Unfortunately, when I follow the link to the Google app store, it shows as no longer available. I'll check again in a few days, perhaps it's just temporary.

@SteveSoCal I frequently do up scale dines for Coyle. Sometimes 15 a month. Did one hotel years ago including lounge, and I swore never again! I am tempted though by your ref to the chain that allow dogs (not that I have one). so those would take less time than the ones that warn you they expect a very detailed report, must be used to very high end, etc etc.. ? Also can you book a room with a king or do they make you book cheapest? Thanks!

The app is not available out of the USA. Anyone else got any recommendations ? Thanks

@caro555 wrote:

Also can you book a room with a king or do they make you book cheapest? Thanks!

The one policy with Coyle that seems to be sticking is that you can choose your bedding preference. It's usually between a King and Doubles, but you have to book the cheapest of your bedding preference.

I have used this the other way around, where the cheapest available King Room was city view, but I found doubles with an ocean view and was able to book that. You are not required to sleep in the other bed...

How do I find upscale dining shops for Coyle? Seems like all I ever see is airport dining shops with them

@Jnbent35 wrote:

How do I find upscale dining shops for Coyle? Seems like all I ever see is airport dining shops with them

Are you checking the Shopmetrics job board? There are literally thousands of assignments just posted for Q1 of 2025

What’s the best way to search? Do you just clear everything out for the search criteria? I’m in Ohio and it doesn’t seem like there is anything close to me

The default Coyle search via zip code is a mess with all the airport and international results. I usually search by just my state and a bordering state I can reach in a few minutes. Or, if I know I'm going somewhere and want to try to find a hotel or restaurant to shop, I search by that state. Even with the current 2500 shops on the board states like NY or CA are still just a few pages of results, and most other states have even fewer results.

Like with any MSC you may find lots of clients in your area or very few. For years Coyle had almost no presence in my market, but after Covid they picked up a few nice restaurant groups that have enough locations that I can usually get one or two in every month.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2025 11:08PM by NinS.

@Msilk Have a great cruise and please come back after it's finished to let us know how everything went. I noticed in the shop details that the wi-fi expenses can be fully reimbursed, and while I'm not sure about this particular client, in recent years many cruise lines have vastly improved their wi-fi. Trying to do a cruise report as you go along with no or limited wi-fi like @SteveSoCal was tasked with does not sound fun!

@NinS wrote:

Trying to do a cruise report as you go along with no or limited wi-fi like @SteveSoCal was tasked with does not sound fun!

For sure. It's been more than 10 years since my last cruise evaluation so I hope things are getting better.

I remember taking notes on my phone during dinner on my very first cruise shop and a guy walked up to me and asked how I was getting reception. I know it's more normal these days to have a phone out at dinner.

And if you are searching Coyle shops with your ZIP code in place, you are definitely not taking full advantage of the system. I have told this story before I am definitely dating myself with it, but there was exactly ONE Coyle restaurant shop in Los Angeles when I first started with the MSC. I had to go to New York and take diners there to establish myself before I was allowed to do hotels. I was lucky that my work brought me to NYC a few times a year back then.

Thanks! That's good.

Thinking back to the last cruise shop I did for Coyle, pretty sure that was in the old system where you could download all the standards and then do it all off-line when you had limited to no internet service. The last one that I did was the 14-night cruise where I followed much of the same that Steve mentions and worked hard every other day. I also had my guest help, and she wrote some of the simpler sections for me (with me editing) and did picture management and naming as well - this really helped.

I found the last cruise I did to be worth it (since it was 14 nights, included airfare and some shore excursions, and was on a higher end cruise line to an expensive area - Northern Europe), but I also did one before that in the Caribbean that, while it included airfare, was literally the bargain basement of all cruise cabins... no thank you. I think cruise shops are definitely worth it to do once just to say you did - but that's it for me. That said, it's still kind of the "you have arrived" of mystery shops - so I hope you have a great time! Please come back and tell us what you think of the experience.

Please tell me what is ShopIt?

Paula:
It is a program I can enter timed notes and photos that allow me to create a blow by blow report. It has a capability to choose entries and find the time between them to the second. The abbreviated notes will jog my memory regarding timing, descriptions of people, flow of events, and with the pictures accurate descriptions of food. Without this crutch there is no way I will be able to report at the level of accuracy I do now. Once the app becomes unstable I hope the group will have found a replacement. Below is a partially redacted copy of a shop I did some time ago. Keep in mind I have the phone between my legs and input notes surreptitiously.


Image Loaded
18:07:18
Rey
18:07:23
sit
18:08:28
Ashley Nicole drinks water
18:12:16
ash f Brn hr hr no gls 5-8
18:17:18
ptail
18:24:29
Image Loaded
18:24:40
Image Loaded
18:24:49
Nicole f nrn hr bun no gls 5-8
18:25:09
Image Loaded
18:26:48
mgr m Ben he beard no gls 5-10
18:29:19
plates
18:29:27
sat ck
18:29:40
mgr app
18:36:12
clear sat ck
18:41:02
no wipe
18:41:10
Image Loaded
18:52:51
Image Loaded
18:52:57
r1 b m blk hr hat beard no gls 6-0
18:54:10
sat ck drink?
18:56:51
box dst?
19:07:28
box menu
19:10:37
clear ck
19:19:05
pos
19:21:22
tysm for coming. good Ron. ty
19:24:17
no comment host
19:30:10
Ended
19:30:12

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2025 12:58PM by Msilk.

@MMMM wrote:

What is "Shoplt" that MSilk referenced? An app?

I have had that app from inception when it was "free" and then went to $1. A few years later, it was popular and cost much more. It used to be for iPhones only - not sure if they had an Android option for your phone. They are on Faceboo[www.facebook.com]:

So I did a 2 night boutique hotel shop. Maybe I write too much as it took a long time to do the reports. Are some brands they do even longer? Thanks.

Yes. Much.

@caro555 wrote:

So I did a 2 night boutique hotel shop. Maybe I write too much as it took a long time to do the reports. Are some brands they do even longer? Thanks.

It may depend on which 2 night boutique hotel shop, if it's the high end one with the many, many meals - that is a pretty long one. But yes, there are longer ones that have been done in the past...

Thanks. Yep it was an upscale one, with multiple outlets to do etc. Any idea what the ones that let you take a dog are like... not that I have a dog!

how long would you say these "dog allowed " ones take.. could I realistically do it as I went along and spend a few hours finishing after check out? Thanks

The "dog" one doesn't take as long as a normal two night boutique or resort stay in part because you're just getting one meal, there's no turndown service, and things like the self-serve coffee station and happy hour interaction don't take very long. You do need to be prepared to answer things about the "vibe" of the property -- I'd just go with your impressions and avoid overthinking it.

Thanks!

The dog one is lightyears easier than the upscale boutique one with the zillion meals.

Thanks everyone!

I have never had a cruise but I think the hotel surveys are getting ridiculous