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Ringing in the New Year Weathering the Storm With Smashing Wins and Celebrations the Norm!

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by Flowers, Dec 26, 2020.

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  1. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    I played a bit and got a few nice hits to keep me playing but no handpays. It was about midnight and I finally decided to head back up to the room and start the unpleasant process of packing up after having lived at Wynncore for 2 full weeks.

    I had to bring those bags up 4 flights of stairs to my apartment this evening, which really helps to cure one of the overpacking disease. :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2021
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  2. vegas superfan

    vegas superfan VIP Whale

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    Next time see of the business center will ship your purchases home. You would still have to eventually get it upstairs, but it would be easier on travel day.
     
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  3. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    That is a great idea. In the back of my mind I was thinking shipping would definitely lighten the load though I brought too much with me in the first place but I am going to be working these comp dollars in the future so I will definitely keep that in mind. I wouldn't be surprised if the spa shop ships directly for a small fee.
     
  4. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    A couple of additional things I wanted to share relate to a positive customer service experience I had at the Golden Gate on NYE.

    I had gone DT NYE as I hadn't yet visited and I had slot play at GG, The D and Circa.

    To make a long story short, when I got to GG to redeem my $100 in monthly free play the rewards desk person said that offers were blacked out for NYE. She said it is written on the mailer. I said I haven't received a mailer in months but that the offers have been the same since June and that I have been checking them online via the website and that there is no language online about blackout periods.

    Long story short, she calls her manager Brandon, who explains to me the strict policy about blackout periods but acknowledges there is nothing in my online account that says that so he said he would check with corporate and to give him a few minutes.

    Well, he made it right. Meanwhile, I had spent $300 playing Mighty Cash while he checked on the $100 but I have to say, I was very impressed and while $100 is not chump change, it was less about the amount and more about doing what I thought was right. He dealt with things very professionally and even though this is now 10 days later, it left such a positive impression on me that I wanted to share it. He also said to me that he thought it was unusual that I was still getting regular monthly offers because once I became an A+ player with tailored offers, the regular monthly and property-specific offers cease.

    In any event, so I then go to The D and the same issue pops up. And Brandon is there. He fixes it. I got my regular $150 in MPs and proceeded to lose four out of six and another $200 of my own money... and then I go to a Lightning Link machine, expecting to see $150 in free play there as that had been my monthly offer for a few months but it wasn't there. I didn't get upset though as I felt management had done a really good job of addressing my earlier issue so I decided to just play a bit with my own money and what do you know but LL winds up being on fire and I wound up leaving The D more than 1k ahead, even factoring in my losses at blackjack.

    Kudos to the young lady at the GG who called Brandon to seek his assistance and major kudos to Brandon. He worked get me a few hundred in free play/table play that was owed and it turned out to be not only the right thing to do but also smart business as I brought significantly more than that to play with when I was at Circa this past Friday. Great customer service aka "making it right" is often a win-win and that was definitely the case here.

    I was cool throughout the experience and also did them a favor as I am sure their marketing lawyer is looking at language to add online that customers will see when they check online via the website (which is what I do) or via the app.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  5. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Last and certainly not least -- and paging @JulianC -- my host and I talked quite a bit more about the new program as he very much wanted my feedback that he was going to pass on and he also shared a little bit about the feedback from other players, which he also shared with his boss.

    One of the negative reactions from some players concerns less about the program structure but more about the change in point calculation, which I had not focused on previously. I forgot the new calculation but it is now more coin in to earn a point on slot play. (I think the ratio remained unchanged for VP.) He said even though higher tiers earn points at a faster rate, at the end of the day it sounds like it doesn't fully compensate for the change in ratio for earning points via slots. That directly affects how many points someone earns that they can then convert to free play. So, take a super heavy player that might earn 500,000 points that he would convert to $5k in free play at the end of the trip. Well now, the same level of play might only get him to say 300,000 points or $3k in free play.

    Wynn would respond by saying that well, you now also earn comp dollars and there are other benefits that you as a heavy player didn't have before. But if those players aren't maximizing for whatever reason the comp dollars for them it is not a good tradeoff and even though I like the comp dollars program and the opportunity to use them on retail, I could see why someone who banks on being able to convert hundreds of thousands of points into thousands of dollars of "Point Play" would be upset by getting much less in Point Play now with the same level of coin-in.

    So, I get the impression that hosts for very big slot players are going to need to get creative, assuming they can get corporate approval. For example, potentially giving that player more free play upfront though my host did NOT suggest this idea.

    He also shared with me some other, less significant issues that have come to the fore that I guess only happens when new programs get rolled out but it sounds like they will work those through.

    But, the other main point I wanted to note is what I have shared already, which are promotions for TABLE players, for the first time ever starting this month.

    Well, I think that's everything. I have some photos from days ago I may post when I can pull them up but I wanted to wrap up this report substantively before falling asleep as I am doing a hard pivot back to work in the morning.

    Thank you so much for following along. My trip had many unexpected moments and I was very fortunate in lots of respects. It was a wonderfully relaxing trip and I truly got a major mental break. The Covid restrictions were not a hindrance for me at all. Yes, it made it a different trip but one that was still very enjoyable and relaxing.

    On Encore vs Wynn, this is now a closer call for me. The Encore Spa and Encore pool and intimacy will always be my favorite but staying on the Wynn side has really grown on me as well.

