Hotel Shops

So, I don't completely understand the process of requesting travel with a hotel shop. I realize I just name a price and they can choose to accept it or not. But, are there more things to consider? Is there somewhere I can read/learn about the process? Do I need to try to underbid other shoppers on travel expenses?

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In my opinion hotel shops are just not worth the money. The fee is usually $50; maybe $75. For that princely sum, you are scrambling to get all your scenarios in on your evaluation form. If it's a two night stay it's definitely do-able. But a 1-night stay -- never again for me. I can earn money much faster with more conventional assignments.

Gooseman,
You may be missing the big point of hotel shops; rewards points are turned into non-taxable income that buys me 10-14 nights of free lodgings at great hotels per year. I got them by joining the hotel chains' rewards clubs and then getting the affiliated credit card, which doubles points earned, or better.

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.

Brarizona,
Since "bidding" for travel expenses for hotel shops is used by only a few MSCs, and can differ among those, if you name the MSC, without naming the client, someone may be able to help.

That said, most hotel shops have no provision whatsoever for travel reimbursements.

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.

For me hotel shops are free money. I don't just "do" hotel shops. I do hotel shops when I need a hotel and most hotel interactions are done at times I wouldn't be doing other shops anyway.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Well that's something I had not thought of (hotel points; tax free, etc). Thanks for the tip!

Good points, Wales Maven. Time to get that American Express SPG affiliated card!

That's the exact reason I signed up for the Marriott card. That and I got 80K bonus points which "paid" for 3 nights in Amsterdam next month!

Shopping central Arizona.

if the msc/hotel reimburses your credit card payment back onto the credit card, don't you lose the points too (or not get to earn points for that visit)?

Yes and no. I did a Ritz-Carlton a few months back and I lost the points related to the charge on my credit card (probably about 7,500 points) because it was reversed, but I still retained the point for the actual stay at the property (over 13,000 points).

I have had some hotel shops that reimburse by check, although they're fewer than the credit card reversals.

Shopping central Arizona.

@asilverstein wrote:

I did a Ritz-Carlton a few months back and I lost the points related to the charge on my credit card (probably about 7,500 points) because it was reversed, but I still retained the point for the actual stay at the property (over 13,000 points).

Actually, the Ritz is the only hotel that has ever reversed my stay points back with the credit reversal. It's a particular Ritz because it's happened twice there, but never at other Ritz properties. Must be someone in accounting who needs a vacation....

Royal Caribbean also removed my credit for the cruises I evaluated with them, They are SOO cheap!

The answer is that most of the time you get to keep the points, but not always. There's no guarantee.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@asilverstein wrote:

I did a Ritz-Carlton a few months back and I lost the points related to the charge on my credit card (probably about 7,500 points) because it was reversed, but I still retained the point for the actual stay at the property (over 13,000 points).

Actually, the Ritz is the only hotel that has ever reversed my stay points back with the credit reversal. It's a particular Ritz because it's happened twice there, but never at other Ritz properties. Must be someone in accounting who needs a vacation....

Royal Caribbean also removed my credit for the cruises I evaluated with them, They are SOO cheap!

The answer is that most of the time you get to keep the points, but not always. There's no guarantee.

Well I guess nothing is absolute. But mine didn't. Come on out to Tucson....it's a beautiful resort! (Or on second thought, just leave it for me to take

)

Shopping central Arizona.

I've never had a Marriott/Ritz NOT reverse the points earned from the use of the Marriott card.
Steve, I was on a Royal cruise (not a shop) in July and they nickel & dime'd the hell out of it. It was also unbearable how the staff all acted as though they were afraid for their jobs. Something has DEFINITELY changed with that company. As I was walking through the promenade (where the stores all are and where they hustle the hell out of you) I actually had one guy, who was handing out coupons, follow me saying, "Please!! Just take it! They're watching me!!!"

______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

I have had two instances where points for the stay were reversed - once was a Ritz Carlton and once was a Hyatt. I have stayed at countless other Ritz's and Hyatt's as shops and always kept the points for the stay (never for the credit card charges). Basically, the data points indicate that you will "usually" keep hotel points for the stay but it is not a guarantee. As far as travel reimbursements - I work for several companies that reimburse full travel, so it is not true that hotel shops usually do not come with travel reimbursements. In some cases, I am given a budget and I have to work within the budget, in other cases, I have to "bid" travel.

Steve, my RCCL shops show 1 day's credit each. Pretty weird. It takes so much to jump levels with them now. The competitor cruises are a much better deal. We are going to do a back-to-back (on our own dime) on Princess -- they give credit for either cruises OR days, whichever is more beneficial. The B2B will bring us up another level. Hoju, I agree with you about the nickel and diming on RCCL. It's horrible.

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.

Is it OK to ask which Ritz location reversed the points? Thanks

For me it was Laguna Niguel. Points were reversed on shops for two different MSCs...

@SteveSoCal wrote:

For me it was Laguna Niguel. Points were reversed on shops for two different MSCs...

My friend works there.

Since they know every single shopper that comes through there, it's not hard to reverse their points.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2016 04:07AM by SoCalMama.

how do they know the shoppers?

@seattleshop425 wrote:

how do they know the shoppers?

Obvious scenarios. Plus a good majority of them don't fit the demographic. Don't show up in a Honda Civic. Don't show up in average joe clothing with cheap shoes. Try not to put your cell phone on the front desk counter. They know that you are recording them. Turn around time is really fast on the reports, so they remember who was there as well.

Not need to list stories about rich people who drive Hondas. >90% of the customers are driving luxury vehicles.

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