Last reviewed: May 20, 2026. Reflects Coyle Hospitality operations as Hospitality Services, Inc., its ShopMetrics sign-up platform, current MSPA Americas membership, and the firm’s hospitality-focused assignment mix.
Coyle Hospitality is a mystery shopping company built around one world: hospitality. While most firms chase gas stations, fast food, and retail, Coyle focuses on hotels, restaurants, cruises, and spas. For shoppers who’d rather evaluate a nice dinner or a resort stay than a quick-lube counter, that focus is the whole appeal.
The mystery shopping company has run customer experience programs since 1996 from its base in New York City. Its client list reads like a luxury travel guide, with Marriott, Four Seasons, IHG, and St. Regis among the names. Coyle says it has completed more than 65,000 evaluations across 70-plus countries, drawing on a panel of 18,000-plus professional evaluators (per company figures). Sign-up runs through ShopMetrics, a platform many experienced shoppers already know from other firms.
This Coyle Hospitality review covers what shopping for the firm actually looks like. We walk through how sign-up works, what industries you’ll see, how pay is structured, and the trade-offs of working with a luxury-focused firm. Use it alongside our best mystery shopping companies guide to decide where Coyle fits in your sign-up rotation.
Coyle Hospitality Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1996 (New York City)
- Headquarters
- 244 Madison Ave #369, New York, NY 10016
- Legal entity
- Hospitality Services, Inc. dba Coyle Hospitality Group
- Coverage
- 70+ countries per company materials, including the US
- Specialty
- Hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruises, spas
- Sign-up platform
- ShopMetrics (web-based)
- Industry group
- MSPA Americas member
- Shopper term
- Evaluator
- Pay model
- Per-assignment fee plus reimbursable expenses
- Best for
- Shoppers near hotels, fine dining, and travel hubs
A Long Track Record in a Niche Market
A long track record matters when you’re picking a mystery shopping company. Coyle has run mystery shopping programs since 1996. That’s nearly three decades in a field where many firms come and go within a few years.
Staying power means something here. Coyle has built relationships with major hotel and restaurant brands that take years to earn. The firm reports more than 65,000 completed evaluations and a network of 18,000-plus evaluators worldwide (per company materials). Those numbers point to steady, repeat mystery shopping work rather than one-off projects.
For a shopper, a long-running firm tends to mean reliable pay and clear processes. Coyle has had time to refine how it briefs evaluators, reviews reports, and handles payment. You won’t be anyone’s test case.
The Hospitality Specialist Niche
Most mystery shopping companies cast a wide net. They cover fast food, gas stations, banks, and big-box retail because that’s where the volume is. Coyle took the opposite path. The firm built its whole business around high-touch hospitality, and that choice shapes everything about mystery shopping for them.
Coyle’s clients are hotels, resorts, fine-dining restaurants, cruise lines, and spas. Many sit at the luxury end of the market. The company even trademarked its own report frameworks for these settings, including InnsQore for hotels, ResQore for restaurants, and BarsQore for bars. These tools reflect how deep the firm goes into hospitality standards.
What “Hospitality Specialist” Means for Shoppers
The upside is obvious. If you enjoy hotels, travel, and good food, Coyle assignments can feel less like work than a standard retail mystery shopping shop. Your mystery shopping might cover a hotel stay, a spa treatment, or a multi-course dinner. The mystery shopping reports tend to be longer and more detailed, but the experiences are often more pleasant.
The catch is location. Coyle Hospitality work clusters around travel destinations, big cities, and resort areas. If you live near tourist spots or a major metro, you’ll likely see more options. In a small, low-tourism market, assignments may be rare. This is the opposite of mystery shopping firms that cover fast food and gas stations in every town.
Coyle also looks for evaluators who match a client’s typical guest. The firm refers what it calls demographically-matched shoppers, so your profile details affect which luxury jobs you see. Honest, complete profile information matters more here than at a general mystery shopping company.
