Book your 2014 Signature Event! Oops... did I tell you one of them is sold out?

[Dan Druff]

So I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't get any information about the Signature Events, aside from what I found online and read in the brochure.

I knew there were 3 cruises to choose from (but no info on what kind of stateroom I get, or how to book), and if I didn't want to cruise, I could choose an event in either Lake Tahoe or Vegas (but no info on what would happen at these events).

Well, finally the info came to me today in e-mail.

FAILURE #1: One of the three cruises is already sold out! The August cruise to Canada/New England is somehow sold out already. No clue how all these people were booking it without instructions, but that happened.

FAILURE #2: Still no information on staterooms on the cruises, or how to book. This is what you get if you click 'learn more': https://www.totalrewards.com/sevenst...d_mid=21210621

FAILURE #3: The other two events -- the non-cruise ones -- suck big time.


SUCKY VEGAS EVENT (OCT 23-26):
$100 Freeplay

"Seven Stars Gift" (most likely crap)

Welcome to the Linq Tour and Reception (lame)

2 Tickets to experience the High Roller (you get this at Diamond Aspirations I)

Reception at The Cromwell (lame)

Entry into the $100,000 Casino Play Drawing (lame -- divide by thousands of people and the likely weigh toward high rollers, and you will win nothing)

Choice of 2 Tickets to see Veronic or Jubilee (you get these anyway as part of your free show benefit)

Brunch at Celebrity Chef Giada’s restaurant (probably ok, but not likely worth more than $50 total)

4 night hotel accommodations in Las Vegas (you get this anyway as a Seven Stars member)



EVEN SUCKIER TAHOE EVENT (AUGUST 22-25):

Welcome reception (oh wow)

Seven Stars Gift (likely crap)

Wine and Food Experience (no idea what this is)

Continental Breakfast with Bloody Mary Bar (lol continental breakfast -- can't even spring for a full one)

2 Tickets to Rascal Flatts Concert (I like country music, but still lol @ this)

Pre-concert Reception (lame)

4 night hotel accommodations in Lake Tahoe (you get this anyway)



So the cruises actually have some good value, but one is already sold out, you get no airfare to the east coast, and the itineraries/dates are highly restrictive.

The two signature events to choose from suck.

Maybe the $100 freeplay is higher for some of you, and maybe you get more than my $0 freeplay at Tahoe.

But this is seriously a joke.

Last year I got $550 Forum Shops credit (to specific stores, but like Alan, I used it at Tommy Bahama), which I thought was decent.

This year's non-cruise events are worth like $200 tops, unless you're a huge Rascal Flatts fan.

Hilarious how they give out show tickets that you can already get as a Seven Stars member, and rooms you can also already get complimentary.

[Dan Druff]

So apparently you call 888-509-0519 and they give you the info.

They are all balcony staterooms, which is better than what I expected.

Kinda sucks that the Canada/New England one is sold out, because that was the only one I wanted. The December cruise to the Caribbean is identical to the one I took in December 2013, and the one in June to Bermuda/Florida sounds crappy, given the weather in those places at that time of year.

I was told that they are booking these quickly, so you should call soon if you want either of the remaining cruises.

[supermaxhd]

I just got the same email. I agree the non cruise events seem lame. When you click the find out more link in the email it takes you to a web page for Seven Stars players. If you click the 'view benefits' link it opens up the 2013 mailer, maybe by this time next year we will finally learn all about 2014.

I'd be happy though if the Vegas event included a coupon for a BLT Bloody Mary from Hash House a Go Go at the Quad. Those are incredible.

[Dan Druff]

Actually at second glance, the Canada/New England one doesn't excite me too much, because these are all drivable destinations.

I think cruises are best to see multiple destinations that would require flights, or places like Alaskan glaciers that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to see, even with flights.

I think I'd rather just fly out to Boston and drive that itinerary, to be honest.

[Dan Druff]

In hindsight, though, if I knew this was coming in 2014, I would have not taken that Caribbean cruise in 2013 and just used the signature event in 2014 to do the exact same thing for much cheaper.

