The Plaza wants your opinions

I am back! I am soliciting opinions on two enhancements the Plaza is looking to implement.

Would you consider the Plaza more often during your Las Vegas trips if we were to:
1. Offer free early check in for all guests at any time? (based on room availability)

2. Offered full FREE airport service to the airport? (only from the Plaza to the airport, not from the airport)

Thoughts????

 

Both sound great. I paid $20 to check-in a hour earlier on the strip last year.

 

And by "FREE" I assume what you really mean is "included with the resort fee?"

Neither of these options would persuade me to stay at Plaza more or less often.

 

both sound good. I usually drive but sure could of used the service last August. El Cheapo took the bus, which was fine, I just felt very self-conscious wheeling my suitcase down Fremont to the bus stop. Hope it helps, want to see the Plaza prosper. BTW, stayed twice last year. Enjoyed my stays, even with the late night fire drill on one night and then the next day no elevator for hours on one trip, but please tone that scent down. And by tone it down, I really mean get rid of.

 

Yes to the early check in! We often arrive in town on an early flight and it would be great to be able to drop our stuff off earlier in the day.

I think the shuttle is great as well, just not sure if we would use it every stay.

 

I would go for the early check in! The last time we stayed at Plaza we had to 'wait' and do some other activities before we could check in. It's mostly a mid-stay hotel change for us, so with a check out time of 11am at the other hotel, an early check-in at Plaza would be appreciated.

 

I've found that any of the downtown properties we've stayed at (in order of frequency, most to last; Golden Nugget, Downtown Grand, the Plaza, Four Queens, The D, El Cortez) let us check in early if a room is ready. I think charging for early check-in is mostly a strip practice. As for the airport service, it wouldn't be enough to sway me. The WAX works fine.

I've got no hesitation about staying at the Plaza. The scent in the casino has been a factor in not playing very long there. When with my wife, however, we no longer stay at the Plaza. She feels unsafe due to the vagrants hanging out in the sports book and wandering around the food court.

You're greatest underutilized asset is the pool. Take a look at what the Downtown Grand has done with a lesser pool. The environment there is very nice but doesn't look like it cost a bundle to create.

 

I stay downtown and have stayed at the Plaza a few times and enjoyed it.

I dont gamble a bunch so dont expect comps.

I stayed at the D my last few trips. The main reason is I get a mailer for a free night when you pay for a night so it like a $20 gift. Thats pretty good for my level of play.

 

I vote yes to both of those suggestions, but as someone else said if I arrive at 1 pm and the room is ready it is only reasonable to let me check in, freshen up, and get to the business of gambling as quickly as possible ...lol.
And that is something that has always been done for free at other downtown properties.

And yes....the super high cab fare to the airport from downtown has always been annoying. A free ride to the airport would be awesome.

I also agree that at little TLC at your pool area would go a long way to make it more appealing.
Landscaping, new chaise lounges, etc.

 

That's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this post title, why don't you do something with the pool? It's a decent pool with a great area, but last time I was there it was a barren wasteland. Invest a measly few grand, put some flowers out to make it look nice, get some umbrellas happening, have some good drink & food specials, throw a few blackjack tables out there, do something unique to make it fun. Do something!

 

The early check in would be great....I only stay Downtown and have never paid for being early which is mostly at MSS and Four Queens.
I have stayed at the Plaza before and after the room updates and think they are quite nice now.
I stayed for two nights in Feb and got the charges taken off for playing enough but have not gotten any room offers yet. I do get them every month from MSS,4Queens,and DTG so will continue to stay there.

 

Early check in for sure. Stayed at the Plaza on July 4th and loved the poker tournaments.

 

Hi,
So, I can add to the scent questions that were previously asked. Our CEO, Jonathan Jossel would like to invite the first 10 people from Vegas Message Board next month (Aug) for a complimentary Hash House breakfast and provide feedback on the new and amount of scent throughout the Plaza. Please message me when you can come in so I can make arrangements for breakfast with my CEO and give your opinions.

 

Thank you for your feedback. I will indeed bring about your concerns with the pool. We are working on the scent issue as you will soon in a previous post.

 

It's so true. You have the best pool and lounge area available for a casino downtown but aren't making the best of it. Put some loungers out (MANY loungers, be known as the casino downtown where you can always get a chair around the pool to lounge in the sun - capitalize on that), Play some music, put in some potted trees for a start and have some lively cocktail service up there. Encourage the young Vegas tourist to stay, the ones that like to pay little for a room but will pay more for their enjoyment, (the ones that think they can only spend a little on gambling but don't mind spending a ton on drinks around the pool). What you don't make in profits from your drinks in the pool area, you'll surely make in gambling dollars later.

I like your idea of airport service. I've stayed at the El Cortez and used their airport service just once. To be honest it was neither here nor there in my decision making on where to stay but it was a nice perk once I got there. I think it's a comp that many might like.

The early check-in should be a given downtown. If your room is ready - you get the key. I can't imagine paying for an early check-in fee downtown. That's just not in keeping with the nature of downtown unless you're staying at the Nugget. So I don't consider that a perk at all.