Industries Coyle Hospitality Covers
Coyle’s core is hospitality, but the firm has expanded into related high-touch fields over the years. Here’s the range of mystery shopping work you may find, with the hospitality categories first:
- Hotels and resorts — overnight stays, front-desk service, amenities, and brand standard checks (Coyle’s flagship category)
- Restaurants and bars — fine dining, casual dining, and bar service evaluations, plus curbside pickup checks
- Cruises — onboard service and guest experience evaluations
- Spas — treatment quality, booking, and facility evaluations
- Cannabis dispensaries — in-store service and compliance shops for legal retailers
- Healthcare — patient experience and service evaluations
- New home sales — sales-office and model-home visits
- Property management — leasing and resident-service checks
- Retail and dealer networks — luxury retail and big-ticket sales evaluations
- Sales, telesales, and valet parking — phone-based and on-site service checks
Many Coyle assignments map to the restaurant mystery shopping or hotel evaluation formats. If you also want broad retail mystery shopping volume, plan to pair Coyle with a more general firm.
How to Sign Up for Coyle Hospitality
Coyle runs sign-up through ShopMetrics, a common industry platform. The process is quick and free. Coyle says most people finish in about five to ten minutes. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the Coyle evaluator sign-up page. From coylehospitality.com, open the “Become an Evaluator” page. The sign-up link sends you to Coyle’s ShopMetrics portal.
- Create your evaluator account. Pick a username and password, and enter your email. This sets up your shopper profile on the ShopMetrics platform.
- Enter your contact and location details. Provide your name, address, and phone. Coyle uses your location to match you with nearby mystery shopping assignments.
- Complete your demographic profile. Fill out age range, languages, and household details. Coyle refers demographically-matched evaluators, so a full profile opens more luxury work.
- Add your travel patterns. Note where you travel and how often. Coyle clients span 70-plus countries, and traveling evaluators can pick up hotel and restaurant shops on the road.
- Read and accept the user agreement. Review Coyle’s contractor terms. Signing makes you an independent contractor, not an employee.
- Start applying for assignments. Coyle says approval is automatic and immediate. Once active, browse open shops and apply for the ones that fit your schedule and interests.
Basic Requirements
To do mystery shopping for Coyle, you need to meet a few basic requirements. These are standard across most legitimate mystery shopping companies:
- At least 18 years old and able to sign a binding contract
- A computer or smartphone with reliable internet
- The ability to write clear, observation-based reports
- An eye for detail and the discipline to follow shop guidelines closely
- Comfort fronting purchase costs that get paid back later
Coyle Hospitality leans toward experienced, detail-oriented shoppers because its reports run long. Strong writing helps you land and keep the better hospitality jobs. Language skills can open international work that monolingual shoppers won’t see.
Pro Tip: Fill Out Every Profile Field
Coyle matches mystery shopping work to your profile. Because the firm refers demographically-matched evaluators, the mystery shoppers with complete profiles get first crack at luxury hotel and fine-dining jobs. Skipping optional fields can quietly cut you out of the best assignments.
How Coyle Pays
Coyle pays per assignment. In its own words, every mystery shopping job pays “a fee plus reimbursable expenses as directed by the client.” The fee is your Coyle earnings. The reimbursement covers required purchases, like a meal or a room, up to the limit set for that shop.
Coyle doesn’t publish a fixed pay schedule for evaluators. Rates vary by assignment type, location, and how detailed the report needs to be. Luxury hotel and fine-dining shops generally pay more than quick service checks because they take more time and writing.
One useful signal: Coyle publishes its client fees, which start around $65 for a restaurant evaluation and run to $395 or more for a full hotel program. Those are the prices Coyle charges its clients, not what evaluators earn. But they tell you Coyle works at the higher end of the market, not the bargain tier.
For planning, run the numbers through our mystery shopping income estimator. And remember: as an independent contractor, you track your own shop income for taxes. See our guide to mystery shopper tax deductions for what you can write off.
There’s No Such Thing as “Free” Mystery Shopping
Coyle’s site uses the phrase “free mystery shopping jobs.” That wording trips people up, so let’s be clear: “free” only ever means free to join. It never means you work for free. Real mystery shopping always pays a fee, a reimbursement, or both. No legitimate firm should ask you to pay to sign up, and no legitimate assignment is truly unpaid. (Coyle may update this wording over time, but the rule holds for the whole industry.)
Report Deadlines and Submission Timing
Coyle gives evaluators clear windows for each assignment. Coyle shop guidelines spell out when the visit must happen and when the report is due. Hospitality shops often tie to specific dates, like a booked hotel stay or a dinner reservation.
Reports for hospitality mystery shopping tend to be longer than a typical fast-food shop. You’ll write detailed narratives covering the full guest experience. Plan to spend real time on the report after your visit, often the same day while details are fresh.
