Could This Be the Dream Travel Job?

Like many business travelers, I enjoy most of the travel part. Maybe enjoy is a bit too strong, so let’s say I willingly accept it as part of the job. After all, it allows me to travel all over the world, with only occasional setbacks, and meet some incredible people. My typical travel pattern means checking into a hotel somewhere, taking whatever room they are willing to give me as an upgrade based on my hotel elite status, then shuffling off to my room with my bags in tow. Some are very nice rooms, and they are always appreciated, but few would ever be called four-star properties, much less five.

While all business travelers share the travel part, it is the underlying occupations that are different. Some work in the oil and gas industry while others may travel for government business. Some work as consultants and there are those who work in traveling sales. There are hundreds of professions that require varying degrees of travel. Some people I know enjoy their work but would not do it if there was no travel. In other words, it is the travel that drives them to their profession, not the other way around. But what if you had both? What if you not only really enjoyed the travel but it was for an occupation that you just love? Is that possible? I think the answer is yes for many travelers – and I am one of them – but is there an even better job out there over the rainbow?

It was this article in the LA Times that had me daydreaming. I suppose I have thought before about the difference between a hotel that receives four stars instead of five, but this time I started thinking about people who do the travel to provide the testing. What is their work week like? I do not personally know anyone who does this for Forbes or AAA or any other rating group so the thoughts here are nothing more than my mind wandering.

I imagine these “inspectors”, as they are called, travel each week to a different hotel, either one that has five stars or maybe a wannabe with four stars. Either way, pretty nice digs. Really, who would not want to be stuck at such a hotel for 2-3 nights while you are forced to try out the amenities like the quality of their food, the spa, room service, etc.? Forget about elite status, this job already gives you everything any top elite could hope for, and then some benefits.  Well, at least while you are doing this job anyway.

Please don’t misunderstand, I am not saying this is a perfect job. It is really not too hard to imagine a traumatic morning where you are forced to wake up an hour earlier than planned because you must fully explore and test out a resort’s 18-hole championship golf course. Perhaps even worse, these poor inspectors may have to stay up way into the evening to test such facilities as the lounges and tiki bars. Indeed, their work days may be as long as what I presently endure.

I have no idea how much these inspectors are paid. For all I know, all their travel is provided for free and they are paid minimum wage for the hours they work. If that’s true, the earnings part would disappoint me but it might be a profession I would consider when I will be otherwise retired. Yeah, I could do this when I retire. Live off social security and a small paycheck while traveling each week to another four-star or five-star resort. So many properties, so little time.

Ah yes, I am still daydreaming… [LATimes]

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