I did like that cruise, so if you are thinking of doing a cruise one, I would suggest that itinerary. It's pretty good, and I can even suggest some activities if you want. I'm not sure if they'd let you combine it with your annual trip to New Orleans, though. That would be ideal, as it would pay for your airfare and get you 50,000 RCs.

[Dan Druff]

supermax (and anyone else):

How much freeplay do you get for Vegas?

Did you get any for Tahoe?

[Aaron]

Dan

In the SIGNATURE EVENT email.

LV freeplay = 350.00
Tahoe = 0.00

I get from 800 to 1000 on other offers.

[supermaxhd]

supermax (and anyone else):

How much freeplay do you get for Vegas?

Did you get any for Tahoe?

Only recently have the Las Vegas free slot play coupons starting to get better. I think I have one offer for $250 or another with a $300 Macy's gift card. The problem is these are tied to a stay and unlikely I will go to Vegas this year unless for my annual retreat next Janruary.

For HorseShoe Cincinnati or Southern Indiana (near Lousiville) I get monthly mailer filled with free slot play coupons good ever 3-4 days through the month. The April offers were $80 coupons and $60 coupons. If you can get there twice a week just for the free play it is not that bad but not worth it for the 90 minute drive for just $80. In April Southern Indiana on top of the $80 coupon I was also getting a $100 coupon for every Friday at Southern Indiana, and it was doubled to $200 if I enarned 1800 tier credits by 11pm.

After Cincinnati opened last spring, I got about $7000 in free slot play spread out over 8 weeks in June and July. I was going up there just to run the free play through 9/6 job $2 credits and taking the money home. Pretty sure I came out ahead on that 7000 of free play. Then for a while my free play coupons dropped to $15 at Cincinnati.

[Dan Druff]

Only recently have the Las Vegas free slot play coupons starting to get better. I think I have one offer for $250 or another with a $300 Macy's gift card. The problem is these are tied to a stay and unlikely I will go to Vegas this year unless for my annual retreat next Janruary.

For HorseShoe Cincinnati or Southern Indiana (near Lousiville) I get monthly mailer filled with free slot play coupons good ever 3-4 days through the month. The April offers were $80 coupons and $60 coupons. If you can get there twice a week just for the free play it is not that bad but not worth it for the 90 minute drive for just $80. In April Southern Indiana on top of the $80 coupon I was also getting a $100 coupon for every Friday at Southern Indiana, and it was doubled to $200 if I enarned 1800 tier credits by 11pm.

After Cincinnati opened last spring, I got about $7000 in free slot play spread out over 8 weeks in June and July. I was going up there just to run the free play through 9/6 job $2 credits and taking the money home. Pretty sure I came out ahead on that 7000 of free play. Then for a while my free play coupons dropped to $15 at Cincinnati.

But how much did you get offered in freeplay for the 2 signature events?

[Dan Druff]

Dan

In the SIGNATURE EVENT email.

LV freeplay = 350.00
Tahoe = 0.00

I get from 800 to 1000 on other offers.

LOL so basically you are costing yourself money by going on either of these signature events, as your other offers would be more lucrative.

What a fail.

[supermaxhd]

Las Vegas event says $100 casino play, Tahoe nothing.

[Dan Druff]

Las Vegas event says $100 casino play, Tahoe nothing.

So exact same crap as me.

And Aaron, who plays heavily enough to get good $800-$1000 offers in this day and age, was insulted with $350.

Bad, bad, bad.

Makes me think that Caesar's got these cruises for a song from NCL. They probably paid only for the tips/taxes + ground transportation, and NCL likely is footing the bill on the rest (figuring they will make up for it by getting Seven Stars players into the casino).

I wonder why they are offering stupid benefits such as "4 free nights" when nearly every Seven Stars member realizes they get it for free anyway. Just pisses people off to see things like that. Pretty funny they are only giving Jubilee and that other show in the Vegas experience. Like, they couldn't even spring for tickets to one of the higher-end shows like Celine Dion or Britney Spears. Instead, they give you the same lousy free tickets you could get anyway with your Seven Stars benefit.