    As I mentioned in my previous report, I prefer the layout of the Wynn Parlor Suite though I love the decor and the strip view, albeit of the northern part of the strip, from the Encore Parlor Suite.

    I think for the trip with my mom, Encore will definitely be better as it is less hectic, feels safer to me in that it is easier for the various slot attendants to keep an eye on her (they ask me about her every day! :)) and the spa and pool there would be her preference. We'll have a Salon Suite for our trip so that will be amazing.

    I believe for a solo trip, however, that I may lean more towards Wynn, even if that means having to trek over over to Encore to enjoy the spa and pool (assuming that is an option and it is not always).

    I will say it was funny to run into complete strangers who were fellow "Encore people" as we recognized each other from the Encore casino floor or Encore RFB lounge but they, like me, were having to stay at Wynn for their entire trip unless they wanted to move mid-trip and stay at Encore when it was open Thursday to Monday.

    Though I have had quite a few two-week trips before, this one felt longer, I think in part because I didn't have one or two-day experiences like going to the Grand Canyon and doing an overnight.

    I was kind of sad to leave today and I think the Wynn Tower Suites valets were kinda sad to see me go lol, but I did feel that it "was time" to get back to the real world and in the new year. I am ready to seize it personally and professionally and I am wishing everyone again the very best in 2021.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  6. WHITEJACKET73

    WHITEJACKET73 VIP Whale

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    Thank you for another entertaining and well written trip report; posting all of those photos and daily details takes a lot of time and effort which I and everyone on this board appreciates. Your gracious treatment of all the hotel/casino employees that you encounter during your Vegas stays is most impressive; you certainly have a lot of "savvy" for making the most out of your travels. This trip report was just the tonic needed for curing my case of Minnesota 'cabin fever' during this long, cold, gray winter. Thanks again, and stay safe.
     
  7. JulianC

    JulianC Amateur

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    You rang?
     
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  8. TArras21

    TArras21 Low-Roller

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    Just an idea if this happens again in the future... pack the "3rd" piece with stuff you don't need for a few days and UPS or FedEx to your home (costs a lot less then airline baggage charges!).
     
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  9. 625LORI

    625LORI Tourist

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    Thanks for such a wonderful report. It is always sad to leave but like you said - real world awaits. I'm glad you had a great and safe time.
     
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  10. carolineno

    carolineno VIP Whale

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    Such a great report. I hate to see it end but honestly even the Mint and "home" pictures are exciting to me lol. I hope my trip comes together as I'm booked Mint both ways and that is going to be a big feature of the trip for me. Let us know if the "Hum" pills work. I am being good now but I know after Vegas I will need those too lol. And your nails still look great! :love:
     
    Ladies getaway, somewhere on the strip with a pool :)
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  11. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Another wonderful trip and report. The effort you put into a "live report" is truly outstanding!
     
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  12. AyDee

    AyDee is getting too old for this

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    :nworthy:EPIC TR:nworthy:,
    :headbang:I enjoyed it thoroughly, looking forwards to your final settled thoughts, also any thoughts on your Circa host,
    One has reached out to me, and unlike a A+ player, I'm very likely more a D- player, but bigish plans are afoot.
    Barry's reservations are already made.

    AFAF: I'm willing to pay if I don't make whatever backend they wanted, but if an offer is made up front, I shouldn't be obliged to, is that correct?
    (Our only other host was our VMB friend and ex GG host Tim Miller)
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  13. breanna61

    breanna61 Super Moderator

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    Another fabulous Flowers trip report. It has been a year now since I have been to Vegas (3 canceled trips) so the effort you put in on your live updates, meal info, photos, etc is so very much appreciated. I am so happy for you on your big jackpot win and could feel your excitement.
    Thank you for your wonderful TR.
     
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  14. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Lol. I know you are numbers/comp assessment guru so I wanted to make sure you saw my note about the change in ratio for earning points when playing slots.
     
  15. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    If you get an offer upfront definitely take it!!

    There are apparently hosts at the different properties (GG, The D, Circa) but my host, who is currently physically based at The D, hosts players at all three properties.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  16. Jspigare

    Jspigare Low-Roller

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    Thank you @Flowers for taking us along during a wonderful trip. Your dedication to keeping the report up is incredible and so appreciated, especially now. Thanks again!
     
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  17. vegas superfan

    vegas superfan VIP Whale

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    Your free play MIGHT not have been available on Lightening Link because it is a progressive machine.
     
  18. emmas

    emmas VIP Whale

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    Again, thanks for the great trip report. Glad you had so much fun and got home safe and sound. Really enjoyed following along.

    If you have any JetBlue flights booked from Newark, check them. Just found out that JetBlue eliminated certain direct flights from EWR to LAS. They rebooked my direct flight in February into a 12-hour odyssey through Fort Lauderdale. Fortunately, they were able to rebook me through JFK.
     
    I need all the luck I can get!
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  19. sybgal

    sybgal VIP Whale

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    Thank YOU for a TR for the ages! Helping me get thru the gloom & doom of a Hoosier January.....while biding my time till my late April trip!
     
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  20. rooster42000

    rooster42000 Goat of all Goats , My Hero

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    Awesome TR , very detailed , great pics , beyond belief TR , you are the best girl, you rock Vegas , Looking forward to next one. :peace: :headbang: :headbang: :thumbsup: :clap: :clap: :clap:
     
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