Really strange -- Rincon coming up with a rate when booking future rooms

I'm a Seven Stars member and am guaranteed free stays at any Caesar's properties, given 48 hours notice, regardless of how much or how little I play in 2013.

When I just stayed at Rincon, it came up with a rate, but I assumed that was because I was doing it on zero notice.

Just for kicks, I entered various random dates for later this month (WAY more than 48 hours away), and all are coming up with a rate!

I called Rincon to look into this, and a host there told me it was "very strange", and he had never seen anything like that before. He said the system was kicking back, "No room unless with an offer", which he said he could override if I wanted. Since I wasn't ready to actually book anything, I told him not to bother and that I'd call back.

Alan, what comes up when you go to the TR site and act as if you want to book a room there?

I have never tried to book a room at Rincon, but when I go to the Caesars computer to book a room myself at Caesars in LV, even when using an offer, the website tells me to contact a host directly. In other words, I can't book my own room. It is somehow programmed to have me deal with a host.

Update: Just for kicks, I went to the Rincon site and after logging in with my TR account, I found that I was comped for weekday nights, but I was being charged for Saturday nights. I tried various combinations of dates in December. When I entered only weekday nights the rooms were comped. If a Saturday night was included there was a room charge.

I think what you always need to do is call a host.

The same thing happens to me on TR website booking at every property except my home property. Every where in Vegas - every day it shows a cost, New Orleans shows free weekday rooms but a rate on weekends.

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Originally Posted by sassycat

The same thing happens to me on TR website booking at every property except my home property. Every where in Vegas - every day it shows a cost, New Orleans shows free weekday rooms but a rate on weekends.

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How long has it been like that?

I was able to correctly book free rooms online for a long time. Only now did I find that weird "rate" problem, and the Rincon host I spoke to was surprised by it.

Perhaps it's a recent CET change to attempt to force Seven Stars players to be better monitored by hosts. I know if you book through online or the CCS (the central reservations phone #), no host is typically notified, and you can fly under their radar. This was actually useful to do when you were planning upon doing a number of consecutive visits with little or no play, as there is not a host who is under pressure to justify their comp. This would in turn make your host less frustrated when you finally book through them and actually do play.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

How long has it been like that?

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I think for all 7Stars, at Caesars Palace they want you to deal with a host. And why wouldn't you want to deal with a host if you are a 7Stars? The host always asks me about restaurant reservations or shows, or the type of room, even the view.

Is there any reason you want to avoid a host?

As far as Rincon goes I have no idea what their procedures are but I am going to guess the same thing. They want their 7Stas players to get the "treatment of a host." Again, is there some reason you don't want to speak with a host?

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

I think for all 7Stars, at Caesars Palace they want you to deal with a host. And why wouldn't you want to deal with a host if you are a 7Stars? The host always asks me about restaurant reservations or shows, or the type of room, even the view.

Is there any reason you want to avoid a host?

As far as Rincon goes I have no idea what their procedures are but I am going to guess the same thing. They want their 7Stas players to get the "treatment of a host." Again, is there some reason you don't want to speak with a host?

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I have booked Caesars MANY times in 2012 and 2013 via online or the CCS. This is the first time I ever ran into the situation where I wasn't allowed to book online for free given 48+ hours notice.

I already said above why I sometimes want to avoid a host. It's if I don't plan upon playing (and especially if I didn't play the last few trips, either.)

If I plan upon playing, I do want a host involved, as it will make them more willing to do me favors in the future.

If I don't play, it's better they don't see I was there unless they really look closely.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I already said above why I sometimes want to avoid a host. It's if I don't plan upon playing (and especially if I didn't play the last few trips, either.)

If I plan upon playing, I do want a host involved, as it will make them more willing to do me favors in the future.

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Sorry, but that makes no sense. Just because you don't go through a host doesn't mean the computer is turned off and your play or lack of play isn't tracked. I've gone through a host at Caesars even when I had little play. In fact, I plan to play very little over New Years. The others I am hooking up with have all decided that we want to do some sightseeing.

