When do you give your host a gift ??

Hi. My casio host loves good white wine and I left a bottle with a card in her office the day I cjeced-out last time. She sent me a handwritten card thanking me a week later. I'm being comped for five nights on my next trip, and I'm wondering if its preferred, or more adventageous, to give her a bottle of wine upon arrival , or at the end of the stay like I did last time. Sorry if this has been discussed a billion times before, but I would love to hear the thoughts you guys have on this.

 

I only gifted a host one time (cigars), but I don't even remember when during the trip I gave it. If you give the wine at the start of the trip, it might be considered a "bribe" in exchange for getting better bennies during your trip. Which depending on your point of view is either a good thing (my thinking) or something that might result in the casino having it's gaming license pulled (the thinking of some others).

 

i always send a gift in the mail a couple of weeks after my trip. according to the gaming regulation hosts aren't allowed to accept gifts (potentially can be bribes) and there's a very long thread on this from a while back. it's always better to send something in the mail to their home address so nobody sees it.

 

I usually give them gift cards, and usually placed within a thank you card & in a sealed envelope, which I either hand to them on my last night or morning, sometimes leave for them at the host's office, or mail it after I get home. I've never had a problem doing that.

I used to give more personalized gifts to hosts in Vegas [and still do to my hosts in AC], but not anymore - there's too much turnover & generally less personal attention nowadays that I really don't feel it warrants it much anymore.

 

This is also what we do and there's never been any problems.

 

OP: I hope you don't mind my getting this somewhat off topic, sorry...

Ardee & Jilly (and anyone else): any ideas for what type of gift cards? The only hosts I've gifted have been ones I had become familiar enough with to somewhat personalize the gift card (ie I knew what restaurants he and his wife liked etc). I have a new host at Wynncore who has been great - she really took care of me last month and has been a huge help getting me a few extra rooms for buddies on the cheap for my trip next month - and I do want to do something for her. But, I really don't know a thing about her. Ideas?

 

I always give Visa or Amex cards.They can be used anywhere so you are not restricting them to a certain restaurant,website,etc.

 

Hmmm.... This is a 5-star property, and this host has been there for over five years, and she most definitely did not implicitly discourage that I give her a nice bottle of wine in future visits, so I'm not entirely sure to what extent the whole "gaming regulations state that hosts cannot accept......." edict satisfies my query.

 

you can do what you want, i was just letting you know it's best to be discrete to avoid getting your host into trouble. a random envelope with a gift card or cash or something shipped to their house is better than just dropping off a bottle of wine in the middle of the host office.

 

Wow. I guess our hosts have been pretty easy. They get excited about silly little things like thank you notes and comment cards!

 

I appreciate the insights as I had no idea that the regulations stated that. It must be a regulation that casinos generally turn a blind eye to. I've always assumed that most people give something to their hosts, but now I'm wondering if it's not standard practice. And I also assumed that the values of the gift would be proportional to the amount being comped.

 

oh it's very standard practice, just done discretely. some people are cheapskates, but a lot of people i know take very good care of their hosts with all kinds of gifts and things. could be gift cards or something of value like that, or could be something entirely different. some guys take their hosts out for a week on their yacht in Miami with a dozen topless girls or send their jet to pick them up for a trip to Turks and Caicos for a week, etc, etc. those of us without those kind of resources, do what we can also. definitely want to scratch their back as much as you can, it never hurts you down the road.

 

We tend to get AMEX/Visa cards, as then the host can spend it on
anything. A little note of thanks along with that and it's all good.

 

This thread has me thinking.....

I used to always send flowers to our host at the Mirage but we were RFL there (incl RT limo and VIP check-in). Our home these days is Encore and our play only gets us rooms which I believe is a pretty fair determination of our theo.

My question is, am I being cheap or unappreciative by not ever sending my new host a gift, flowers or? I guess it just seemed that since we're not big rollers and consequently aren't treated w/ full comps it really wasn't warranted. Seems in Vegas rooms are the easiest and most common comp given.

 

Dean, in my opinion, if you are just getting a room comp you should not feel obliged to give your host anything.
I do when they throw in extra perks like tickets,extra room for a friend or family mamber,or extra F+B.

 

you don't have to give big or expensive gifts, but it never hurts to develop goodwill with your host by doing something small for them each trip.

 

Good point Shifter...appreciate your perspective. Probably even more relevant as our budget and bets seem to be growing.

A bit off topic but I will say I'm seriously considering trying some other properties and will be chacking out Aria and even revisiting the Mirage (mainly to see a show but will do some playing there too). Seems like the Encore is very tight on comps overall.

 

If you're not getting big time comps but have a host, something thoughtful works, too. If you know your host and what he or she is into and you have an opportunity, you can pick something up that doesn't cost much, but still resonates. Or go with something that is important to you.

For example, I'm in the army. My host is a big supporter of the military, and over-comped me when I came on my first trip after my last deployment to Iraq. I brought him a copy of a book that I had signed by the general that the book was about. Cost me nothing but the price of the book, but it meant a lot to the host.

 

Great thought Mike, thanks! I could see where that book would be a very cool and unique gift. We're in the VA Beach/Willamsburg/Yorktown area in VA so there are numerous gifts specific to the area like gourmet nuts, wine, ham (if you saw American President) that might make a thoughtful gift.

 

Hey Now!
looks like we live in the same area Deano,
we live near Gloucester Courthouse and both work in Newport News.
We will be leaving Vegas just after y'all get there.