The Vegas event is a watered down version of the 2012 event. In that one, I got like $575 freeplay, attended some mediocre receptions/meals, and saw a pretty good Don Henley concert. But at least the freeplay was respectable and Don Henley is a pretty big name. Here they are giving you $100 and a bunch of crap in Vegas, or $0 and a Rascal Flatts concert in Tahoe. Weak.

[Alan Mendelson]

My guess is Celine and Britney sell out every show... but as I wrote before... I have walked into the Hosts Office in the past and asked if Celine tickets were available and got them free. Sometimes you just get lucky.

But I wouldn't expect the company to give away the better shows when they can sell them.

There are, by the way, a couple of promotions during the year when you can go to the better shows. I've received several invites for the better shows over the past year, but they didn't fit my schedule for going to LV.

[Rob.Singer]

So I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't get any information about the Signature Events, aside from what I found online and read in the brochure.

I knew there were 3 cruises to choose from (but no info on what kind of stateroom I get, or how to book), and if I didn't want to cruise, I could choose an event in either Lake Tahoe or Vegas (but no info on what would happen at these events).

Well, finally the info came to me today in e-mail.

FAILURE #1: One of the three cruises is already sold out! The August cruise to Canada/New England is somehow sold out already. No clue how all these people were booking it without instructions, but that happened.

FAILURE #2: Still no information on staterooms on the cruises, or how to book. This is what you get if you click 'learn more': https://www.totalrewards.com/sevenst...d_mid=21210621

FAILURE #3: The other two events -- the non-cruise ones -- suck big time.


SUCKY VEGAS EVENT (OCT 23-26):
$100 Freeplay

"Seven Stars Gift" (most likely crap)

Welcome to the Linq Tour and Reception (lame)

2 Tickets to experience the High Roller (you get this at Diamond Aspirations I)

Reception at The Cromwell (lame)

Entry into the $100,000 Casino Play Drawing (lame -- divide by thousands of people and the likely weigh toward high rollers, and you will win nothing)

Choice of 2 Tickets to see Veronic or Jubilee (you get these anyway as part of your free show benefit)

Brunch at Celebrity Chef Giada’s restaurant (probably ok, but not likely worth more than $50 total)

4 night hotel accommodations in Las Vegas (you get this anyway as a Seven Stars member)



EVEN SUCKIER TAHOE EVENT (AUGUST 22-25):

Welcome reception (oh wow)

Seven Stars Gift (likely crap)

Wine and Food Experience (no idea what this is)

Continental Breakfast with Bloody Mary Bar (lol continental breakfast -- can't even spring for a full one)

2 Tickets to Rascal Flatts Concert (I like country music, but still lol @ this)

Pre-concert Reception (lame)

4 night hotel accommodations in Lake Tahoe (you get this anyway)



So the cruises actually have some good value, but one is already sold out, you get no airfare to the east coast, and the itineraries/dates are highly restrictive.

The two signature events to choose from suck.

Maybe the $100 freeplay is higher for some of you, and maybe you get more than my $0 freeplay at Tahoe.

But this is seriously a joke.

Last year I got $550 Forum Shops credit (to specific stores, but like Alan, I used it at Tommy Bahama), which I thought was decent.

This year's non-cruise events are worth like $200 tops, unless you're a huge Rascal Flatts fan.

Hilarious how they give out show tickets that you can already get as a Seven Stars member, and rooms you can also already get complimentary.

Look beyond that which you believe is suppose to make up for any losses incurred. Lake Tahoe is the most beautiful location in the country (and I believe, the entire world) and just BEING there renders any of those dinner certificates, shopping sprees, or cruises irrelevant. The other thing is, as 7-Stars, you have the ability to ASK a casino manager or another mid-level person to fly you to their property--and expect a YES....or at least a partial yes. Case in point: Remember that big jackpot I hit in NO? Well, my wife LOVES that city and I'm right behind her. So I called a few weeks ago and asked if they would fly us there from Portland, Or. for 2 nights sometime this summer. I got a call back from some host (whom I deplore talking to) and the answer was yes indeed. They handle this via vouchers that you cash in once you get to the casino, but our airfare will be covered. I told them I would not come down under any other circumstances. We're working on the dates right now.

