Hotel mystery shops

Hello everyone!

I am a newbie, so I apologize if this is one of those questions that I shouldn't be asking. I thank you for your patience in advance!

I have signed up with nearly 20 MSC's, and I have only seen one hotel shop, but I have read about a lot of them on this forum and elsewhere on the web. Is there an MSC that specializes in the hospitality industry, or do the hotels pick an MSC on a case by case basis?

Thanks!
I really appreciate any advice you can give me!

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Hotel Mystery Shopping

There are several that specialize in hospitality, but Coyle is the only one that comes to mind. I've also seen a couple through Intellishop. Don't ask me what reports are like. I've always avoided hotel shops except for some that were part of a casino.

Right below your post is a link for more discussions about the subject and Coyle should be on the Official List.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

SQM also does hotels but they only reimburse you half of the cost.

Thank you--both of you!

RMurp, I have signed up for that MSC already, but I haven't seen anything nearby so far. Thank you for the recommendation I really appreciate it!

Lisa, I'm glad you said that. I received a private message earlier that suggested Coyle as well, and I applied. I feel much more confident about them now that you suggested them as well since we shop the same metro area.

Again, thank you both!

With Coyle, you have to qualify to get any hotel shops by doing a number of their fine dining shops, with very high marks.

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.

BTW, I am not with Coyle since fine dining and extensive hotel shops are not my cup of tea. In fact, the few times I had hotels as part of a casino, the work was not worth the reward for me.

Yeah, I was looking at that. I'm not really into find dining myself, but maybe I could take my hubby out on a proper date? Let him get all fancied up so I can show him off?

There are also many middle of the road, business-travel type hotels out there that don't require quite as many interactions as the four/five star hotels. I've recently seen a job post where the only required interactions are the reservation, check-in, one problem, check out and one interaction. Seems like a much better option for someone looking to sightsee and enjoy the area they're staying than the four/five stars that require valet, bellman, IRD (x2-3), engineering, housekeeping, PBX x 6-8, executive lounge, restaurant (x1-2), bar, concierge, front desk, bellman out, valet out, etc., etc.! It really depends on what you're "in it" for - a fancy getaway you wouldn't normally spring for, knowing it will be tons of work, a "free" night somewhere you'd like to explore (in exchange for some reporting), or the $$. It definitely varies from shopper to shopper and may even vary from job to job for each shopper. In some cities, I'd rather stay in a "short report, quick interactions" two/three star hotel so I have time to enjoy my surroundings. In my home city, I'd rather stay at the luxury resorts and be pampered, never leaving the hotel!

Tsk,

again you have given me a nice dose of perspective :-)

MCG does them but they require a Silver or Gold Certification.

Little lady shopping Southern Louisiana & Mississippi.

Is MCG their name or an acronym?

It's an acronym. MCG, Management Consultant Group, LLC

Little lady shopping Southern Louisiana & Mississippi.

Thanks!

Anything for LisaSTL. You have given lots of good advice on this site. Soooo, I put in my 2 cents and hopefully it'll turn into more for you.

Little lady shopping Southern Louisiana & Mississippi.

Well thanks again

I did a hotel shop in town yesterday. Normally, hotels won't rent to locals. When I made the reservation I told the clerk that the company I worked for shortened the length of a conference by one day, and I had already arranged to have my home fumigated, so I needed a place for the night.

I got the room, and got an upgrade from ocean view single to oceanfront suite. Sometimes things work out.

"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful." Edward R. Murrow

Thou shalt not steal. I mean defensively. On offense, indeed thou shall steal and thou must.--Branch Rickey

Where do you live that a hotel would be that picky? Everyone I know has at least several occasions each year that they get hotel rooms right here in town. Most often to stay near a venue rather than drive home after an event.

Yes, I have not heard of not renting to locals. So many legit reasons that a local might want to stay.

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.

The small town I live in (around 30,000) has hotels (and I mean brand name chain) that won't rent to locals either. There was an article in the paper about it and it is to avoid locals renting rooms to use for illegal purposes (meth, prostitution, etc). And seriously although our town does have the occasional meth lab pop up I think it's a really crazy policy. I keep thinking I can't imagine if I went in they wouldn't rent to me...pulling up in my nicer car, dressed nicely, and with a reason to need a room.

Liz

Here the hotels often run specials for locals that are tied into specific events. A friend and I spent a weekend at a place only 15 minutes from home because it was several blocks from one the St. Patrick's Day parades. The hotel had a special which included a shuttle to the beginning of the parade route. Even without the shuttle, the location was closer than any place we could have found unless we drove in about six hours early.

Traveliz hit the nail on the head, and yes, this was a national chain and I'm a member of their rewards program. This is a major East Coast resort in South Carolina. Had it been in season, no way would they have rented me the room, no descent hotel in town would--and the ones that would rent to a local in season, you wouldn't want to stay there.

Actually, hotels don't have to rent to anyone. They are private property open to the public, just like shopping malls and any retail store.

Wow, you learn something new everyday. I am been tempted to stay one night at a hotel (very close to home), just to have one animal free night. I love them (3 dogs and two cats), but it would be nice to have one night away from them.

Wow, Spaztck! Me too!

I've never done it, yet... With the numbers of dogs I always have, I usually have one or more that needs some kind of special attention or care due to age or medical condition, and just feel kinda bad about it because of that. But sometimes, I really would love to just have a night away. If it was in town, I could get everyone taken care of, then slip off for some relaxation & rejuvenation. If I could get a dog-sitter that I could feel really good about, that would be even better!

But anyway, I have thought that if I could get a mystery shop at a local hotel, one of the chain ones, it would give me a good excuse to go for it. I live RIGHT by an I-5 interchange, and there are lots of chain hotels within 10 minutes of my house. Yet I've never seen the chain hotels offered. Actually, I rarely see any hotels offered with the MSC's I'm signed up with. I know I need to get signed up with more. : )

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

SPAM

SPAM and it has been reported.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Hotel mystery shops

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine