CET Host and Comp questions

Hello: We reserved a comped premium room @the Flamingo for 5 nights in July. Same room as last time we were there and really liked it (I know rooms aren't guaranteed) I am diamond with CET. 2 days after reserving I received an email from an "Executive Casino Host" introducing himself as he had been assigned to me. Long story short..our dates changed by a day, I cancelled our res but before I reserved new dates, same room available, I contacted him to see what he could do for me. He called me within 5 minutes. Asked some questions and said rule is he can't book me Flamingo again but he would do right by us at Bally's. Just watch my email. Just got confirmation through that we are in a room we never would have booked! Email said ask for an upgrade when we get there if it's available. WTH! Oh, he did throw in some free play. I'm tempted to cancel Bally's and just book us back at the Flamingo. He says he can't book us there and won't get credit for our play there because we had a prior res. My question is will I be burning bridges by doing that? Will we wind up with a room @ Flamingo we really don't like because I'm kind of dissing the host? New to this host thing but very disappointed so far! We weren't expecting the moon but at least something comparable to our offers at the Flamingo. I will send him an email as well expressing our disappointment but wanted some feedback before I do that. PS, we are also comped better rooms at Bally's than what he booked us so can't figure out why he would have booked us the room he did! Thanks and love VMB!!

 

As silly as it may sound, it does make some sense.

They track host activity by the reservations they make and $$ coming in. (my best guess). If a host just went in and took over reservations already made but now attached their name to it, they really would not be adding business, so should not get credit for it. Again, my guess.

Not sure what play level you are at, but I think reservations with a host involved might have a better chance at those "discretionary" upgrades.

Back to your situation... if you really want to stay at Flamingo, then change it.

 

If you can take care of yourself better than an executive host can do, then take care of your own reservations. If you have played to a high enough level (with CET, that means "average market value" -- the typical ADT, plus out-of-pocket resort spend beyond or instead of using provided resort credit from an offer being a factor) to warrant having an executive casino host, then you probably have relatively amazing offers that you can either book online yourself or through the VIP services phone number. Having not even seen what your CET offers look like, I am confident that your marketing loyalty offer ("must book by..." with a set amount of resort credit and free play -- sent out every month or two) is better than what your executive host booked for you. If your executive host claims only being able to get credit for your generated market value (again, gaming activity plus resort/hotel spend), then I suspect that you played a ton at Bally's last trip (or the trip before).

Ask your host if he works exclusively out of Bally's, and also if he can take care of you at other CET properties both in Vegas and in other markets. (CET executive hosts are property-specific. I know that you are a stronger player ADT-wise because you skipped right over the "casino account executive" level -- which is basically inside sales and can do little beyond booking your existing offers for you.) Also remember this -- your host works for you. Do not feel any heavy obligation to play and/or stay where your host says just to help your host "make book" (get enough market value out of his roster of players/guests). This is especially true of doing so would detract from the enjoyment of your vacation. If you wanted to visit a CET resort in another market (say, New Orleans or Atlantic City), your executive host would not be able to directly book it for you -- but should be happy to put you in contact with an equivalent host in that other market to take care of you.

I am leaning toward you having a bridge worth burning if it gets you what you want for your vacation.

 

Cancel the Bally's res and book yourself at Flamingo as you like.
There is no bridge to burn, none ever exists.
I don't want to get into a debate here, but my 2 cents:
1) it is your vacation (or whatever you call it), not anyone else's.
2) you don't need a host

 

Not get credit for your play cause you cancelled? Balderdash. Maybe he won’t get credit is more like it. You are the customer and if you want a room at the Flamingo book one. You don’t need a host like that IMO.

 

book the room you want at the hotel you want. The host isnt your best friend he is trying to make money for himself. He is looking out for his own interest and so should you.

 

One of the best comments about hosts I have seen in quite some time. Reality baby!

 

Many people are obsessed with host and rave about having one, often forgetting the truth.

 

My suggestion is the same as everyone here. If your host is unable to upgrade you at Bally's, go ahead and book the comped premium room at Flamingo. Its your vacation and you should enjoy it. There is no chance your host will 'interfere' with bookingand make you get a worse room at flamingo.

If you really feel bad about the host, you can stop at Bally's when he is working, maybe give him a small gift and explain that you really wanted to stay at Flamingo. Also, any host on duty can check if you are eligible for back end comps, which they will be happy to do.

 

Host? I don't need no stinking host.

and that's the truth since I am a low-mid roller.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. And yes it's definitely my vacation and I already have enough friends . Will be changing my booking and will be staying where I want! It just kind of threw me when I saw what had been reserved. First time using one so I wasn't sure what to expect. Thanks again. Now I need to go shovel out of this white krap coming down! Yes we take care of ourselves. Lol

 

The only reason for having a host is to provide you with opportunities such as upgrades, back end comps or comps not easily/readily made available by marketing offers. (Obviously this is all my personal experience). If a host is unable to go an extra mile for you then they are virtually useless. Go on your merry way hon and book your Flamingo room - hurry before you can no longer get what you'd like!

Edited to Add: If that is the level of service he's offering...burn that MF'n bridge down!

 

@tee6395 you are hilarious! Thanks for the chuckle. I'm not asking for much so yes, I'm kinda smelling the smoke. Emailed the Host so we shall see. Lots of other hotels out there to spend my mad money at!

 

If they send you a survey express concerns there. If not that big a deal then don’t. But do what you want. You don’t need another “parent” in vegas telling you what to do or can do.

 

The host that is assigned to me has the title executive host however I think she is inside sales. She has not been helpful at all. This week I asked her the cost to book a Linq cabana room. She emailed me back and said no charge the room is comped and booked. On checking the reservation it was a standard Linq room. I emailed asking why it wasn’t a cabana room. She said she put the request for that room in the notes but it is not guaranteed.

I told her to cancel my reservation as I only want a cabana room. I then booked the room online while not logged in. I have to pay for it but that’s fine. It kinda pisses me off that CET makes it hard to book higher level rooms when you are willing to pay for one.

It’s your vacation. You should get the room you want.

 

Having a host makes sense if you're a long time player and you low roll it one trip. They can usually get you your old offer without any problem. I've had this done at the Wynn/VP without any problems.

CET hosts don't have as much flexibility in Vegas, but in AC, I get rooms I couldn't normally get by using a host.

The whole argument that hosts wanna screw you and are only looking out for themselves is not true. I've had hosts go above and beyond for me. It depends who you're assigned to and what kind of person they are. Also, some are trying to hook big players and so sometimes their attention gets diluted.

On your trip, just tell them you really want flamingo and that you'll get them on your next trip. It's your vacation and you don't wanna spend it regretting where you're staying.

That said, don't you qualify for a room elsewhere? I'd pick Paris over bally's

 

I haven't read any posts past yours @nancy218 as I was pissed for you when reading it. Bottom line is your "host" didn't help you in the way you wanted (and in a way it sounds like he could have) because it didn't benefit him. That is not how hosts are supposed to roll. Even the decent CET ones in Vegas IMO can't do much for you and it can be a pain with all of the back and forth, which is why, even though I am Seven Stars, I use my host in Vegas only when I MUST, like when I need a host to code a trip as a Seven Stars trip so that I can get my $500 folio credit, etc. This is in contrast to my host in AC, through which I book my room, often at the very last minute. He doesn't do much for me beyond my offers. (I think I am significantly undercomped in AC, but with the Seven Stars and Laurel Lounges, etc. I rarely have any room charges of significance.)

If you prefer Flamingo then cancel Bally's and book Flamingo. He may have to cancel the Bally's reservation, in which case I would ask/direct him to do so in a short email as that is not where you want to stay.

 

You and me both. I don't even ask for charges to be removed in AC because they're usually one- nighters with ~100 in charges that I'd rather not spend RCs on. Good news, though, is that I can get a room whenever I want in ac.

 

Update... After emailing with my disappointment he quickly replied and we are booked in a suite at Bally's! I guess if you don't ask you don't receive. We are happy with the resolution and that's what matters. I'll know better for next time how to handle the booking

 

Good for you. I hope you have a great trip!