You see, you don't need to constantly belly-ache over their predictable cutbacks. It's a business, and they're bleeding money. All you need to do is go after them for something reasonable, and as a top tier player they will have a difficult time saying no to you.

[Dan Druff]

Look beyond that which you believe is suppose to make up for any losses incurred. Lake Tahoe is the most beautiful location in the country (and I believe, the entire world) and just BEING there renders any of those dinner certificates, shopping sprees, or cruises irrelevant. The other thing is, as 7-Stars, you have the ability to ASK a casino manager or another mid-level person to fly you to their property--and expect a YES....or at least a partial yes. Case in point: Remember that big jackpot I hit in NO? Well, my wife LOVES that city and I'm right behind her. So I called a few weeks ago and asked if they would fly us there from Portland, Or. for 2 nights sometime this summer. I got a call back from some host (whom I deplore talking to) and the answer was yes indeed. They handle this via vouchers that you cash in once you get to the casino, but our airfare will be covered. I told them I would not come down under any other circumstances. We're working on the dates right now.

You see, you don't need to constantly belly-ache over their predictable cutbacks. It's a business, and they're bleeding money. All you need to do is go after them for something reasonable, and as a top tier player they will have a difficult time saying no to you.

Rob, I know all about Lake Tahoe.

I've been going there for 30 years.

It's a nice place, but nowhere near the most beautiful location in the world, or even the country.

There's no way I would get a flight to Tahoe. I am considered "over-comped" right now.

Even if I could get one, I wouldn't want it, anyway. You don't fly directly to Tahoe. You fly to Reno (an hour away), and then have to drive the rest of the way. Pain in the ass, even if Harrah's is providing the transportation (which, again, they wouldn't do for me).

My attitude about flying is that it has to be over 500 miles to be worth doing. There is so much time and hassle getting to the airport, going through security, boarding, etc, and then even more hassle getting off the plane, getting your luggage, renting a car, etc. And that's not even taking into account possible flight delays.

If it's 500 miles or less, I just drive it.

Tahoe is about 500 from me, so I would just drive there if I wanted to go.


Anyway, Rob, this is more than just "predictable cutbacks". At some point, CET needs to realize that putting on low-budget, cheesy events for their best customers actually demoralizes people. It's one of those things you either do right or don't do at all.

When you invite your best customers (Seven Stars) to their once-a-year event, you don't make the perks so lousy that it's actually worth most people's while just to forego the event and use one of their regular freeplay offers instead. If you're going to serve them breakfast, don't skimp and make it a continental one. If you're going to give them free tickets to shows, make it a higher-end production, rather than the second-tier productions you already give them for free every month anyway. If you're giving freeplay, don't make it a laughable $100. And if you're going to list all the "perks" of the event, don't include "4 free nights at the hotel" when every single person can already get that for free anyway. Why not also list free parking and free air to breathe?

They also blew it when it came to the location of these events. People who wanted the cruises have to travel at their own expense to get there if they live in the west. And non-cruisers have to travel at their own expense if they live in the east, which I'm sure almost none will bother doing because the overall value of these events is so laughably low.

By contrast, when I attended the 2012 Don Henley concert & freeplay Signature Event, there were people from all over the country, and most seemed fairly happy with the whole weekend.

If CET thinks these events are too expensive to be worth their while, they should just cancel them rather than make themselves look cheap/stupid/unappreciative of business.

[Alan Mendelson]

I think this is the MOST important comment made in all of these discussions and I applaud Dan for making it:

At some point, CET needs to realize that putting on low-budget, cheesy events for their best customers actually demoralizes people. It's one of those things you either do right or don't do at all.

If they would do away with the junk offers, and only offer a few QUALITY promotions, it would be more appealing.

