they're turning you down, right? "No opportunities in your area"?

Well, I can speak from experience when I tell you that Buckalew, at least, has been expanding, and also has shoppers who travel to do their hotel shops. So, I would sign up and keep track of what they offer.

I can also speak for Buckalew. I've done several shops for Buckalew and have seen their available shop lists. The lists are short and the locations are limited to a few areas of the country, mostly on the east coast.

As far as Coyle goes, my frustration with them is that they like you to do phone shops first but the phone shops I've seen seem to be only in California. I stay in the Chicago and West Palm Beach County, FL area. So, how are you supposed to get over that hurdle to get the more desirable jobs Coyle has?

Does Five Diamonds ONLY do hotels? no restaurants?

They do restaurants as well.

I mentioned in another thread that Coyle recruited for shoppers in several areas I shop, but after going a year without any opportunities, I inquired and they admitted that they did not actually have clients there. I would have appreciated knowing that up front. I don't think they pay travel money to shoppers who do not have a lot of experience with them.

I'll put in my $.02 since there's not a lot of feedback on this MSC.

I just completed my third shop for them and have to say they are professionally run, incredibly fast payers and have some decent clients.

That said, it will be my last shop the way things currently operate with them. As someone who works for a lot of hospitality companies, I feel they expect too much while offering too little. It's my understanding they come from a hotel management background and I don't think they have a good grasp on what makes assignments appealing to shoppers.

If I'm going to do a lot of work for very little $$, I expect to arrive at a nice hotel and have an enjoyable holiday, then go home and slave over a report to pay for it, but their dining and stay requirements don't leave room for it to be enjoyable. If I'm going to do a hotel evaluation that's painful and uncomfortable, and then suffer through an extended report, I would expect to be paid about 5 times what they are offering.

ultimately, if they got the reporting more together and removed the redundancy, made it more compatible with mac computers, loosened up on some of the required tests and had a more liberal alcohol policy, they could be a good company to work for. For now...it's perhaps a 5-foot pole distance for me.

Best features: Incredibly fast pay, some nice clients, people you can get on the phone
Worst features: Very strict guidelines, uncomfortable reporting, no time to enjoy the hotel, tight submission deadlines

I completed an overnight assignment for them and found them to be one of the most responsive companies I've worked with, to date. The scheduler I worked with made it clear he could be reached any time via telephone, which was reassuring on a new shop with a new (to me) company. Their reports were INCREDIBLY detailed and thorough - I had virtually no down time during the stay - but it was a very high end property and the access and accommodations were well worth the work. I felt the fee was also reasonable. I was asked quite a few follow-up questions (by phone) but all clarification was within 24-36 hours of submitting the evaluation, and payment /reimbursement checks were received in about a week. The hotel charges were reversed by the property, which may matter to those who rely on overnights for the "points". I don't know if you get the points if the charges are reversed, but was not a member of that brand's loyalty program so can't be certain. All said, I would not hesitate to work with them again. I would DEFINITELY recommend a thorough review of ALL the required interactions and the forms well in advance of the evaluation, and being very organized with thorough notes throughout the evaluation, though!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2012 06:19PM by tsk.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 09:04PM by CAscotch.

tsk -- I've done hotel shops and have gotten the points even when the charges were reversed. That is one of the reasons I'll do a hotel shop now that I'm not travelling as much as I used to for my other business. Those points build up pretty quickly.

CAscotch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are their reports easier/the same/more detailed
> than Coyle?

It's a different reporting style that's more question/answer driven than Coyle. I find it a bit harder to write, but less detail is needed overall. The redundancy and inability to report on items that were not touched on in the questions was frustrating for me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 09:03PM by CAscotch.

Does Five Diamond shop Florida?

Can someone tell me where the link to login is on the Five Diamond site? I just can't find it!

I don't think they have a login/job board? All of my job offers/correspondence have come by email or telephone call.

tsk how did you get registered with them?

[www.fivediamondhospitality.com]