 

Are there early checkin fees at the Plaza now?
Early check-in fees are one of the most annoying fees in Vegas. Why any hotel/casino would want to annoy people on their way in is beyond me. My buddy stayed in an upscale room at the Rio with his wife (who was on convention) and booked a few subsequent solo cheaper days in a cheaper room. When he moved from room to room, he had to talk long and hard just to get the "early check-in fee" reduced to $10 from $20 and he was right there in the hotel the entire time, just changing rooms.
He won't do that again. He was pretty mad and he didn't gamble there either. If you have no early check in fees, I'll let him know and perhaps the next convention he will go from the Rio to the Plaza.

Low rollers who in mailings get a couple free nights because they focus gambling dollars on just a couple days at a hotels have to hop from place to place and so staying downtown is more appealing. I do that now with a focus on the Four Queens and The D, but I gamble in both. Changes at the D may have me looking for another second choice. Were I to catch two free nights at the Plaza, or even a 2 for 1 offer, I'd want to stay just two nights and focus my bankroll on those. I might even pay to stay somewhere else for the rest of my downtown stay. Early checkin is a great convenience then.
Say, I did not gamble at Main Street Station, but just used an American Casino Guide coupon for 3 nights at a reasonable rate. Then I rolled down to the Plaza with my bankroll on a 2 night mailing. I'd want to be able to leave MSS, roll down, and check into the Plaza with no early check in fee.
In fact, I might not want to meticulously pack to make the move, but come down with some luggage, check the bed for bedbugs, check in, and then go back for the rest of my stuff That makes packing very simple. It is what I do now between the D and the 4 Queens. Sometimes making a few trips with a rolled bag is less bothersome than carefully packing everything once, especially if my bags are going to sit with the bellman. Then I have to have my swimming gear, my gambling sheets and coupons, my meds all in a day pack to wait the 3 hours for a room that is just sitting there. I would say that at the D and at Four Queens about 90% of the time I get early check in.
And this might also happen.
With my bankroll in my pocket and one small piece of luggage I walk over early from MSS paid rooms to see if rooms at the Plaza are ready. Perhaps they are not at 11 but will be by 12 or 1. I am free to start gambling and wait an hour or so and ask again. My luggage is still accessible in my MSS room if I really need something.
So, free early checkin encourages me to book a hotel that offers it, and brings in my gambling money early.
Here are other things that would attract me :

1. Turner Classic Movies on the television - I used to book at the Plaza just for that.
2. More offers that waive resort fee. It just feels good not to have to pay it. It is the D charging resort fee now on the paid night of 2 for 1 mailings that encourages me to abandon them.
3. A coin laundry like the Plaza used to have. I'd book with you in the middle of every trip. I'm going out in September to an Air B and B primarily for that amenity.
4. Any improvements in the pool. That attracts me to the Plaza as well because I do like to swim every morning. The Orleans and the Gold Coast have heated pools when I go in the fall. I love that. The D and the California have pools of ice water. My son and I did the D pool in the fall of last year. It was a polar bear experience. If a heated pool were one of the amenities of a resort fee, I'd not complain about paying it.

I think the WAX does take care of many folks who don't carry much luggage and are mobile. I use it. However, I also used to book El Cortez at the end of my stay because I liked the easy ride to the airport. For some travelers having luggage lifted and packed and transported is a huge benefit.
From the casinos point of view I think a shuttle would attract folks who don't get around so easily, folks who would stay and gamble at the Plaza. I remember my ex mother-in-law going to Vegas, staying at Main Street Station, and never leaving the hotel. While I can't understand that, she was satisfied.
Also, using a shuttle to downtown from the airport is fairly easy. If there is a wait it is no issue. But using one from the casino back to the hotel is anxiety producing. To be certain of getting there on time, one has to be ready to be picked up by shuttle very early because sometimes the shuttle is late, or delayed on route by missing customers or other issues. I always like knowing that I could meet my car from the El Cortez and it would be there and get me to the airport in a half hour, exactly. And I often gambled right up until the last minute. With shuttles I took a book, sat, and waited for when it decided to arrive, usually anxiously.
Nice to have you here asking. Nice to feel the Plaza wants our business. Everything is becoming so impersonal in many other venues.

 

Yes! That!!

 

You're "thinking" of offering early checkin? You mean you dont offer it now if an empty clean room is available?

I've checked in as early as 9:30 and several times 10-10:30 at places like the cal, MSS, and el-cortez without a charge. They've been very friendly and amenable to it without acting like they're doing me a big favor too.

Should you offer it...yes you should!

 

I think it's great The Plaza is looking at enhancing services to guests. Both ideas presented are good as well as many of the others members have mentioned.

Bill

 

First and foremost - set yourself apart from the most-hated trend in Vegas lodging. DITCH THE FREAKING RESORT FEES! It was the worst thing that Plaza has done since the renovation, and started the snowball that ran down Fremont Street all the way to El Cortez. Take a step backwards, get rid of it, and brag about it as loudly as you can.

Stratosphere tried a similar "Take Back Vegas" campaign that failed miserably because they were hypocrites. They claimed to be champions for the regular guys who wanted value "like the old days", yet kept the resort fee in place.

Stand for something. Make a name for yourself.