I have the hardest time in Vegas actually getting a host on property. My assigned host is a casino marketing person that "works"- (I say that loosely) with a host on property. I have asked for a host and they tell me that I need to book through this person (who works as a 9-5 in an office at Planet Hollywood). He has no stroke getting me good tickets to events or anything beyond whatever offer I am booking under.

He booked me Donny and Marie tickets and I got there early and asked for special 7 star seating. The ticket taker said that my tickets were general and they could have only been updated by a host on property- that my marketing host did not have the authority do that.

- As far as rates showing online Dan- It has actually been that way for quite a while for some properties like CP in Vegas and quite a few other properties on weekend dates - especially if the weekend is coming up in the next several weeks.

Dan, how long have you been a 7Stars??

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

Sorry, but that makes no sense. Just because you don't go through a host doesn't mean the computer is turned off and your play or lack of play isn't tracked. I've gone through a host at Caesars even when I had little play. In fact, I plan to play very little over New Years. The others I am hooking up with have all decided that we want to do some sightseeing.

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Alan, I made 7 Stars in August 2012.

Regarding avoiding hosts, as I said, there is no reason to do so if you do the occasional "no-play stay" but for the most part play when you get a room there.

However, if you go a long period of time without playing (yet you stay repeatedly at CET properties), there is an advantage to avoid a host.

I'll explain why:

Hosts are under constant pressure from their superiors to "justify" the comps they book. Even if they are simply booking you as a standard 7-Star comp, it still counts as a comp. If you keep staying and not playing, the host looks bad to his/her superiors. Now, if you're 7-Star, they cannot do anything about it, as you are guaranteed a room with 48 hours notice for 4 consecutive days. However, the host will also be angry with you and won't want to do you any favors. In fact, even if their boss does not give them a hard time, they will be irritated that you wasted their time for several consecutive bookings, and yet they got no play out of it.

When you use online or the CCS, while your lack of play does get recorded in the system, no particular host is associated with it. So while the host still won't do you many favors because you don't seem to be playing anymore, you'll still be in a better spot, as you haven't wasted their time or made them look bad to their boss.

The way I typically did it was using the CCS/internet if I am not planning to play, and using a host if I am (and then I tell the host that I will be playing a lot this time, so they know in advance and might be more willing to do something for me).

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Originally Posted by sassycat

I have the hardest time in Vegas actually getting a host on property. My assigned host is a casino marketing person that "works"- (I say that loosely) with a host on property. I have asked for a host and they tell me that I need to book through this person (who works as a 9-5 in an office at Planet Hollywood). He has no stroke getting me good tickets to events or anything beyond whatever offer I am booking under.

He booked me Donny and Marie tickets and I got there early and asked for special 7 star seating. The ticket taker said that my tickets were general and they could have only been updated by a host on property- that my marketing host did not have the authority do that.

- As far as rates showing online Dan- It has actually been that way for quite a while for some properties like CP in Vegas and quite a few other properties on weekend dates - especially if the weekend is coming up in the next several weeks.

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The "general seating" thing is fairly easy to beat.

Approach the box office, tell them you're a Seven Stars, and ask for the best seats possible. Have them show you the seats. If they suck (or are mediocre), keep pressing for better. Repeat that you're a 7 Star, that you understand they're general seats, but they have always moved you up to best available when you've requested it.

If they still refuse, ask if you can come back about an hour before showtime and try again. Often they don't want to commit the prime seats to you for free if someone might spend full price on them (or the hosts need them for whales).

If all else fails, ask for a supervisor. The last two times it went like this:

Them: "Sir, as we said, these are the best seats we can offer you for general admisison, even as a 7-Star."

Me: "I understand that, but at all other shows I have been given far better seats, even with general admission, and often on busy nights. Can I please speak to your supervisor?"

Them: "The supervisor will tell you the same thing."

Me: "That's ok, I'd like to speak to them anyway."

(They get on the phone or go in the back out of sight.)

Them: "Okay, sir, the supervisor has authorized these tickets." [Shows me great seats on the map.]

Me: "I'll take it!"

This has worked EVERY SINGLE TIME and I've gotten prime seats. The only exception was Penn & Teller, and even there I got pretty good seats, just not great ones.