For example, three times a week I get $150 of free play from Rincon -- and I am not going to drive there for $150. Make it $250 once a week and I will make the trip and probably be willing to play up to $1500 per visit. By spreading out $450 over three days, instead of one day at $250, there is no incentive for me to get in the car and make the two-hour drive from Los Angeles. This is because my out of pocket cost just for gas is $40-$45 plus stopping for a bite to eat or tipping at Rincon even if I do use the $100 food voucher I get each week. (I'm not including wear and tear on my car since my Mercedes is 11 years old and with 202,000 miles is fully depreciated in my book.)

Same with Caesars in Vegas. In a typical month I will get two separate offers worth about $1,000 each. Separately and independently, a $1,000 offer is not worthwhile for me. But make it one offer a month of $1,500 and suddenly it becomes worthwhile. This is because any trip I make to LV is going to cost me $500 out of pocket -- whether I drive or even if I took their free airfare because I would still have to pay for parking, tips at the hotel, and other out of pocket costs.

And with some of the "junk" they give you at these events -- they'd get more mileage if instead they gave an extra $10 of free play.

[Rob.Singer]

All of what you two say makes some sense, but you're forgetting that a business operates on what best makes sense for them. You're involving yourselves with a company that's made more than their share of poor business decisions of late, and they're paying for it. They're also passing some of that pain down to the customers. This is not unusual. 7-Stars are important, but someone with power has obviously made the unpopular decision that they can share the discomfort too. They're probably well aware they'll lose some of these players, and without a doubt that was figured into their 5-year business plan.

Dan, I agree, 500 miles is a drive and not worth flying. I drove up here once every two months for 10 years when I was playing professionally, and it was 800 miles from Phx. But I disagree on its beauty....not from the S. Lake Tahoe casino vantage point, but in the surrounding mountains, the Lake itself, the amenities/activities on and all around the Lake, and the very abundant clean fresh air. To us this has always been the best of heaven, and when I worked I travelled & lived all over the world, constantly for 25 years. And it is certainly the best location and setting of any of the CET properties, by far.

[redietz]

CET's credit rating was just downgraded two steps. Dan, I would start blowing those RC's (if that's what they're properly called) as soon as possible. I know it's stomach-churning to semi-waste hard-earned comp values, but there's no guarantee these things don't get downgraded to a fraction of their previous worth. That's what Harrah's did when they took over Caesar's Palace -- they gutted already-stashed race and sports comps by 60%. There is a Bad Moon Risin'. All you CET-lovers, prepare yourselves. You're gonna get gutted. The process has already begun.

[Dan Druff]

All of what you two say makes some sense, but you're forgetting that a business operates on what best makes sense for them. You're involving yourselves with a company that's made more than their share of poor business decisions of late, and they're paying for it. They're also passing some of that pain down to the customers. This is not unusual. 7-Stars are important, but someone with power has obviously made the unpopular decision that they can share the discomfort too. They're probably well aware they'll lose some of these players, and without a doubt that was figured into their 5-year business plan.

Dan, I agree, 500 miles is a drive and not worth flying. I drove up here once every two months for 10 years when I was playing professionally, and it was 800 miles from Phx. But I disagree on its beauty....not from the S. Lake Tahoe casino vantage point, but in the surrounding mountains, the Lake itself, the amenities/activities on and all around the Lake, and the very abundant clean fresh air. To us this has always been the best of heaven, and when I worked I travelled & lived all over the world, constantly for 25 years. And it is certainly the best location and setting of any of the CET properties, by far.

To me, Lake Tahoe is just Mammoth with a big lake, and requiring an extra 150 miles to drive.

I do find it funny when skiing at Heavenly on the Nevada side, how you can look down at Minden/Gardnerville and see brown/flat land thousands of feet below. Just so weird to see that when you're skiing among the snow and the pines.

[Count Room]

I do find it funny when skiing at Heavenly on the Nevada side, how you can look down at Minden/Gardnerville and see brown/flat land thousands of feet below. Just so weird to see that when you're skiing among the snow and the pines.

That reminds me of going through Flagstaff, Arizona on Interstate 40. Desert scrubland, then up into snowy mountains, and back down to desert scrubland again.