Hotel & Lodging Mystery Guest Programs

Hotel mystery guest programs evaluate hotels, resorts, and lodging properties for service standards, guest experience, amenities, and brand compliance through overnight stays.

With U.S.

hotel industry generating $200+ billion and brands monitoring thousands of properties, mystery guest services generate revenue of $110,000-$350,000 annually with profit margins of 40-55%.

The business requires travel-flexible evaluators, comprehensive hotel evaluation criteria, expense management for stays, and hospitality client relationships.

Services include check-in and front desk evaluation, room condition and housekeeping assessment, amenity and facility evaluation, concierge and bell service testing, and checkout experience assessment.

Pricing typically $80-$250 room reimbursement plus $60-$150 evaluation fee, billed to hotel clients at $250-$600 per stay.

Success factors include recruiting experienced travelers as evaluators, comprehensive assessment of all guest touchpoints, detailed reporting with photo documentation, evaluating brand standard compliance, and building relationships with hotel brands, management companies, and independent properties.

Most evaluations include overnight stays assessing reservation, check-in, room quality, housekeeping, amenities, staff service, and checkout.

The business serves hotel brands, hotel management companies, resort properties, boutique hotels, and hospitality consultants.

Many programs include multiple property visits for portfolio assessments.

Marketing focuses on hotel brands, hotel management companies, luxury properties, and resort operators.

With hotels competing on guest experience and brands monitoring property standards in 2025, mystery guest programs offer travel opportunities for hospitality experts managing evaluator networks assessing comprehensive hotel service and facilities.