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Grazie vs Identity

Discussion in 'Comps' started by NickyJ, Feb 6, 2016.

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  1. NickyJ

    NickyJ Low-Roller

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    Several years ago I visited Cosmo. I thought the casino was dark and not really appealing, hotel reviews at the time often mentioned housekeeping issues, and I felt the club crowd was prioritized over players. I never stayed there. With new management and recent changes, however, I'd give Cosmo a second look. My home casino is V/P, and I'd love to get feedback from those who play and stay at both.

    From a property standpoint, Cosmo offers balconies and is convenient to center strip. V/P is a short walk to W/E, room updates are ongoing, and you have two casinos to play at instead of one.
    -Beyond that, what has your recent experience been with the rooms and service on the hotel side at Cosmo?
    -How do the Cosmo restaurant offerings compare to V/P?

    -On the casino side, what has your recent experience been with host relationships, marketing offers, backend comps compared to V/P?
    -How do you feel the Grazie and Identity programs compare for slot players?
    -While Identity offers VIP check-in, it appears not to offer food and drinks like the Grazie Gold/Platinum lounges. Is there another players lounge at Cosmo?
    -Does Identity have a shopping event similar to Grazie Gifts?
    -How do the slot tournaments compare? It sounds like Cosmo may have the edge with smaller events and larger payouts.

    I took a look at the club 'comparison' chart on the Cosmo website. It indicates Platinum Identity members earn twice as much free play as Platinum Grazie members. This is misleading, because it assumes only a 5% slot hold, which is low for the average player of penny and dollar slots. Likewise, it takes $125k coin-in at $2.50/point to maintain the 50,000 point Platinum tier with Identity. At V/P, your earn points at a higher rate as you move from Purple, to Gold, to Platinum, and those points, unlike Identity multiplier points, do count towards your status level. It appears easier to maintain status levels at V/P. The complimentary companion room nights could be a useful Identity benefit.

    Any additional thoughts comparing the two would be appreciated!
     
  2. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    My only experience with V/P is eating at CUT. And I have to say its miles ahead of STK. Overall the food options at Cosmo are solid but steak is lacking. Buffet is top notch as is Holsteins for a good burger.

    I've found it easy working with a host at Cosmo. Marketing offers are pretty easy to get compared to most high end strip properties. Back end comps are pretty standard, gotta cover the room with theo before backend comps. I glanced at the hosts calculator once and I got 35% in theo as comps in the past.
     
  3. VegasChic-

    VegasChic- VIP Whale

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    As for the additional thoughts ~ I think it depends on what you do in general for your trips.

    I started off at Cosmo, and LOVED it, still do. Great suites, balcony, sexy vibe, great drinks.

    The problem I had there is although I found the slot floor selection really good, AND it paid us well, it was a little small to hold ALL my play for a three day trip, for multiple trips. As a result, my play would end up spilling over to PH, and then my comps were cut between the two....both properties at the time gave good offers, but I'd have to combine them to get the true value of my total trip play. Then I was double booking rooms, which was just a pain- no issue giving the play to satisfy the offer, but a pain in the logistics. Cosmo I did find generous with their back-end comps, enough that I don't re-call them ever not clearing off all the charges. Ended up low diamond at CET and only gold at Cosmo which loses benefits because of lower tier. This was all 2014, so not sure if with the management & recent floor changes that they haven't brought in more machines.

    The other factor for us was that if we get a good win, we sometimes like to feel we "locked" in some of the win by going shopping and buying stuff so we had something to show for it. From Cosmo, Miracle Mile shops wasn't our thing, nor was Crystals- we prefer Fashion Show, Forum Shops and V/P shopping. From Cosmo, we would have to literally "pack up", get a taxi each way for $40 return, and it became an "event" that totally stopped the play. From Palazzo, we are in the heart of it, walk to it within 5 minutes for free. Back to our room with bags in 5 minutes if we wanted. The result at Cosmo was we often waved off the shopping, and just played it back, haha! Our bad, not theirs!

    I still usually end up each trip at Cosmo, and sometimes feel a pang of homesickness when we go in! I like the smell, haha! I really do love everything Cosmo, but for the overall issues above, at least for now, we're staying at V/P where we're Platinum. Checking my coin-in for last year, I would have made Platinum at Cosmo, just not confident I wouldn't be spreading my play. In that case, I wouldn't have. I'm officially stuck in the Venetian Vortex now.
     
