Thank you for shopping for Regal Hospitality Group!
***Please be advised that clients review security camera footage to verify your shop report details and timelines. Should anything written in your report not match their camera footage, then your report becomes invalid; this means you will not be reimbursed for any expenses and your Shopper Profile may be permanently deactivated.***
All reports must include a complete "Expense Report" which details all transactions and approved expenditure for reimbursement and/or reversal of folio charges. Please click this button to download a worksheet for your visit expenses. This expense report must be uploaded to your report prior to submission.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
BLANK EXPENSE REPORT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: I'm a new shopper and have been applying for shops but have not been assigned to any shops yet. How do I get selected?
A: Shoppers who are new to Regal Hospitality Group are encouraged to apply for Outlet-only shops and/or 1-Night Lodging shops. Also, when Courtyard by Marriott shops are posted, they are open for self-assignment and available to all shoppers. Regal Hospitality Group must become familiar with your work before assigning larger 2-night and 3-night shops to you. This is also for your protection, as you must cover all expenses upfront. When a shop is not performed correctly and/or the report is rejected by the client for any reason, it could be a substantial loss of money to you.
Q: Do you have any tips for applying for shops?
A: Check for hotel availability on your preferred date before submitting your application. Read the "Shop Comments" for any listed blackout dates and make sure you have not selected one of them. Some shops receive more than 20 applications. When you are not selected for a shop, do not take it personally and do not send an email asking why you were not selected. Shoppers are selected based on the clients' needs.
Q: What expenses are eligible for reimbursement?
A: Shoppers are reimbursed for approved guestroom folio charges, including room, taxes, resort fees, internet (if not included in the rate), parking fees assessed by the hotel, and any authorized transactions required by the hotel to be automatically charged to the folio. Shoppers are also reimbursed for their cash expenses related to the outlets that have been assigned to the shop. Examples of expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement include, but are not limited to, meals/outlets not assigned to the shop, unauthorized room upgrades, pet deposits/fees, off-site/non-hotel parking, pay-per-view movies, mini-bar charges, voluntary housekeeping gratuities, domestic travel expenses, etc.
Q: Do I have to wait until I check-in to begin performing outlet transactions?
A: No, you may begin performing cash transactions as soon as you arrive on the property. You may also perform cash transactions after you check-out.
Q: What do I do when I'm performing a shop and one of my assigned outlets is closed or I need assistance?
A: During normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM ET, you may send an email to planner@regalhg.com. In the email, please state the hotel you are shopping for and the outlet that is unavailable, and/or the issue. You will be given directions to either replace the closed outlet or skip the outlet altogether. Outside of normal business hours, please call 813-854-1855. Do not simply skip the outlet without contacting Regal Hospitality Group, as this may result in a reduction or loss of shopper pay and/or rejection of the shop report.
Q: Do I have to use cash for all transactions?
A: YES! You must pay cash at every assigned outlet and provide cash handling details in the shop report. Be sure to take plenty of smaller denominations so that you do not need to ask for change. Any exceptions will be noted in the "Evaluation Info Comments" at the top of your shop form.
Q: What happens if I forget to attach my expense report when I submit the shop report?
A: You may not be reimbursed for certain expenses, such as valet and bellman gratuities. The expense report must be saved as a PDF and attached to the shop form for full reimbursement. If you forget to attach your expense report, then you may email it to planner@regalhg.com. However, repeated occurrences may result in a reduction in your shopper pay.
Q: What happens if I'm unable to perform a shop assigned to me?
A: When you accept a shop, you are making a commitment. It is understood that occasionally an emergency may arise that prevents you from honoring your commitment. If this should occur, then please send an email to planner@regalhg.com or call 813-854-1855 right away. The shop will be rescheduled, if possible. Otherwise, the shop will be removed from your Shopper Log. Frequently dropping shops and/or dropping a shop without notifying Regal Hospitality Group will result in your Shopper Profile being placed under review and possibly deactivated.
Q: When should I expect to receive my reimbursement check?
A: Reimbursement checks are issued between 45-75 days after the shop is completed.
Q: Will the guestroom folio charges to my credit card be reversed or reimbursed?
A: Each hotel client determines their own accounting policies and procedures and they are subject to change at any time. If you do not see a reversal posted to your credit card account within two weeks after the shop is completed, then the folio charges will be included in your reimbursement check. *EXCEPTION: All Courtyards reverse the folio charges. If you do not see a reversal on your credit card account posted within two weeks after your check-out date, then email ar@regalhg.com with the name of the Courtyard and the date of your shop. NOTE: It is your responsibility as an Independent Contractor to keep track of your own expenses and reimbursements. If you have not received reimbursement within 90 days of the completion of your shop, then notify ar@regalhg.com immediately. After 180 days, Regal Hospitality Group cannot guarantee that a hotel will process a folio reversal.
Q: Who is my contact for questions about my reimbursement check and/or folio reversal?
A: Email ar@regalhg.com with any questions concerning reimbursement checks, folio reversals, and shopper pay.
Q: What do I do when my mailing address and/or my name changes?
A: Please update your Shopper Profile AND send an email to ar@regalhg.com. If you do not send an email, then your next check may be mailed to your previous address.
