CET or other Program for 2016? Seems the only way to get away from CET Host

Hi VMB Veterans,

It's a new year and we start over for Comp tier levels. I have only joined the CET program a year and half ago. So I am fairly green about comps, but love the fact that they are available to me at the level I get.

I am a low/mid roller, I think from what I've read here on VMB.

I went to Vegas 11 times last year, and I ended up with about 168k TC and made 7 stars at CET. I gave CET over 90% of my play. I usually put between 25k to 35k coin through slots on a 3 night comp stay and mainly choose Caesars and have been at PHO a few times, twice in a suite, Panorama and Blvd. I usually get RFB and FP or other, and all my charges comped at the end, but I go very easy on the charges, mostly under 150 per day.

Overall, very happy with the comp return and especially the value of the 7 stars extra freebies.

BUT.... I DO NOT like my host.

I wrote a long thread late last year about the saga to get that guy to book my 7* retreat to Tahoe. Finally got resolved after almost 30 days and ended up getting a hold of my host at Harrahs SoCal who handled the entire retreat booking in about 45 minutes. I also tried getting a hold of another CET host for help, but he couldn't overstep the person coded to me. The SoCal host said he was going to send my long detailed saga story to the Vice President in Las Vegas, but I have heard nothing back and the Original host is still showing up on my TR app coded to every Vegas property and that is where I play.

So, here is my idea...

I would have to start now early in the year in order to maximize my tier level for this year as I don't do enough to spread it around.

I think I will get more than 10000 bonus TC added to my CET account for past tier accomplishments, which will make getting to Diamond level for next year very easy, maybe even with Freeplay. I can use up all of my earned 7 star benefits which is 1 retreat now and 1 more retreat for this year, plus the Diamond Asp trip before June. Use the NCL cruise. Use the $500 celebration dinner, etc. I can easily get free rooms at CP and probably some FP in the beginning and go start accumulating points in another program since there is no way to change my host at CET. I figure the comp dollar value I earned as 7 star that I have left to use is worth about $8000. If I stay and I don't play, my offers will dry up very fast, I'm sure. I figure I have maybe 3 months window to get into another program and start getting comps.

Do you think there is another Comp program that will deliver a similar value in comp return to me at my level of play as CET?

If so, which program would you choose for my level?

I also think it is a shame that the only alternative to getting away from a host is to change programs and start over somewhere else.

 

Argh. I had typed a detailed note and something just happened and I lost it.

The gist of what I was going to say is that you CAN switch hosts but you have to write someone senior at CET and tell them you want to switch. That was recommended to my by a person in the hosts office at CP. You don't need to say anything negative about your current host but I would recommend indicating that you like playing and staying at CET properties and that you just became Seven Stars but that maintaining that status for another year (i.e., playing a lot at CET) will be conditioned on your getting assigned a new host. If you like staying and playing at CET and enjoy the Seven Star benefits I wouldn't give those up without trying to get a new host. I did not like my host either but that person has gotten much better recently so I'm giving it one more shot.

That being said, if you do decide to switch to another outfit for greater play, your plan sounds like a good one. Some Mlife folks like that program better but as much as I sometimes get annoyed with CET I like what appears to me much greater transparency with their program and the benefits. I am Seven Stars and even though I have yet to take a cruise, the $2k in airfare, rooms, diamond shows, $500 folio credit, $500 celebration dinner certificates, 25% discount on spa treatments, comped spa access, etc., Diamond lounges and more seemed to be the best compared to other programs based on the level of play. Some folks though like the mlife rooms better, the variety of comped shows and the greater rewards that program seems to offer table players.

 

I've switched hosts before. I emailed my new host's direct manager and Hoenemeyer. They responded quickly and made the change.

 

Thank you Flowers for your long and thoughtful post. I do really like CET, but have nothing to compare it to. I really just want a new host at CET. I will try that, sending a letter. I will look for a senior person to address.

