I give up! I just did my second overnight for Regal and didn't do too well. The first one was messed up because I didn't realize the "Mgmt verify" statement had to be included and worded a specific way. Otherwise, it said the report was well written. Fast forward to my second shop, I was told I wrote in first person at the end of the report and missed a few "no" comments in the narrative. I am so careful that I have no idea how I did this but I am totally bummed. Go figure...I got a 20 with Coyle and average 9-10 with other companies but can't get an "A" with Regal.

Hope they give me a shot at a third but I am not holding my breathe

Isn't it strange that hotel shops are written in third person? It has been the case on every hotel shop I've done that I remember and it just feels so darn weird.

There are a number of companies that want a comment in narrative for every "no" and what saves my behind is writing up the narrative in Word, then going through the check boxes and going back to my narrative to make sure that every "no" is specifically addressed and even any "yes" that the check boxes reminded me to comment about. Then it is copy/paste time into the form and of course save my narrative in case something untoward happens to the shop report.

I never received feedback from Regal. Do they offere feedback now? Yes, it is very odd writing in thrid person.

Thanks for the pointers. I am kicking myself for not writing it in Word so I have a copy also. Yes...It is very strange to write in third person and try to stay gender neutral. I always thought it was strange to do this for hotels too. The other odd one is writing "the clerk" for the USPS shops.

audrialyn30 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I never received feedback from Regal. Do they
> offere feedback now? Yes, it is very odd writing
> in thrid person.


Halfway down your shopper profile page: a grade and comments

Word also allows you to do a quick search for "I", "we", "he" (if your companion was male) etc. to make sure you stayed in 3rd person neuter.

I completed a 2 night hotel with multiple reports. I proofed every report 3 times to make sure there were no I, he or she. Its unnatural and quirky to write in third person, but the bottom line is their reports requires less narrative and interaction. So far, i have gotten all As. Lots of proofing helps.

I just had a similar situation with the same MSC for an overnight hotel. They said that some of my "short" narratives slipped into the first person at times but my "longer' narratives were fine. I don't understand how that happened. I went from an A to a B. And I think my bonus pay is being slightly docked. I've never had that happen before.

Oh, well. I wrote the editor and thanked her for bringing this to my attention so I will be more aware of it on future shops. Am I a suck up or what? :-O



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2014 01:29PM by Shop2LiveinFL.

Yes

It is all about building relationships.

How is Regal in paying full reimbursements if you go slightly over? Some of you wrote about being docked for fees for mistakes? Really? Can you be more specific? How much were the fees for a hotel shop and how much were you docked? I have not shopped for Regal yet but am considering it. What do they start new shoppers with? I have 2 years of experience with high end restaurants and 4 hotels so far.

I think everybody starts with a restaurant/bar. Their reports are easy... and, to a fault, their "instructions" are even simpler. I have been marked down before. It's been a while and I don't shop for them often, so I don't recall. But half the fee sounds about right.

If you got a 20 from Coyle, you are the cream of the crop, no matter what anyone else says. Just sayin...

It's been my experience that when they say full reimbursement, they mean it. You can't go over "full." The only problem I can see is if you tip more than they tell you.

I found myself thinking of myself as "the guest" for days after I did my report. :-)

We cannot say just what the fees are without violating our ICAs. I have never had a problem going over the reimbursement limits, but I do the hotels solo.

I find the Regal hotels well worth my while, but I also value the super rewards points that I get by using each hotel chain's credit card that links to their rewards system.

Would you like 10-20 free hotel nights at very nice hotels per year? That's where the real money is!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2014 12:41PM by walesmaven.

I'm just about to do my first assignment for Regal and it's an overnight hotel shop. The instructions do seem simple. In fact, they're almost too simple, so I sent an email asking a few questions. Based on the comments here, I expect to hear back with some clarification before the visit date.

I do have a credit card linked to the hotel chain but didn't think I'd be able to use it because the loyalty program number is printed right on the front of the card. Regal's instructions say to not use the loyalty program during reservation or check-in. I feel like it would be awkward to present that card but decline having my account added to the folio.

I obviously value the points, but my obligation to the MSC comes first on an assignment. Walesmaven, do you have a workaround for that situation? I suppose I could change the card at check-out, but I don't know if that would complicate the reimbursement process somehow.

Actually, the moment you provided your phone number (or some othe info, depending on the hotel chain) when making a reservation, the system told the reservationist that you are a member of the rewards program. She/he should have thanked you for your loyalty at that point. Regal staff are aware that we cannot actually keep our rewards status a secret with the new reservation systems being linked to the rewards programs. I emailed them the first time that I was spotted as a rewards member during a reservation call and they said not to worry, and that they were aware of the issue.

If you feel more comfortable using a different credit card on check in and then changing to the rewards card at check-out, that's fine too. It won't mark you as a shoppper; folks forget about their rewards cards all the time.

