As is seemingly always the case when properties change their rewards' program, the Marketing Department puts out a spin about how much better the club is becoming when, if fact, it is usually found that the rewards are actually less than before. Never has this been more evident then in the launch of the latest version of the Caesars Rewards program.
New is "for our special members who only need to accrue 10,000 tier points per quarter" there will be a special invitation to exclusive parties and events. This use to be the case for ALL Diamond and 7 Star players. Now look through the fog of the hyperbole and you'd notice these parties and events are for their very top players only...after all 10,000 tier points mean $50,000 for slot players and $100,000 for video poker players and this amount needs to be played every THREE MONTHS! (and the special events are almost always a free dinner and dance to some local swing band--big whoop!)
The funniest new "bennie" they added was "you can now transfer up to 5,000 points to a friend up to twice per year!" Really, we're supposed to excited because we can transfer $50 to a friend every six months? Exactly who in marketing came up with "amazing" new program?
And that's about it. They've launched this whole new marketing scheme with new cards for what amounts to keeping their very top tier players happy and scraps pretty much for everyone else.
If you're reading this and you've been a Diamond member longer than about three years ago, you might remember when you have enjoyed free gifts at check-in, cookies or chocolates in your room each night, Diamond Lounges with top tier liquors and carving stations with prime rib and ham. NOW? Diamond Lounges curtail hot food to one or two hours per day, causing a mad scramble and the hot food tends to be chicken wings and hot cheese for your tortilla chips.
I've been reading posts here and other pages where Diamond members who used to get the corporate coupons good for seven days a week now have been relegated to off-nights, less cash (now always reel rewards) all have gone down considerably. In my personal case, in 2011, I played $250,000 through machines (granted, I'm a VP player), which is more than double the requirement for Diamond and what was my reward? No more weekend comps, no more cash coupons, and I was notified by my Host that I no longer am eligible for Host privileges...WHAT? More than TWICE the Diamond minimum!
Okay, so there's my rant. Of course, I can simply move on to another chain (Stations, Coast, South Point, etc), and I'm considering this. I'm not much of a drinker but I do enjoy the free drinks in the DL, and I enjoy the diamond check ins, and the line passes. So, I can't honestly say I'm not going to renew, though I'm leaning that way.
Many of you know me from my summer reports and may have noticed that I haven't posted with the LVA much, though I continue to lurk. (BTW- I'm taking this summer off and staying home this year).
Bottom line: I'm disappointed with Caesar's. I'm frustrated that they continue to shave off their comps and goodies, I get upset that they continue to renew CEO Loveman's contract while he leads them down the imploding path with a debt higher than most small countries while enjoying muli-million dollar salaries and bonuses while depleting the "middle line" player. But it's their company and I can always just leave. So...I'm giving all of this much thought.
New is "for our special members who only need to accrue 10,000 tier points per quarter" there will be a special invitation to exclusive parties and events. This use to be the case for ALL Diamond and 7 Star players. Now look through the fog of the hyperbole and you'd notice these parties and events are for their very top players only...after all 10,000 tier points mean $50,000 for slot players and $100,000 for video poker players and this amount needs to be played every THREE MONTHS! (and the special events are almost always a free dinner and dance to some local swing band--big whoop!)
The funniest new "bennie" they added was "you can now transfer up to 5,000 points to a friend up to twice per year!" Really, we're supposed to excited because we can transfer $50 to a friend every six months? Exactly who in marketing came up with "amazing" new program?
And that's about it. They've launched this whole new marketing scheme with new cards for what amounts to keeping their very top tier players happy and scraps pretty much for everyone else.
If you're reading this and you've been a Diamond member longer than about three years ago, you might remember when you have enjoyed free gifts at check-in, cookies or chocolates in your room each night, Diamond Lounges with top tier liquors and carving stations with prime rib and ham. NOW? Diamond Lounges curtail hot food to one or two hours per day, causing a mad scramble and the hot food tends to be chicken wings and hot cheese for your tortilla chips.
I've been reading posts here and other pages where Diamond members who used to get the corporate coupons good for seven days a week now have been relegated to off-nights, less cash (now always reel rewards) all have gone down considerably. In my personal case, in 2011, I played $250,000 through machines (granted, I'm a VP player), which is more than double the requirement for Diamond and what was my reward? No more weekend comps, no more cash coupons, and I was notified by my Host that I no longer am eligible for Host privileges...WHAT? More than TWICE the Diamond minimum!
Okay, so there's my rant. Of course, I can simply move on to another chain (Stations, Coast, South Point, etc), and I'm considering this. I'm not much of a drinker but I do enjoy the free drinks in the DL, and I enjoy the diamond check ins, and the line passes. So, I can't honestly say I'm not going to renew, though I'm leaning that way.
Many of you know me from my summer reports and may have noticed that I haven't posted with the LVA much, though I continue to lurk. (BTW- I'm taking this summer off and staying home this year).
Bottom line: I'm disappointed with Caesar's. I'm frustrated that they continue to shave off their comps and goodies, I get upset that they continue to renew CEO Loveman's contract while he leads them down the imploding path with a debt higher than most small countries while enjoying muli-million dollar salaries and bonuses while depleting the "middle line" player. But it's their company and I can always just leave. So...I'm giving all of this much thought.
