value of hosts

I'm not a High Roller, but spend enough to have a host at Wynn and get decent offers.

As I only visit 2-3 time a year, I don't have a lot of interaction with my host, although I always seek him out at the start of my visit (or he comes and finds me). I always bring him something- usually a decent bottle of scotch (but not gift cards).

Just emailed him regarding my next visit in 3 weeks time asking for dinner reservations at SW and Sunday brunch at Country Club. He emailed back saying no reservations were available and I should try other restaurants.

Am I right in being a bit disappointed that my host can't get me into restaurants at 3 weeks notice - I was flexible about timing. Maybe my gifts aren't good enough! Maybe he could have said he'd see what he can do, but I should make some back up bookings, rather than just saying 'computer says no'. Oh well.

 

I guess it's possible they're fully booked, but I've never had a host turn down a request for dinner reservations that I can think of, even on much shorter notice [we're talking hours, not days or weeks] - Although it is a Saturday night, but still I really have a hard time believing that Wynn is going to be so busy in August [one of the deadest months of the year in Vegas] that a host can't get you a reservation three weeks out, especially if you're being flexible on the times - and especially for Sunday brunch. Considering you always bring him a gift, even if you're fairly low on the totem pole he should really be pulling harder for you IMO.

Did you already try booking over the phone or internet without your host's help? I'd be interested to know if you tried going that route before asking for your host's assistance, and if so were both restaurants showing as fully booked then?

Are you staying in the tower suites section by any chance? If so, you might also want to try booking through their concierge.

 

You could always thank him for his help in the past, but inform him you're moving over to the Bellagio.

3 weeks away and there's nothing available at any time? Possibly true. But it sounds like the response was pretty vacant, unless that's just the way you're characterizing it.

My sense is that you only get what you ask for or demand at our level. I say our level, because I think I'm in the same boat. I play high enough to get comped suites and limos, but not high enough to get any personal attention on property. They still don't bother to apply primary comps to my room charges unless I specifically ask - otherwise, they try to get me to spend my express comps.

Long story short, the only way you'll really know is to ask - or to go elsewhere and see what the competition can do. Bribing the host with nicer gifts than a bottle of scotch should not be necessary - the gambling is bribe enough.

 

thanks for the reply. I didn't try and book online first as he always suggested i go through him. Having had a look now, I can get the Sunday Brunch on-line and SW for a different night. I guess that's the way I'll book in future. Don't think I'll bother with the bottle of scotch this trip!

That's exactly the way I feel. He came back pretty quickly, so didn't seem to make much of an effort.

 

At least your host got back to you My last communication to my Mirage host was completely ignored. Me and my BF both have comp offers booked at the Bellagio for September, and then I received an offer in the mail from the Mirage offering 3 nights in a tower suite, $350 FP, $200 food and limo. I e-mailed my host, not mentioning the offer, asking what she could do for me for September. She basically quoted me the offer from the mail, but didn’t mention that it was for a one-bedroom suite – she just said 3 nights comp – which I thought was kind of strange – big difference between a room and a tower suite.

Later we decided to pursue the Mirage offer a bit (the Tower suites are really nice) and I e-mailed her telling her I had gotten the offer in the mail, and it appeared that it was for the tower suite – and if that was the case we may reconsider. I then asked if she could re-evaluate the offer, including my BF’s play. My BF is a long-standing Mlife (Players Club) member, plays just as hard as I do, and would basically double the bankroll. All I was asking for was a bit more food and free play. She never even replied back to me. I did get a vacation reply saying she was out until the next day, so I know she got the mail. That was a month ago. I didn't necessarily expect a yes, but I at least expected a reply.

I considered her lack of response “a sign”, and we are keeping our Bellagio offer booked.

 

I do not have, nor do I ever think I would want, a host. I am sure I could get one, but while I do gamble in Vegas, that is not the focus of my trips. It is a good part of it, but I prefer staying in a suite, dining at nice restaurants, and taking off strip excursions to places like Boulder City and Mt. Charleston.

I like to do what I feel like doing on any given day with no itinerary, and do not want to be under any obligation to meet a certain level of play. I have never, ever had a problem getting a reservation for any restaurant I wanted by either calling the place directly or via the concierge. All of my room deals (and they are very good) are gotten by contacting Casino Marketing.

This Wynn host sounds like a dud. You should, at the very least, look into switching hosts at the Wynn, since he doesn't seem very motivated. And there is nothing wrong with giving him a nice bottle of Scotch as a gift. The way he acted, he is lucky you didn't just give him a bag of nuts from the plane.

 

That's a fair point. My next trip came from a casino marketing offer - but when I called to book it, they referred it back to my host to actually make the reservation. I get good offers from casino marketing, but I often travel at holiday periods - e.g. Christmas - when the offers are not valid, and then it's useful having the host.

 

Yeah, I'd definitely skip the bottle of Scotch from now on, if not just request a new host entirely - I mean, if you were able to book the brunch yourself online, it seems pretty certain that he didn't make any effort at all & just blew you off. But sadly, I'm not surprised - the horrible attitude of Wynn's hosting staff is the primary reason I no longer play there myself.

 

If that is the case, you are justified in switching hosts. YOU are the customer here - and if the host is not performing at a satisfactory level, then you need to send a clear message by taking your business to someone else at Wynn who will appreciate it.

