"Asking" for comps?

[Eduardo]

I woud like to make a trip and stay at GVR for a few days. Do I need to sit and wait for an offer, or can I call them with my player's card and see if I can get an offer that way? How does that work? It is always one-way communication or if I've earned some points there is it a good idea to call and ask about a certain weekend?

Thanks!

[vidopoker]

Hi Eduardo!
 
I stayed at the Stardust (and was a great customer) without all the benefits I thought I should be entitled to. Yes, I would get meals comped but I had to ask for them. The rooms were always comped but I am a gambler so big deal.
 
Once the rooms transferred over to the Orleans, I was tired of constantly having to ask for things comped as I was a new player there and didn't know the pit bosses. So I emailed the hotel and told them I wanted a host. The first communications I got back told me that they would try to see what they could do for me. I told the lady that was unacceptable. I told her what a great customer I had been of boyd for years and I wanted stuff comped. Now, I get $100 a day in food comps, a free massage and the remaining charges (if any) are billed to the room and my host takes care of them. It's so much nicer to go to LV and not have to beg for a $25 food credit. And I get free room offers ALL of the time. I get a free room offer at least 4 times a year PLUS free slot tournament offers at least 10 times a year. Plus, if I wanted to go on a different day, I would just call the host up.
 
So, if you are a regular at GVR, I would def. call and ask for a host and don't take no for an offer. If this is your first time there, that might be a bit difficult, but since biz is not so good in Vegas, try your hand and let us know what happens.
 
Good luck to you!

[EDC1977]

I woud like to make a trip and stay at GVR for a few days. Do I need to sit and wait for an offer, or can I call them with my player's card and see if I can get an offer that way? How does that work? It is always one-way communication or if I've earned some points there is it a good idea to call and ask about a certain weekend?

Thanks! Call and ask for a host and room comps or ratesbased on your players card. It never hurts to ask but definitely ask for a host and try to squeeze blood from a turnip so to speak. You spend money in their casino, make them spend back!

[cddenver]

Eduardo, you know you won't get any special treatment if you don't ask, and the worse they can do is say no, right?
 
Well, they can also send some muscle to break your arms and legs, but that doesn't happen too often.  Just don't get too greedy when negotiating how much free slot play you want them to give you. 

[faygo]

I have always called ahead and asked for a Slot Host.  Only ask if a lower Casino rate is available and somehow the Host will always pick up the tab.
True Tunica story: Had received an offer for a free night at Harrahs Tunica a number of years ago. Wife and I were going to be in the area for business, so I called and asked for a host to see if we could get a 2nd night discounted. Never got a call back. Called again and left message ,. never got a call back. Time to plan trip was getting short so, since the offer had the General Mgrs. name on it , I called and asked to speak to him. Wonders of wonder they put him on the line in seconds. I explained  that I was just asking to see if I could get a better rate for the second night and only needed a Yay or Nay and how I had not received a call back.  His answer floored me.  " No, you can't spend one night with me, you got to stay three nights. You will be fully comped and we will also arrange for three days of golf for you."  " As to my employees, I will explain to them that there is no excuse to not call a customer back."
He said he would be out of town when we were there , but he would make certain we were taken care of. We hadn't been in our room 3 minutes when the phone rang and it was the GM's aide checking to see if everything was all right and to give us our Tee Times.  She followed up everyday of our stay.
So, long story short, as an old boss of mine said " You will never receive unless you ask." 

[marie meijer]

How does that work? It is always one-way communication or if I've earned some points there is it a good idea to call and ask about a certain weekend?
Thanks! Our comped rooms everywhere have always involved some combination of Sun-Thurs and usually through mailed offer. The one exception was a weekend night in Laughlin. A couple times we have phoned a casino where we have played and stayed on comps before and received a comped room.  (Flamingo and Windsor for two) In the past, the logic was the casinos can command higher rates on Fri and Sat nights and avoid or discourage comping then, a supply and demand concept. Perhaps in today's tougher times that attitude will be relaxed. Since you have used players card at GVR before, odds are they will arrange a comp for you. If that does not seem to be working, ask for casino rates. We have neverdone that but I keep hearing about that route. A guy got a good room rate at MGM GRAND DETROIT when he called and asked for their best deal as he was thinking of going to FOUR WINDS casino, a logical competitor. So call GVR for their best deal and suggest staying at South Point as an alternative, for leverage. They could laugh and hang up but cannot physically hurt you over the phone. Let us know what happens to you!

[Eduardo]

Can someone explain the "casino rate" angle? The only reason I'm going there is to gamble, eat in their restaurants and shop in their stores, so it's not like I want a free room to go play elsewhere, especially at GVR which is off the strip. So what is a "casino rate" so I don't sound stupid if I ask for one.

[marie meijer]

I assume casino rate is just a better price than the top dollar going room rate. Someone here assumes it comes from a different budget. Just as salesmen of big ticket items usually have three rates of commission. They would prefer to get the highest price and more commission but rather than lose that sale, can offer a lesser price if buyer balks. Of course, this is done as tactfully and politely as possible instead of threatening and demanding. If anyone has a better explanation or history re this please post now!

[faygo]

Casino rate is code for can you get me a free room? Just a nice, polite way of not demanding anything.  Casino hosts have a responsibility to fill the Casino. They try to do this without giving away the store. They typically have blocks of rooms set aside to take care of their "players".  I have had the experience of being told all the rooms were taken and  Lo and Behold the Host magically found one.

[scorpio2]

once we stayed at tropicana in ac.free room from sun-thursday.in am,room service came around banging on doors,slamming doors.i complained,and top exec pam poplarski at the time gave us a free suite for one night.i wished she was still running the trop.