Room upgrade affecting back end comps?

I have one concern/question to pose to the forum:
If you were able to have a Front Desk agent upgrade you from say a Caesars Palace Augustus Tower Premium King at about a $200 comp folio hit, to a Senator Suite with about a $500-$700 (guess) casino rate, would your back end comps potential be crushed?
Or would you not suffer the extra Suite comp folio hit?
I wouldn't enjoy a check-out surprise of going out-of-pocket for $1200 to $1500 in F&B that would have otherwise been picked up, if I didn't pig out with an unnecessary suite.
Does anyone have real world experience with this scenario?
SteveAC01

 

I don't have real world experience with this, but when I think about the potential, it's like this:

On a comp, the casino is paying the hotel for the room.

If a casino host upgrades you to a suite, he may have the authority to have the casino eat the difference in comp value.

The front desk clerk probably doesn't have that authority. So if you're on a comp stay and the front desk upgrades you on their own, the casino probably gets dinged for it. So your comp balance probably gets dinged for it.

That said, I've had Diamond check in upgrade me a couple of times from Forum to Augustus, but it was hard for me to know what effect it had because I didn't ask for back end comps. I didn't notice any effect on offers.

 

Chuck--
Good analysis - makes sense in theory.
Anyone have actual experience with this scenario?
Thanks,
SteveAC01

 

I can confirm what Chuck is saying. I DO have actually first hand experience.

Example
I had asked my host to book me into a Jr suite since I was travelling alone. At check in, I was told that I was in a 2 bedroom Suite. My host had made a mistake. I had asked for a 2 bedroom suite for my trip the following month. The host on duty overheard the conversation I was having with Diamond checkin. She told them to leave me in the 2 bedroom (since my amenity had already been delivered and I was arriving at 10am and the suite was ready)and to charge it as a Jr suite.

The comp value of a room/suite impacts back end comps, regardless if you book it or you are upgraded at check in. I have never used the $20 ( or $200 ) trick for an upgrade. I have tipped Diamond check in for great service. If I need a larger suite, I will ask my host for it.

I would be curious to know if these people who are using the "trick" to go from a base room to a large suite are ever comped on the back end. The difference in the comp value of a base room compared to a 2 bedroom suite could be $400+. An increase of $400 in comp value would require $1200 more in theo just for the suite. People get wrapped up in getting a suite. If you are a mid roller, I would think you would take lesser accommodation and more in F and B.

 

Sydney10--
You have answered my question in #31 of this string to a T.
The story you relate is just what I suspected would be the case.
Thanks for confirming.
I'll continue to enjoy RFB with a nice room, vs. an unnecessary suite and a big shortfall in back end comps.
SteveAC01

 

My understanding is it will affect your backend comp.
If you are already "over-comped", then it doesn't matter too much.
Otherwise, your available backend comp will be reduced accordingly.

 

the upgrade from a reg forum room to a reg augustus room isn't that much so you shouldn't see much real world impact on backend comps


slightly different scenario but here's my recent experience regarding room upgarde (at reservation, not at check-in) impacting backend comps at Venetian/Palazzo
i requested the Lago suite with the media room and pool table last weekend at reservation through my host
he did tell me i could reserve a regular suite and then ask for the upgrade at check-in ...
but this was for my friend's bachelor party so i wanted to make sure i had the exact room and not take a chance of not getting the right one

anyway, when i talked to my host before checking out, he told me that the backend comps were limited (compared to previous trips) because of the room upgrade upfront

 

It depends on what you mean by "isn't that much". From a forum room to an Augustus room with a fountain view, it's about $60 a night.

I can eat a lot on $60 a night.

 

PHVHost answers something close to this in another thread

 

true true
everyone has different priorities and preferences

i've grown to appreciate the nicer rooms so i'd opt for the room upgrade ... and just gamble more