Also, do this in person. Do not try it over the phone or it will likely fail. The closer you try this to showtime, the better chance it will work (but there also might be fewer seats to choose from). I would try once about a day in advance, and once an hour before showtime if it they tell you coming back then might help.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Hosts are under constant pressure from their superiors to "justify" the comps they book. Even if they are simply booking you as a standard 7-Star comp, it still counts as a comp. If you keep staying and not playing, the host looks bad to his/her superiors.

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You've got it wrong. You are permanently assigned to a host at your "home casino" as a 7stars... even if you don't know it. It doesn't matter if the host knows you are there or not, your play is recorded "for that host." If you happen to play at another property and book it through another host, those two hosts "share" the credit for your play.

You cannot fool the computer. Is that what you are thinking-- that if you don't go through a host you are fooling the computer?

Have you ever fooled the computer before? I doubt it. I am sure the computer will catch all of your tricks.

My understanding about show seats for 7 Stars players is that there is a block of seats reserved for them. Which actual seat you get could vary with when you booked your reservation and the show, or it could vary with what extra push your host will give you.

Obviously a higher level 7 Stars player will get better seating.

I have never asked for any special seating... and I have always been happy with what I got. I saw Celine at Caesars (the first show, A New Day) no less than eleven times. Depending on when I booked the free seats they ranged from center fifth row, to mezzanine, to all over the place. I never made a fuss over it.

When I saw Penn and Teller on free seats they weren't the greatest, but I didn't make a fuss over it either.

I understand that there are higher level of 7 stars but still I think if I could get a property host that I would get better seats at events. At my home property, Tahoe, Reno, even at Atlantic City on first trip - I got really good seats and I think that is because my host on property arranged it for me. I just don't understand that concept of a marketing host taking care of a 7 star player.

The seats that we got for Penn and Teller were so far up that there were only about 10 rows behind us. I didn't complain because for one thing - they were so boring that I almost fell asleep anyway.

Dan - I understand what you are saying about talking to higher ups and supervisors etc. but that is too much trouble - I would be so upset by then that I wouldn't have enjoyed the show.

I guess the moral of the story is that - even as 7 star - you only get really good service with a host - if you play quite a bit at that property or if you have a really good host.

sassycat, what is your home property? Did you try walking into the host's office and asking if you could be assigned to a host?

Let me share a story with you. Several years ago when Nero's was still open at Caesars, a young man and his wife were at the hostess stand demanding to be seated immediately. It was around 7pm. I was also there, waiting for my table at the reserved time. I got to overhear the demands of the player which went something like this: "I am a 7 Stars player, I should be seated first." And when the hostess said she was sorry but there were no tables open till like 10pm. So the young man backed off and started to complain to the rest of us who were standing and waiting for our reservations. He said he was from Atlantic City where 7 stars players never had to wait. That's when someone said "look around. This is Caesars Palace. Half of the people here are 7 stars."

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Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson

You've got it wrong. You are permanently assigned to a host at your "home casino" as a 7stars... even if you don't know it. It doesn't matter if the host knows you are there or not, your play is recorded "for that host." If you happen to play at another property and book it through another host, those two hosts "share" the credit for your play.

You cannot fool the computer. Is that what you are thinking-- that if you don't go through a host you are fooling the computer?

Have you ever fooled the computer before? I doubt it. I am sure the computer will catch all of your tricks.

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Alan, I don't think I can fool the computer.

As I said, I am aware that my play will be tracked no matter what.

However, I believe you are incorrect regarding the host and his/her "credit".

I know that hosts really dislike it when you use the CCS or internet to book your stay. They either get reduced commission or no commission. I actually had a host once ask me, "Please always book through me. When you do it online, I don't get credit for your play."

I believe the logic behind this is that the host didn't do anything to bring you to the property (since you booked it yourself through normal reservations channels), so therefore they shouldn't get commission for it as if they did.

Conversely, I believe that booking yourself somewhat absolves the host of responsibility for you not playing, as they are completely left out of the picture. That is, they are not comping you and then having to justify it, as you are bypassing them.

