Host Comments - What does it mean?

[Chuppa76]

Hi guys

I've been comped 6 nights at TI in May and allocated a host. Someone suggested there's always a rate of play involved to keep the comp, and suggested I email the host.

When I did this I got back an email back saying "YOU HAVE TO PLAY 3700 PTS TO GET ONE NIGHT COMP SINCE YOU MADE SO MANY THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE YOUR ROOM COMPED"

Ok, so I went back to the host and said that if I understand correctly the points I made on my last trip cover these comped nights, and any new points will be put towards the next stay or any F & B during the current stay.

Well no, the host's response was "NOT EXACTLY THIS IS THE WAY WE DO IT. YOU HAVE TO PLAY UPTO ROOM COMP ON THIS TRIP IN MAY. IF YOU COVER YOUR ROOM THEN WE CAN COMP YOU MORE EXTRAS. IF YOU DONT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR MEALS BUT IF YOU PLAY 3700 POINTS PER NIGHT YOU WILLGET YOUR ROOM COMP AGAIN FOR THE NEXT TRIP" And then the host said they let me know better when I visit.

Has this happened to anyone before. Firstly I found it hard to understand what the host was trying to say.

Secondly, to me it now means if I don't play the 3700 points per day, I might have to actualy pay for the room upon check out?

DH & I normally allocate $800 per day for gambling. I think this should cover our expected rate of play if we stayed with MGM casinos/ but sometimes I like gambling elsewhere. Does anyone know what a basic $$$/points ratio is?

Am I simply worrying too much or should I re-email the host and ask outright that if I don't make the 3700points per day I will be liable for the room cost upon checkout?

Chups

[Reston]

All is well, Chups!

What your host is saying is standard operating procedure.

First, your play last time was good enough for them to offer you a free room for your upcoming trip. That room is free regardless. They're taking a calculated risk that your play this time will cover their "investment" in you.

Points you earn on this trip will be used to cover the free room first. If you play more than they expect, they may be able to reverse some of your food, beverage, and other charges. (Be sure to charge everything you do at TI back to your room.) If you play less than they expect, you will end up "comp negative" -- meaning your play will not cover your room complimentary. So you won't get any other charges wiped off and you will have a tougher time getting free rooms from TI and other MGM Mirage properties for you next trip.

It's really hard to tell how your $800 budget translates to points each day. But the MGM Mirage system lets you track points earned as you play, so just check every so often while you're playing different games and you'll probably be an expert after this trip.

At least that's my assessment of it. Perhaps others can add their opinions as well. Hope that helps.

[Jacko]

I think TI is $3=1 point on Video poker.

[xray]

I would take it as a free stay this time but with $800/day gaming budget, you may or may not cover the comp based on your luck. With longer stays, it can get harder to keep accumulating points as you may play elsewhere or not gamble as hard every day.

As comps are really just an extra bonus, just play as you usually would. I sometimes take the free room offer and sometimes just pay for the room if I want a larger room/suite.

The mantra is - don't chase comps...

[LVLady]

I think TI is $3=1 point on Video poker.

I believe that is changing. A woman at Bellagio told me it will be 4 per point or $4.50 I can't remember. Seems high to me but what do I know. In biloxi it is $4 on VP and $2 on slots. Of course it seems the Beau Rivage isn't looking for as much play though for room comps and discounted rates as any of the Vegas properties are........

[1quick1]

Like others have said, you're covered this trip. They are looking at your previous play and taking a gamble that if they offer you free rooms at their casino you will gamble as much or more then you did last time. If you just went there and had your free room but didn't gamble you wouldn't owe anything but they wouldn't offer you free rooms the next time you stayed. Just remember don't get too caught up trying to gamble enough to get comps because 99% of the time you'll go through far more money trying to earn the comps then what it would've cost just to pay for the stuff. Either way just go there and play like you normally would play. Don't let them influence you. If you allocate $800 a day at gambling a guarentee there are plenty of hotels that will get you free rooms at that play level.

[Jeremy]

I'm not much of a gambler. Is it true that you have to bet $11,100 just to get a free room? $3 for 1 point. 3700 points for a room. At that rate, I would happily pay $500 a night for a suite instead of trying for a standard room comped.

[doctor_al]

I'm not much of a gambler. Is it true that you have to bet $11,100 just to get a free room? $3 for 1 point. 3700 points for a room. At that rate, I would happily pay $500 a night for a suite instead of trying for a standard room comped.

You are correct, although the points is based on money played, not total bankroll. So if you put a twenty in a slot, hit a $150 jackpot, and played that down to your original $20, you'd leave the machine even but with $150 coin-in and 50 points on your card.

Your basic concept is true - for true low rollers, you're farther ahead just paying for the room, and if you win, then that "comps" the room for you. It's a balancing act - you want to get credit for what you do play, but you don't want to gamble just to get points/comps.

I have to say, I love how formulaic the original host response is. If its just math, why do we even need hosts? Heck, I'll go work for Harrahs and replace the host with a "comp kiosk" where you just swipe your card, pick the comps you want off a screen, no human interaction needed since there's no room for "discretionary comps". I'll even factor in an algorithm for "player development" comps, based on player history analysis. But I think I'm probably too late to the party for Harrahs.

[Nevyn]

I have to say, I love how formulaic the original host response is. If its just math, why do we even need hosts? Heck, I'll go work for Harrahs and replace the host with a "comp kiosk" where you just swipe your card, pick the comps you want off a screen, no human interaction needed since there's no room for "discretionary comps". I'll even factor in an algorithm for "player development" comps, based on player history analysis. But I think I'm probably too late to the party for Harrahs.

I know what you're saying, but it really isn't much of a surprise if this is the first conversation with the host, and the first room comp.

How much do I HAVE to play probably isn't a very good first indicator as a question for them, and so they'll just give you the straight line. If the host is willing to bend those rules, its probably much more likely to happen when you leave, or the next time you book or call about an offer.

[Sharon211]

I am a true believer of having a host as they can bend the rules. We just had an issue with TI trying to charge us $89 a night for our trip this month. I contacted our host at MGM Detroit and told her I was very upset and that the Casino Marketing people at TI would not even direct me to an actual host and basically told me they do not care how much we gamble at MGM Detroit. She put me on hold and came back saying she was sorry that they were rude and a comped room for our dates at TI.