vpFREE2 Forums

hotel room: use marketing offer or skip it?

#1

I'm thinking about my next trip to Reno (I need a break from work),
and I have some marketing offers for some discounted rooms. On the
other hand those offers aren't any better than the prices I can get
through other channels (i.e. Hotwire).

Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known" to the
casino, or should I buy my room without going through the casino and
"keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much either
way, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thanks,
JBQ

#2

IMO, JBQ, and while it is based on a lot of years of experience, it is
still just my opinion, I think it's much more productive to call ahead
and introduce yourself to a host. I do believe that, if you are
upfront with the host regarding your daily average coin-in/hours
played, that the host will make you a BETTER offer than you will have
received from the marketing dept. You will also "establish yourself"
with a host, and thereby, should you have problems or need help with a
discretionary comp, you have a friendly ear to bend.

I have asked a few of my hosts if they had a preference as to whether
I made a reservation using the Marketing Departments offer code, or
through the host directly, and, in every instance, the host requested
that I go through them.

Obviously, going through one of the on-line hotel discount services
will not help your casino status in any way.

If you'd like any further details on casinos/hosts in Reno, please
contact me privately.

Best regards,

Babe

···

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In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbqueru@g...> wrote:

I'm thinking about my next trip to Reno (I need a break from work),
and I have some marketing offers for some discounted rooms. On the
other hand those offers aren't any better than the prices I can get
through other channels (i.e. Hotwire).

Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known" to the
casino, or should I buy my room without going through the casino and
"keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much either
way, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thanks,
JBQ

#3

Jean-Baptiste Queru wrote:

Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known" to
the casino, or should I buy my room without going through the casino
and "keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much
either way, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Babe's got this one nailed (what's new? :wink: The ideal way to obtain a
room is through a casino host at a "casino rate".

Just to clarify, marketing offers are frequently extended by hotel
operations, not casino operations. They're looking to fill up excess
capacity. Under some circumstances, it can be difficult to
subsequently get a comp for a room obtained via a hotel marketing offer.

Of course, offers can also come from casino operations based upon past
play experience at that, or a related, property. These are much more
easily comped later ... but generally these offers are for a comp up
front.

As Babe notes, speaking to a host briefly before your trip to inquire
about a casino rate room gives you a modest advantage should you have
any need to consult a host for assistance once you're on-property. In
some cases, the casino rate may be higher than the promotional rate
you have in hand. Ask if they can match it. If not, and the casino
rate is only modestly higher (say $10/night), I'd go with that anyway.
Otherwise, you can thank them for their assistance and book the
marketing offer.

- Harry

#4

marketing & "vip services" are not in the same dept at most casinos,My
experience is contact a host (Peppermill answers e-mail, Atlantis dont)

If not, go thru the casino, if you use "hotwire" or some other room
broker casinos will not comp a room , go thru the casino & ask at the
end of your stay to have your charges reviewed.

Kevin Brangeter at the Pepp is good, If you want FPDW its the the Pepp,\
for evrything else Atlantis is great.

M J

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbqueru@g...> wrote:

I'm thinking about my next trip to Reno (I need a break from work),
and I have some marketing offers for some discounted rooms. On the
other hand those offers aren't any better than the prices I can get
through other channels (i.e. Hotwire).

Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known" to the
casino, or should I buy my room without going through the casino and
"keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much either
way, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thanks,
JBQ

#5

One thing to beware with the Internet hotel bookers at least for the
Peppermill and Atlantis is that those rooms are usually in the less
desirable sections of the hotels. Both the Atlantis and Peppermill have
annexes which are not too desirable in location and quality and those
are the rooms from hotels.com and its ilk.

Trish

···

- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru <jbqueru@g...> wrote:

I'm thinking about my next trip to Reno (I need a break from work),
and I have some marketing offers for some discounted rooms. On the
other hand those offers aren't any better than the prices I can get
through other channels (i.e. Hotwire).

#6

Looking on hotwire, there are two entries for south Reno with exactly
the same amenities, at 2 1/2 stars and 3 1/2 stars, at different
prices. The only hotels I can think of in the area that have more or
less those amenities are the Atlantis and the Peppermill, and I'd be
surprised if they were a full star away and with such a price
difference. I therefore think that the two entries are for the same
hotel (either Atlantis or Peppermill), one in the tower and one in an
annex.

JBQ

#7

I vote for the idea of going through the Hotwire channels and
keeping your independence until you see a particular casino you
may like to patronize more than others.

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru
<jbqueru@g...> wrote:

I'm thinking about my next trip to Reno (I need a break from

work),

and I have some marketing offers for some discounted rooms.

On the

other hand those offers aren't any better than the prices I can

get

through other channels (i.e. Hotwire).

Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known"

to the

casino, or should I buy my room without going through the

casino and

"keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much

either

···

way, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thanks,
JBQ

#8

Thank you for all the informative replies, very enlightening. Sadly I
probably won't be able to go during the week-end I was planning (a
friend will be in town visiting from the other side of the country),
but I'll certainly keep everything in mind.

Thanks,
JBQ

#9

While I respect your opinion, I wonder why you would think that it's a
problem to be affliated with SEVERAL casinos in an area? I don't think
that you're obligated to forever patronize the first casino you try,
if you subsequently discover one that you like better. It's also
rather nice to receive offers from a few different casinos because
you've established a presence with a host there.

For example, I'll be in Reno next week. I had the option to choose
where I would stay, on a fully comped basis, between the 2 Reno
casinos that I prefer. I had also received MANY marketing offers from
both casinos for comped entertainment, tournaments etc. which I could
not use. However, it was still pleasant to receive and consider the
offers. Had I decided to accept one of the offers, I would still have
called my host to book the trip and arrange for me to receive the
offer benefits.

IMO, a good host can do a great deal to insure that a casino stay is a
pleasant one. Considering that the most this great host service costs
is a box of good candy or a bottle of nice wine, I think it's a
marvelous bargain!

Babe

···

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Bob" <bob972@y...> wrote:
I vote for the idea of going through the Hotwire channels and
keeping your independence until you see a particular casino you
may like to patronize more than others.
---------------------------------------------
In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Jean-Baptiste Queru jbqueru@g...> wrote:
Is it better to use the marketing offer and make myself "known" to
the casino, or should I buy my room without going through the casino
and "keep my credits"? My instinct tells me it doesn't matter much
either way, but I'd like to hear your experience.
Thanks,
JBQ