What's the minimum I can play my first trip to the Hilton to start building
up a respectible average?
Rick
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Las Vegas Hilton - additional comments to Harry's post
Some comments on the two additional posts in this thread and then I'll
try to restrain myself and excuse myself from further speculation.
There seems to be a lot of conflicting info around and I don't want to
add to the confusion at this point unless I had harder info:
TedChee wrote:
From a prior stay, I have a different set of notes which should be
taken only as guidelines:$2K/day Casino Rate
$4K/day Room Comp
$10K/day RFL (C4)
$16K/day RFB
Ted, I have sufficient respect for you I won't impugn this info.
There are anecdotal reports on SHG that are consistent with this and
others that are contrary.
Generally RFL/RFB status at most properties is extended for up to two
people. My allowance of $80/night for this seems reasonable. You're
suggesting that $10K will cover this, a F/B comp rate of .8, and RFL
rate of upwards of 1.4. Likewise, you suggest that $16K will get you
what could reasonably be as much as $200/night F/B for two people, a
F/B rate of up to 1.2 and RFB rate of 1.8+. These seem particularly
generous.
This also flies in the face of Brian's report who on $270K 3-days play
was told his $300 total F/B put him modestly over-comped. Granted, he
had premium digs, but not unreasonably so on his handle, and it would
seem measured against your guidelines that his F/B would be considered
very reasonable.
So, I'm not aruging with your report, but am concerned that it may
cause a new player on the property to be somewhat overly optimistic in
their expectations.
You write further:
There was some resistance to comping everything off. They do
calculate a trip average based on the last 4/5/6 trips - not sure of
the number. I thought I had enough over the last 4 trips. That's when
I learned that there is another measure that they look at. This other
measure concerns play history over the last 2 years & my prior play
was just casual short sessions. Sometimes I would stop in for just a
half hour.
There's conflicting info on the "trip average". It's a basis for your
comp status coming onto the property, however, there's every
indication that if you ask your play/charges to be reviewed before
check-out that you'll be evaluated strictly on your play that visit.
Concerning that "2 year" measure: My understanding is that this is an
alternate rating of your play based upon specific theoretical
profitability of the games you play, and to a lesser extent your
actual win/loss. This rating is used in reviewing additional comps at
the end of your trip along with your trip average. The exact
relationship between the two is unclear, but there's some suggestion
that if the 2-year profitability measure warrants it, some additional
leeway may be extended vs. that provided by the trip average.
I hope all this doesn't come across as nit-picking but rather an
effort to provide further understanding.
richardrick7 wrote:
What's the minimum I can play my first trip to the Hilton to start
building up a respectible average?
My advice is to play on your first trip at an equivalent amount that
you anticipate playing over the long-term. Don't establish a marginal
trip just to get on their mailings. If this amount of play requires
an overnight stay and you're concerned you don't have a comp available
as a new player call VIP services, note your intended length of play
and amount per pull (I'd avoid referring to coin-in - seems to just
confuse the issue) and request a casino rate that they're VERY likely
to comp when you request them to review your play before departure
(I'd advise doing this no later than 9am, or 3 hours before check-out).
By the way, I'd advise against booking a room through one of their
promo offers (room, show, food credit, free play, etc.) I did this
for my first stay and it proved to offer some difficulty to obtain a
later comp (there's a definite schism between marketing and vip services).
- Harry
My apologies for the last (blank) post. (Damn cat walked across the
keyboard.)
Just wanted to comment on the LVH comp discussion. My first visit
there was early last year, when I bought into the Blackjack Tourney,
so the room was included. I gave them only a little play otherwise,
but the comp offers started coming. Stayed there 3 times since then,
giving them reasonably heavy play on two trips. Despite the one
short trip, the offers keep pouring in.
I ALWAYS use the promotional offers, and have found that they will
often beef them up when you call to make the reservation. I've also
learned that if I don't get what I want on the first call, I can try
on another shift or day, and will often get a better answer. Also, a
stop at the host's office on the morning of checkout usually covers
anything not in the original offer.
When I went "shopping" this past week for my upcoming Feb. trip, I
started calling around to the places I usually stay. Got basic two-
night, then casino rate from Stardust, only one comp night offered
from Harrah's (AARGHHHH!), and held off calling the Strat, knowing
they were my ace in the hole.
When I called LVH, I referred to an offer I had for two nights, plus
tickets, food, chips, etc. Told the agent that I had four nights to
choose from, and asked which two were available for the offer. She
cheerfully responded, "Why not just stay here? We can comp you four
nights, and double the other offers." I thought that was pretty hard
to beat! I'll make sure not to have any more short trips there.
Marsha