I made a point to provide an alternate email address, phone number, and mailing address, not the info listed in my loyalty program account. For now, it seems, the reservation system is in the dark. I'll find out whether the system magically links my alternate info when I add the loyalty program on check-out. I don't have any other phone numbers or addresses to use!

I was mostly concerned that changing the credit card at check-out could impact reimbursement. I've worked with another MSC that specifies in their guidelines that they will only be able to verify the reimbursement amount with the client if shoppers use the same credit card for reservation and folio settlement.

Either way, thanks for your advice, it's much appreciated.

Capital,
Providing all that alternative info is really overthinking this, IMHO.

When working with Regal, I actually do the same thing. Different email address, different address, etc. Upon check-out I'll just provide the rewards number and/or change credit cards. I can tell you from experience that if you do that, it won't link the alternate address or email to your rewards account. Also, the only reason it may link with a credit card is if you have that card saved in your rewards profile. Just a couple of reference points


CapitalJay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I made a point to provide an alternate email
> address, phone number, and mailing address, not
> the info listed in my loyalty program account.
> For now, it seems, the reservation system is in
> the dark. I'll find out whether the system
> magically links my alternate info when I add the
> loyalty program on check-out. I don't have any
> other phone numbers or addresses to use!
>
> I was mostly concerned that changing the credit
> card at check-out could impact reimbursement.
> I've worked with another MSC that specifies in
> their guidelines that they will only be able to
> verify the reimbursement amount with the client if
> shoppers use the same credit card for reservation
> and folio settlement.
>
> Either way, thanks for your advice, it's much
> appreciated.

Hi. Could someone tell me how a two night hotel stay works? I have done a one night. Do you have to do everything in the overnight lodging instructions twice? How about the room service dinner? Is that once or twice? I emailed them but haven't heard back.

Thanks!

Look on your reports. Just complete the reports that are posted.

Hi Linda,

Thanks for your response. I haven't signed up yet, so I can't see the reports, just the names.
Buffet Breakfast 2
Bar Sports
Buffet Breakfast
IRD
Bar Lobby
Coffee Kiosk
Lodging 2 nights

I am able to view "files you need". One of the files is "One Night Lodging". Is two night lodging like "One Night Lodging" but two times? There is also a file you need for "Room Service". Is that for just one night, or do I complete it twice? I am trying to figure out the amount of work involved to see if I would be able to complete it with my current schedule. I get that you have to evaluate two bars and do the buffet breakfast twice. I don't know what IRD is, and I don't know how much is involved in the 2 night lodging.

IRD is In Room Dining. From the list you posted, I think you can be confident that the breakfast buffet needs to be checked multiple times due to multiple listings. The coffee kiosk is something that I have had to check every morning on other shops so I suspect it may be the same for you. My suspicion is that IRD would only need to be shopped once, and to be conservative I would suspect that the bars may require multiple visits. On some hotel shops, I have had to visit the same bar as many as 8 times over a 3 night stay.

This is approximate because each hotel is unique.
This looks like a fairly simple hotel shop with 2 bars, 2 breakfasts, 1 IRD and 1 coffee kiosk.

Buffet Breakfast 2 = #1 buffet breakfasts
Bar Sports = 1 bar
Buffet Breakfast = #2 buffet breakfast
IRD = 1 in-room dining
Bar Lobby = 1 bar
Coffee Kiosk = once, but usually 2 different interactions, 20 minutes apart
Lodging 2 nights = valet in, bellman in, front desk check in, housekeeping, maintenance, PBX, guest room, bathroom, maybe public places, front desk check out, doorman out, valet out.

Thank you Cubbiecat. So one night lodging and two night lodging requirements are basically the same. That's very helpful. :-)

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, the moment you provided your phone
> number (or some othe info, depending on the hotel
> chain) when making a reservation, the system told
> the reservationist that you are a member of the
> rewards program. She/he should have thanked you
> for your loyalty at that point. Regal staff are
> aware that we cannot actually keep our rewards
> status a secret with the new reservation systems
> being linked to the rewards programs. I emailed
> them the first time that I was spotted as a
> rewards member during a reservation call and they
> said not to worry, and that they were aware of the
> issue.
>
> If you feel more comfortable using a different
> credit card on check in and then changing to the
> rewards card at check-out, that's fine too. It
> won't mark you as a shoppper; folks forget about
> their rewards cards all the time.

Walesmaven, I just made a reservation for a hotel shop for Regal and was told I needed to cancel it and redo it without the Rewards. I was told to use a different email address, phone number, whatever it takes. I ended up disabling and clearing my cookies because I can't go to the hotel site without it already knowing who I am, even if I log out of Rewards!

Just use a different browser. Problem solved.

Even if you use your email address, it should not automatically connect your rewards account number. At least, not in my experience.

Interesting. I will try a different browser next time and use an alternate email address. Never too late to learn something new.