 

Is there somewhere on the Total Rewards site (or anywhere) that lists who the Host Managers are?
I also am not enjoying my current host. Right now I have a question into the Total Rewards website and they said they would have someone from Casino Marketing contact me.
I am only a Diamond level player as I really only go to Vegas 1-2 times a year (only 1 last year) So I am not in the same tier as Cindy.
All I really use a casino host for is to use offers that I could probably book myself if I called (using a freeplay code that says stay 3 nights and get freeplay but then getting 4 or 5 nights instead of the listed 3)
I am not a big fish.. usually budget $2000 a day.. (if that gets me 1000 tier points so be it.. if it gets me 200 whatever.. my budget is my budget)

I recently sent my host an e-mail asking him verify that my booking was all confirmed.. He ignored me. 8 days later I sent a nicely worded "Hey, I think my last e-mail must not have went thru but could you do me a favor and confirm the hotel reservation for me" 2 days later still no reply.. so I sent another host an e-mail saying I am not sure if my host is on vacation or not but could you do me a favor and look into if my room is confirmed or not" That host forwarded my e-mail to my host who promptly sent me a reply saying "If you were in a rush call the hotel yourself not another host.. either way here is your confirmation number so you don't have to worry anymore". WTF the Host just told me that I should be calling around to confirm he actually books things for me? All he needed to do was reply to one of my e-mails with a "Let me check that for you" but he decided to ignore them.

If I cant change my host I will be changing loyalty programs aswell.

Hopefully Cindy and I can remain with CET and enjoy the casinos and environment.

 

Wow. Your host sounds like an ass. No one deserves to be treated like that. I assume these places want our play. This is not the way to go about keeping it.

 

its easy to change host, find one you like and just use them, my first host in new orleans went from great to bad in less than a year, she told me if i didnt like what she was doing she would assign me a new host, i said no, she screwed up big one night and when i told her I was unhappy she switched me to a new host without me even asking her to do so...I have friends all the time that if their host doesnt get them what they want or need, they just call up another host who works there.

when my second host went out on medical leave, right when there was a mass host firing last year, they kept jerking me around telling me Ill get a new host soon and they used the host assistant to get me what I needed. I told them I want this specific host for me and the next day I got an email from that host saying she was my new host

 

If you have no play history at MGM properties, choose a property and give them some play on $1 or $5 machines on your next trip. You will get offers you can keep in your pocket if things don't work out with CET. You should be able to do it without denting your ADT at CET much.

The advantage CET has is that you will get more comp value (MGM is taking a machete to comps for lower-mid rollers), and they obviously have more properties outside Vegas. And there are crappy hosts everywhere, CET doesn't have a monopoly on them.

Get a recommendation on a CET host, call CET and tell them if they don't change your host, you're walking, and be ready to do it. If they refuse, no or low-play them on your next trip and play one day each at both an MGM property and V/P.

 

You can also check linkedin.

 

I wish people would post the names of these bad hosts and save us all some headaches in the future.

 

I don't like to post names simply because people make mistakes. I would hate for this to be in a public forum that someone googles 3 years later and the same mistake haunts that person. (Just putting the shoe on the other foot).
That said if you want to know the name (since my issue is very recent) send me a PM and I will share it with you.

 

That is fair and admirable. I probably wouldn't out them either. But just reading their response to you had me fired up. I would have forwarded it to their boss and also called them and had a word with the host as well. No reason to be a dick. Especially when you are in a customer relations business.

 

I received a call from Casino Marketing today saying that the Director of casino marketing is out of the office until next week but that once he is back they will have him assign me a new host. (apparently he is the only one at Planet Hollywood with the authority to re-assign hosts).

I will just be happy to have someone else to work with.

 

Got a new Host yesterday.
First impressions seem good. She upgraded me to one of the new Ultra hip rooms at Planet Hollywood for my new trip (without me even asking)

But the big thing that I like about her.. she has replied to both e-mails I have sent her AND.. was pleasant and polite in them!

 

You can also email total rewards directly. I can attest, with 100% certainty, that there is an actual person that reads all incoming messages from the "contact us"portal on the website, and they are forwarded accordingly. It is one aspect of the total rewards team that coming into this role I didn't expect to be ran as tight and effectively as it is. They truly do a great job of processing messages sent through the website. And yes, that means landing in the inboxes of leadership with decision making authority.