Submit before the deadline in your assignment. If you can’t finish a mystery shopping job you accepted, tell Coyle as early as possible. Missing deadlines without notice can cost you future access to the better jobs.
What Sets Coyle Apart
Two features make Coyle different from a typical general-purpose firm. Both matter when you’re deciding whether the firm fits your area and goals.
The “No Repeat Visits” Policy
Coyle generally won’t send the same evaluator back to a location they’ve already shopped. This keeps each evaluation fresh and unbiased, which luxury clients value. For you, it’s a mild trade-off: you can’t turn one great local hotel into a steady, repeating gig the way you might with a fast-food route. Worth knowing that this isn’t universal across the industry. Many firms do let you re-shop a location after a cooldown period passes, so don’t assume every company works this way.
Phone Mystery Shopping You Can Do From Home
Not every Coyle job requires a site visit. The firm offers telephone mystery shopping, where you call a client’s reservation line, sales desk, or front office and rate the interaction. These mystery shopping calls let you earn without leaving home, which is handy on days you can’t travel. If you’re building a flexible mystery shopping routine, phone shops are a useful filler.
Types of Coyle Mystery Shopping Work
Coyle offers several kinds of mystery shopping assignments through its hospitality programs. The main types include:
- Site evaluations — In-person visits to hotels, restaurants, spas, and similar venues. You experience the service as a guest, then write a detailed report.
- Brand compliance audits — Checks that a location meets brand standards for cleanliness, presentation, and process. These can be announced or unannounced.
- Phone evaluations — Telephone shops rating reservation lines, sales calls, or guest-service handling. Done from home.
- Curbside and pickup checks — Quick evaluations of order accuracy, speed, and service at pickup points.
Most Coyle mystery shopping skews toward longer, narrative-rich reports. That’s the nature of hospitality mystery shopping. If you prefer fast, simple checklists, you’ll find Coyle assignments more demanding than a basic gas station shop.
Working on the ShopMetrics Platform
Coyle uses ShopMetrics for sign-up, scheduling, and report submission. ShopMetrics is one of the major platforms in the mystery shopping industry, alongside SASSIE and Prophet. If you already shop for firms like BARE International or IPSOS, you may have used it before.
The platform handles the full workflow. You browse open mystery shopping jobs, apply, read your shop guidelines, and submit your report all in one place. Coyle’s reports run long, so a desktop or laptop usually beats a phone for the writing portion.
One quirk worth knowing: Coyle does not take phone calls from evaluators. All shopper support runs through email. If you have a question about an assignment, you contact the support team in writing, not by calling the New York office.
MSPA Americas Standing
Coyle is a member of MSPA Americas, the main trade group for mystery shopping companies in North America. Membership signals that Coyle follows the industry’s ethics standards and operates as a real, vetted business.
For a US shopper, MSPA Americas membership is a good sign. It means Coyle is on the same member list you can check before signing up with any firm. The group sets shared codes of conduct and runs certification programs for shoppers who want to build credentials. For broader context, see our MSPA certification guide.
Coyle’s long history and recognizable client roster back up its standing. The firm has worked with major hotel and restaurant brands for decades. That track record, paired with MSPA membership, puts Coyle among the established mystery shopping companies rather than the fly-by-night operators.
What Shoppers Say About Coyle Hospitality
What Shoppers Often Note
- Access to hotel, resort, and fine-dining shops most general firms don’t offer
- Experiences can be genuinely enjoyable, not just transactional
- Higher-end client base suggests better-than-average pay potential
- Reimbursements can cover meals, stays, and spa visits
- Long, stable track record since 1996
- Runs on the familiar ShopMetrics platform
Common Concerns
- Assignments cluster near travel hubs; thin in low-tourism areas
- Reports run long and detailed, demanding strong writing
- No repeat visits to the same location limits steady local income
- Exact pay rates aren’t published before sign-up
- Email-only support; the firm takes no phone calls from evaluators
- Demographic matching means not everyone sees the best jobs
Tips for Working With Coyle Hospitality
Once you’re active on Coyle’s platform, a few habits separate steady mystery shopping work from missed chances:
- Complete your profile fully. Demographic matching drives Coyle’s assignments. Detailed, honest profile data puts you in front of the luxury jobs.