  4. 6Mermaids

    6Mermaids Low-Roller

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    VC- Have you ever been with Mlife? I am just wondering if you could compare the two?

    I am with Mlife but some things are starting to bug me. I keep getting mailers for Venetian for 3 nights with some FP. I am going to book with them for my next trip and give them a try. I have been following your rave reviews...they should give you some FP for the promotional threads! I never would have thought to stay with them until I read your trip reports and posts. :)
     
  5. irishdave

    irishdave VIP Whale

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    This is almost exactly what I think I'm getting at V/P after subtracting the room...nothing as certain as seeing a calculator tho! I've been very happy with V/P, but was contemplating giving Cosmo some serious play on the next trip as well.
     
  6. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    I used to stay at Palazzo every trip and loved it. I like a spacious casino, and the basic rooms are great. I abandoned V/P after the comp debacle and haven't stayed since.

    I've stayed at Cosmo three times now, never had any service issues, got good back end comps on the last trip, and I'm OK with the offers I get and the slot points (Gold). One thing you have to remember about Cosmo is that you basically get a 5% rebate on hotel spend (if you have any). The only thing I wish was different about Cosmo is the size of the casino - but there isn't anything they can do about that except not make it worse. I don't really have a problem with game selection because I only play a handful mostly. Their web abilities as far as tracking players club info needs a big upgrade also, but that may be in the works.
     
  7. NickyJ

    NickyJ Low-Roller

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    Thanks for the helpful replies! Fortunately, I started staying at the V/P after the comp debacle, and have only had good stays there. VegasChic, have you used the spa at Cosmo? Just wondering how it compares to Canyon Ranch.
     
  8. Gamesman

    Gamesman VIP Whale

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    Friend had her hair done at the salon last trip for about $400 and is happy with the result.
     
  9. VegasChic-

    VegasChic- VIP Whale

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    Glad you like the reviews 6 mermaids! I haven't done the mlife thing - yet- but I can see the attraction. I think they have great properties, great restaurants, and do bring in fantastic entertainment! Especially if you have an offer already in your hand, give it a go!! After my first stay I was pretty much hooked!

    I haven't tried the spa facilities at Cosmo at all- sorry!!!
     
  10. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    I've used the spa twice at Cosmo but I can't compare to any other in Vegas. I really enjoyed my massages. The spa from what I can tell includes the usual. There's a huge hot tub, steam room, cool shower mist and sauna. There's also a nice lounge with tv and snacks.
     
  11. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    We stay at V/P once a year as we receive offers throughout the year (slot player) - 3 night comp, couple hundred in FP, less than a hundred in food. Used to be gold, dropped to lower past year cause we just can't seem to win there, so we give less play. We do like the rooms and food choices there. Considering a stay and play at Cosmo this year.

    My question is how do 'back end' comps work at Cosmo and V/P?
    Do you need an assigned host or can you ask at Players Desk, or at Checkout?
    Is one place more generous with back end food comps than the other? (I've been assigned a CRM at V/P in a recent email but I actually booked thru the phone number on my latest offer - not sure my play warrants a host since I'm no longer gold).

    (We are mostly mlife (platinum) and get everything comp'd through our longtime host, our accounts are linked which helps with tier level and xpress comps - but we do enjoy staying at other properties a couple of nights at the end of our mlife stays (hate to leave Vegas, haha)...

    TIA for any input.
     
  12. FuzzyDiceCraps

    FuzzyDiceCraps VIP Whale

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    You sound a lot like us, we use CET to add a couple nights to our 5 night stays at V/P. By the way, your card status doesn't affect host or backend comps. Card status is tied to how much you play irrespective of the time frame in which you do it. Your comps and host is determined by your ADT, so I wouldn't let the fact you're no longer gold discourage you from asking.

    I've found V/P generous with back end comps. We don't do any lavish dinners in Vegas, and we aren't in competition to see who can run up the biggest room tabs. But we get the vast majority (if not all) of our room charges comped at the end of most stays. We do this with a quick email to our host, but I know people that simply go to the Grazie desk and ask the host on duty to do the same thing. I can't speak to Cosmo, as I've never stayed there. From what I've read it sounds like Cosmo might have the upper hand as to how much they're willing to comp based on play (I've seen something about an immediate 5% rebate on all room charges, in addition to any back end comps, I also saw reference to 35% of ADT comped). But I can't complain about the comps I get at V/P.
     