You were not making any outrageous demands or trying to get something that was more than what would be reasonably expected - you gave ample notice for a dining reservation with flexible dates and times. And then you were able to book online yourself!! He obviously never even made a call to find out if there was any availablity.

Even if the placed was booked solid, you can't tell me that a host is unable to get you into a restaurant with so much flexibility, when they have been known to do so much more that that on a moment's notice. If you can't get another more competent host at Wynn I would definitely think about switching loyalties to another high end property.

 

Yes, sometimes you don't have a choice. This person became my host when I simply called to book my MLife corporate offer with the Mirage for my March trip. This person said I had to deal with a host.

 

I would refuse - they can't force you to do something you don't want to do. If I got an offer that was not via a host and they told me I had to use a host I would inform them that I do not want to deal with a host and demand to speak to a supervisor. They sent me an offer and they should honor it, if it is available - period. If the senior executive in casino marketing or guest relations was not willing to book it without going through a host, I would book elsewhere. I am stubborn and no one is going to make me do something I do not want to do lol

 

It wasn't a big deal. I was just surprised. I just called VIP marketing to book my offer. As soon as he pulled up my account, he said I needed to speak with a host and put me on hold. A host came on the line and immediately offered me more free play and food, plus a limo - so I wasn't really going to argue. Maybe they have it that any platinum or higher players have to use a host?

 

Why don't you try making the reservations yourself? Obviously i have no idea what the issue is, but its not impossible for them to be full. Plus this way you'll find out of your host is a ******. I would be curious to find out as the wife are staying on a comp at the wynn very soon and would like to know if seeking out a host there would even be worth our time.

 

It could be that Platinum and higher have to use a host, but even so, I understand why you didn't complain when you were offered the additional free play, food and limo lol.

 

We have a host at the Wynn but only use her services if we have a special request.

Your host was a real a$$ to tell you he couldn't get you restaurant reservations.
Generally, I try the online system and when/if I can't seem to find what I want, I'll ask our host if she can help me.
Most of the time, using the online reservation system is just fine.
I'll follow-up with a phone call directly to the restaurant if I've made a special request for outside seating, etc., before our visit.
Wynn/Encore service, even without the use of host or concierge is really good that way.

At this point, I know having a host on our level of play is a nice option but not really necessary for what I'm looking to get out of our trips.

Glad you were able to get ressies for your stay.
We'll be going to the Jazz Brunch (in September) too.
I think you'll love it.

 

I see no reason to not have a host if you are eligible for one. The important thing is to get a good host. Me and my friends have been going to Vegas 2 to 4 times a year since we graduated. The first few trips out we got pretty much nothing. I don't consider buffet passes as a comp. We're a large group with 2 of us being the 'gamblers' in the crew. Everyone gambles a bit, but 2 of us probably gamble a bit much. Not over our heads, but more than the others.

On I think our third trip, one of the guys won big at 3-Card Poker, and a host came up to him and gave him her card. After that, booking comped rooms was simple, and we even started to get some room charges for dinners comped. Eventually, I moved up to higher stakes and got my own host. My host for some reason gave me more trouble than my friends when booking more than 2 nights. It was strange that we'd be on the phone at the same time asking for the same things and one person got a 'no problem' and another got 'your play only warrants 2 nights....'. The funnier part was our play levels were about the same and when we checked at the end of trips for hours played and avg bet mine was higher. Yet, I had issues. Well more like backtalk getting the same comps. In the end, I always got my rooms comped.

So after a year with my host, I asked for a new host to be assigned. The new host was great. Things went smoothly, and he even remembered my preferences. I don't care for suites, I usually prefer standard rooms with 2 Beds as I have friends that can't get comped rooms and we're barely in the room. I'd rather get dinners comped. Another thing was that I was told I could go to the 'invited guests' check in. This costs them nothing, and its faster and friendlier. It was a nice touch.

I'm now hostless. I haven't been out there in about 2 years due to real life issues. My host seems to have moved casinos, and due to my lack of visits, VIP services can't assign a new host. Now dealing with these monkeys at VIP services is horrible. I called knowing I most likely wouldn't get a comped room, but was hoping for a discounted rate. I was quoted a rate that was 20% under the retail rate. This is my 'Tier Rate' supposedly. I stated that I could get cheaper online by myself. The VIP service rep goes: 'That's highly likely'. What kind of service is this? Guess I'm now a VUP. I've been loyal to my particular casino for over a decade. Passing up staying at the newer shinier casinos that have popped up. After that run in with VIP services, guess what? I'm trying a new casino this time out.

 

At SW on a Saturday night it's packed, and I *think* they reserve very few tables for last minute VIPs. I would've expected a sincere apology though

 

My experience with hosts at Wynn/Encore is very similar.
Aloof,disinterested and unresponsive seems to be their MO.
The surprising thing is I was approached on the casino floor by a host while playing craps.
I stayed a couple times with solid play.The host then stopped responding to email and phone calls.
Contrast that with my host at Aria who responds immediately,puts me in Sky Suites with free play and resort credit .
I moved on!

 

Your requests were reasonable and far enough out that if you really qualified for a host, he hosed you. I would either request a new one or change properties. This kind of shit is not what you should have to deal with while on vacation.

 

Have you tried calling VIP Services at Wynncore instead? We are heading out in the morning and I forgot to make reservations for SW for Thursday night for DH's birthday. A simple email to one of the managers in VIP got me a last minute reservation at SW and a birthday cake. I get great service from the ladies behind the desk and actually my Wynn host also. JMHO