- Sharpen your writing. Coyle reports are narrative-heavy. Clear, specific, well-organized writing helps you keep getting the better hospitality shops.
- Read every guideline twice. Hospitality shops have detailed observation points. Missing one can void an otherwise good report.
- Write your report the same day. Details fade fast. Capture the full guest experience while it’s fresh.
- Use phone shops as filler. On days you can’t travel, telephone evaluations keep income trickling in.
- Track time and mileage. Coyle mystery shopping is contractor income. Use our guide to mileage tracking, and consider a separate business setup for your shop income.
Scam Alert: Spotting Fake Coyle Hospitality Offers
Coyle’s name and mystery shopping reputation make it a target for scammers. The firm posts its own warning about fake emails and checks. Watch for these red flags:
- Checks before work. Real Coyle never sends payment in advance. A check before any shop work is a scam.
- Cold recruitment emails. Coyle recruits through its website and ShopMetrics only. Random emails offering Coyle jobs are fake.
- Requests for money or gift cards. No legitimate assignment asks you to wire money or buy gift cards.
- Pressure to act fast. Messages marked “urgent” from strangers should be ignored.
If you get a suspicious message claiming to be from Coyle, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Also see our guide to spotting mystery shopping scams.
Coyle Hospitality Contact Information
| Company | Coyle Hospitality Group (Hospitality Services, Inc.) |
|---|---|
| Address | 244 Madison Ave #369, New York, NY 10016 |
| Phone | +1-212-629-2083 (USA & International) |
| General email | info@coylehospitality.com |
| Evaluator support | support@coylehospitality.com (email only) |
| Website | coylehospitality.com |
| Sign-up | Via the “Become an Evaluator” page (ShopMetrics) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coyle Hospitality a legitimate mystery shopping company?
Yes. Coyle has run mystery shopping since 1996 and is a member of MSPA Americas, the industry’s main North American trade group. It works with major hotel and restaurant brands and has completed more than 65,000 evaluations. As with any firm, always sign up through Coyle’s official site and never trust a third-party offer.
How much does Coyle Hospitality pay shoppers?
Coyle pays a fee plus reimbursable expenses for each assignment, but it doesn’t publish set rates. Pay depends on the shop type, location, and report length. Hotel and fine-dining shops generally pay more than quick checks because they take more time and detailed writing.
Do I need to live in a big city to get Coyle assignments?
It helps. Coyle work clusters around hotels, restaurants, resorts, and travel hubs. Shoppers in major metros and tourist areas see more options. If you live in a small, low-tourism market, assignments may be rare, so pair Coyle with a more general firm.
What platform does Coyle Hospitality use?
Coyle uses ShopMetrics for sign-up, scheduling, and reports. ShopMetrics is one of the major industry platforms, so shoppers who work with firms like BARE International or IPSOS may already know it. There’s no separate Coyle app.
Can I shop the same hotel or restaurant more than once for Coyle?
Generally no. Coyle avoids sending the same evaluator back to a location to keep evaluations fresh and unbiased. This limits steady local income from one venue. Note that other mystery shopping companies often allow re-shops after a cooldown period, so policies vary by firm.
Deciding If Coyle Hospitality Fits Your Setup
Coyle Hospitality makes the most sense if you live near hotels, fine dining, or a travel destination, and you enjoy detailed work. You like the idea of evaluating a resort stay or a multi-course dinner. You write well and don’t mind longer reports. If that’s you, Coyle offers experiences most general firms can’t match.
The trade-offs are real. Assignments thin out in low-tourism areas. Reports take time. The no-repeat-visit policy caps how much you can earn from any single venue. And pay rates aren’t public, so you’ll have to sign up and watch what posts in your area before you know what’s on offer.
For most US shoppers, Coyle works best as a specialty add-on next to a steady, general-purpose rotation. If your area has luxury hotels, resorts, or strong dining scenes, Coyle is well worth the few minutes to join. If you’re focused on fast food and basic retail in a smaller market, lean on workhorse firms like BARE International, IPSOS, or Sinclair Customer Metrics first, and treat Coyle as a bonus.
Either way, signing up costs nothing but a few minutes. Create your profile, fill it out honestly, and let the mystery shopping jobs tell you if the firm fits your area. For more context, see our guide to how much secret shoppers actually make and our full mystery shopping company directory.