  13. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    Thank you FuzzyDiceCraps for that info - will be at V/P in March and will try an email to the CRM or stop by the Players desk before checkout. We are pretty low key - grinding it out on slots - occasional shows, and walking around the complex when taking a gambling break. Like you mentioned, we aren't huge spenders on food but do like nice meals at the property we are staying at, so some back end comps would be nice - we've just never asked at V/P before - so we shall see! For breakfast or late night snack we like the Lux Cafe. Our favorite steak place at V/P for special occasions is Delmonico's. Also like Grimaldi's, Yardbird (awesome fried green tomatoes), hope to try Bouchon's this next trip.

    Thanks NickyJ for this post - your questions mirror many of the questions I have but never got around to asking!
    I've learned quite a bit about V/P here and hoping to see more responses regarding Cosmo as we are also interested in giving it a try.

    Now if we could only win at V/P, we'd stay more often!
     
  14. jf3976

    jf3976 High-Roller

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    At cosmo you get identity points on all spend at the property, these points can be redeemed, (resort points can't be redeemed for gambling, but can be redeemed at restaurants for example). The return rate on resort spend is 5% :) That is for every $100 you get $5 worth of points

    My first stay at cosmo I called from room at checkout and asked for the host on duty to review my play and charges. If I recall, they first sent me to 1 person who then decided it was worth sending me to a host. I had paid for room with Marriott points (not great value but we had a ton of points and wanted to try Cosmo), they comped off most of our charges. I didn't play really heavy that first trip as we were just kind of dipping our toe in, but yes you can ask for host to review play :D
     
  15. NickyJ

    NickyJ Low-Roller

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    Geogran - Fuzzy is correct about V/P backend comps, except don't ask at the Grazie desk, I don't think they can do that. Go to the Casino Credit desk where there's an on-duty host.

    Regarding the Cosmo resort spend 5% back, how does it work? If you charge everything to your room, can they just deduct the $ value from your final bill? If you typically have your charges cleared, it's less of a benefit than if you don't I assume. Given Gamesman's post about a $400 salon visit, maybe Cosmo should just lower their prices by 5%. While I'll lose $400 on slots, I'd cringe at spending $400 for a hair treatment. :) Not bashing Cosmo, I'm sure V/P salon services can be just as spendy,

    Thanks again for the information!
     
  16. 6Mermaids

    6Mermaids Low-Roller

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    I just called and the days I want to go in March are blacked out which is a bummer. I am going to stay on an offer at Aria (never stayed there before and want to see how these beds are that I hear about all the time). So I guess I won't get to try it until the summer.

    What really made me excited about staying at the V/P was when you brought up the shopping. Generally, I stay at the MGM. There is not any shopping there so I'll I do is drink and gamble. :confused2: When I stay at Bellagio, I will window shop and I have bought a couple of purses. :angel: However, I really like the idea that there is all this shopping to do by V/P. This way even if I am up $100 or $200 I can run over to the shops and buy some makeup or clothes or anything besides just gambling it away or drinking more. It basically guarantees that I am going to come home with *something*. I mean at the Bellagio all $200 is going to get me is like 1/20 of a purse.

    Anyhow, I am excited for one day staying at V/P. Ill let you know...and thank you for always answering questions about the V/P for us. I appreciate it. :)
     
  17. FuzzyDiceCraps

    FuzzyDiceCraps VIP Whale

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    We're "boring" and hit up Lux a lot. But it has anything you might possibly want, so when nothing sounds good, its a good choice. I definitely recommend Bouchon for brunch, probably my favorite brunch spot. Also, note Nicky's comment above to go to Casino Credit and not the Grazie desk to ask for backend comps. I always go through my host, but don't want you going to the wrong place, especially if (like us) you tend to gamble up until the last minute and then have to run around on last minute tasks before leaving the property. :)
     
  18. Geogran

    Geogran VIP Whale

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    Thanks Nicky and FDC for the follow up tips about going to Casino Credit to speak to the on duty host.
    Have added Bouchon to our 'must do' this trip.
    I squeeze every second out of our trips, if you ever spot a lady frantically running after her husband yelling 'wait, I'm on my way' to catch our ride to the airport - that would be me....
     
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