***Please be advised that clients review security camera footage to verify your shop report details and timelines. Should anything written in your report not match their camera footage, then your report becomes invalid; this means you will not be reimbursed for any expenses and your Shopper Profile may be permanently deactivated.***
All reports must include a complete "Expense Report" which details all transactions and approved expenditure for reimbursement and/or reversal of folio charges. Please click this button to download a worksheet for your visit expenses. This expense report must be uploaded to your report prior to submission.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
BLANK EXPENSE REPORT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: I'm a new shopper and have been applying for shops but have not been assigned to any shops yet. How do I get selected?
A: Shoppers who are new to Regal Hospitality Group are encouraged to apply for Outlet-only shops and/or 1-Night Lodging shops. Also, when Courtyard by Marriott shops are posted, they are open for self-assignment and available to all shoppers. Regal Hospitality Group must become familiar with your work before assigning larger 2-night and 3-night shops to you. This is also for your protection, as you must cover all expenses upfront. When a shop is not performed correctly and/or the report is rejected by the client for any reason, it could be a substantial loss of money to you.
Q: Do you have any tips for applying for shops?
A: Check for hotel availability on your preferred date before submitting your application. Read the "Shop Comments" for any listed blackout dates and make sure you have not selected one of them. Some shops receive more than 20 applications. When you are not selected for a shop, do not take it personally and do not send an email asking why you were not selected. Shoppers are selected based on the clients' needs.
Q: What expenses are eligible for reimbursement?
A: Shoppers are reimbursed for approved guestroom folio charges, including room, taxes, resort fees, internet (if not included in the rate), parking fees assessed by the hotel, and any authorized transactions required by the hotel to be automatically charged to the folio. Shoppers are also reimbursed for their cash expenses related to the outlets that have been assigned to the shop. Examples of expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement include, but are not limited to, meals/outlets not assigned to the shop, unauthorized room upgrades, pet deposits/fees, off-site/non-hotel parking, pay-per-view movies, mini-bar charges, voluntary housekeeping gratuities, domestic travel expenses, etc.
Q: Do I have to wait until I check-in to begin performing outlet transactions?
A: No, you may begin performing cash transactions as soon as you arrive on the property. You may also perform cash transactions after you check-out.
Q: What do I do when I'm performing a shop and one of my assigned outlets is closed or I need assistance?
A: During normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM ET, you may send an email to planner@regalhg.com. In the email, please state the hotel you are shopping for and the outlet that is unavailable, and/or the issue. You will be given directions to either replace the closed outlet or skip the outlet altogether. Outside of normal business hours, please call 813-854-1855. Do not simply skip the outlet without contacting Regal Hospitality Group, as this may result in a reduction or loss of shopper pay and/or rejection of the shop report.
Q: Do I have to use cash for all transactions?
A: YES! You must pay cash at every assigned outlet and provide cash handling details in the shop report. Be sure to take plenty of smaller denominations so that you do not need to ask for change. Any exceptions will be noted in the "Evaluation Info Comments" at the top of your shop form.
Q: What happens if I forget to attach my expense report when I submit the shop report?
A: You may not be reimbursed for certain expenses, such as valet and bellman gratuities. The expense report must be saved as a PDF and attached to the shop form for full reimbursement. If you forget to attach your expense report, then you may email it to planner@regalhg.com. However, repeated occurrences may result in a reduction in your shopper pay.
Q: What happens if I'm unable to perform a shop assigned to me?
A: When you accept a shop, you are making a commitment. It is understood that occasionally an emergency may arise that prevents you from honoring your commitment. If this should occur, then please send an email to planner@regalhg.com or call 813-854-1855 right away. The shop will be rescheduled, if possible. Otherwise, the shop will be removed from your Shopper Log. Frequently dropping shops and/or dropping a shop without notifying Regal Hospitality Group will result in your Shopper Profile being placed under review and possibly deactivated.
Q: When should I expect to receive my reimbursement check?
A: Reimbursement checks are issued between 45-75 days after the shop is completed.
Q: Will the guestroom folio charges to my credit card be reversed or reimbursed?
A: Each hotel client determines their own accounting policies and procedures and they are subject to change at any time. If you do not see a reversal posted to your credit card account within two weeks after the shop is completed, then the folio charges will be included in your reimbursement check. *EXCEPTION: All Courtyards reverse the folio charges. If you do not see a reversal on your credit card account posted within two weeks after your check-out date, then email ar@regalhg.com with the name of the Courtyard and the date of your shop. NOTE: It is your responsibility as an Independent Contractor to keep track of your own expenses and reimbursements. If you have not received reimbursement within 90 days of the completion of your shop, then notify ar@regalhg.com immediately. After 180 days, Regal Hospitality Group cannot guarantee that a hotel will process a folio reversal.
Q: Who is my contact for questions about my reimbursement check and/or folio reversal?
A: Email ar@regalhg.com with any questions concerning reimbursement checks, folio reversals, and shopper pay.
Q: What do I do when my mailing address and/or my name changes?
A: Please update your Shopper Profile AND send an email to ar@regalhg.com. If you do not send an email, then your next check may be mailed to your previous address.