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Originally Posted by sassycat

I understand that there are higher level of 7 stars but still I think if I could get a property host that I would get better seats at events. At my home property, Tahoe, Reno, even at Atlantic City on first trip - I got really good seats and I think that is because my host on property arranged it for me. I just don't understand that concept of a marketing host taking care of a 7 star player.

The seats that we got for Penn and Teller were so far up that there were only about 10 rows behind us. I didn't complain because for one thing - they were so boring that I almost fell asleep anyway.

Dan - I understand what you are saying about talking to higher ups and supervisors etc. but that is too much trouble - I would be so upset by then that I wouldn't have enjoyed the show.

I guess the moral of the story is that - even as 7 star - you only get really good service with a host - if you play quite a bit at that property or if you have a really good host.

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sassy, you are correct that 7 Star doesn't mean much as far as getting service from a host. It's more about your current play. A host will do more for a Platinum member who is actively playing than a 7-Star who has visited 5 times in a row and not played a lick.

I do suggest you bypass the host for the seating and do it yourself. Even if you don't want to ask for supervisor and the like, often you will get great seats on the first try by simply coming to the box office, saying you're 7 Stars, and would like the best available seats. The host will likely put much less effort into this unless he really wants to do you a favor.

Everyone is different, but I never had very much stress at all with the process I described. Sure, it takes about 10 minutes or so, and some initial bargaining/refusing sometimes, but then you get upgraded to vastly superior seats. I actually enjoy this experience because I feel as if I have just "comped myself" very special seats by knowing how the system works.

I would still suggest just going to the box office about an hour before showtime, as you'll have the best luck then.

Oh, and this only works for comped "general admission" seats. If you are buying seats, they will not upgrade you unless you buy the highest price ticket. You can't just buy nosebleed seats and have them upgrade you to great seats because you're a 7-Star. But this method works with comped seats, because there is only one category of comp seats, so they can't tell you to buy a higher tier.

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

However, I believe you are incorrect regarding the host and his/her "credit".

I know that hosts really dislike it when you use the CCS or internet to book your stay. They either get reduced commission or no commission. I actually had a host once ask me, "Please always book through me. When you do it online, I don't get credit for your play."

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I am correct as far as Caesars properties go, and if the host was with Caesars Ent then there are other incentives for them to do your booking. Remember, hosts are getting phased out, and if you book your own trips without a host it endangers their job.

Alan - my home property is Bossier City La. I have a wonderful host there and he gets me great seats at events, ulimited food and beverage, and does everything that I request. BTW - I am not really demanding.

I have walked into the hosts office at Vegas and they look up my account and say your host is ---- and he works with ---at this property. When I have tried to call that host at that property, she tells me that I need to go through the marketing host.

The story about the guy at Nero's - that is not me. I would not cause a scene. However, I do not believe that there are more 7 star players at CP in Vegas than there are in other places. I know there are lots of diamond.

Dan - As far as the Donny and Marie concert - that was my offer so my marketing host booked it and had the comp tickets at the box office. As per another 7 star players suggestion - I did get to the box office an hour early and asked to be upgraded and they still told me that the tickets should have been upgraded by a host and that the marketing host did not have the authority do it.

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Originally Posted by sassycat

Alan - my home property is Bossier City La. I have a wonderful host there and he gets me great seats at events, ulimited food and beverage, and does everything that I request. BTW - I am not really demanding.

I have walked into the hosts office at Vegas and they look up my account and say your host is ---- and he works with ---at this property. When I have tried to call that host at that property, she tells me that I need to go through the marketing host.

The story about the guy at Nero's - that is not me. I would not cause a scene. However, I do not believe that there are more 7 star players at CP in Vegas than there are in other places. I know there are lots of diamond.

Dan - As far as the Donny and Marie concert - that was my offer so my marketing host booked it and had the comp tickets at the box office. As per another 7 star players suggestion - I did get to the box office an hour early and asked to be upgraded and they still told me that the tickets should have been upgraded by a host and that the marketing host did not have the authority do it.

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That's probably where a supervisor would have helped. I was given the "we can't do this" story a number of times, but after some gentle continued arguing and requesting of a supervisor, they have always ended up upgrading me. Even Penn and Teller did, though as I said, those were the only seats that went to just "good" instead of "great".