Poll : 14 November - 27 November 2012

Analysis

It was at the end of September 2011 that we previously ran a poll on comp policies and how you felt they had been affected by the economic downtown. A year on, Las Vegas is certainly showing signs of renewed life, with lots of upgrades, remodels, and new venues debuting, including some major construction projects. But the skyline is still littered with semi-realized dreams, and while there's light at the end of the tunnel, we're not fully emerged from it yet, so it was an interesting exercise to pose similar questions a year on.

A direct comparison is not quite fair, since we didn't pose the exact same set of questions this time around, but we kept the key ones the same, and the most notable difference is almost a doubling in the number of voters, at a whopping 42 percent, who felt that both the quantity and quality of comps they're receiving has deteriorated. On a more positive note, more of you feel the exact opposite, although at 11 percent (versus 8 percent last time), those voters are still distinctly in the minority. And lots of people cited escalating airfares and add-on charges as a key factor keeping them from visiting Las Vegas as often as they had in the past, if at all.

As is the norm, we asked for your personal feedback to expand on why you voted as you did. Here are some of your emailed responses:

• "I appear to receive the same or better comps for properties in Vegas. I receive better than previous comps from Lake Tahoe, although I’ve been advised that airfare reimbursement will be severely restricted shortly. There was a period during the past year where comps from Harrah’s were being reduced, but a correction seems to have occurred due to complaints from Diamond-card holders. I should add that, with Caesar’s properties, a lot depends on your relationship with your host. Even though what they can do is limited, a good relationship will always get you the most they can possibly offer. Even though I find the Total Rewards points I earn are not enough to pay for my food over three days/nights, my host seems to always pick up the difference. Plus, when I have an offer for $300 in free play, he’ll up that offer to anywhere from $550 to $750. And, I should also add, I always seem to get a suite there (Harrah’s), even though in my mind I don’t play enough to warrant it."
  
  
• "I checked 'Other' on the latest poll. I'm usually in Las Vegas once a year. I do gamble and I do join slot clubs, but I'm such a small-potatoes gambler that I don't rack up enough points to receive comps. However, I do look for deals and use LVA coupons and ask at the hotel desks for their offerings. What I miss is the availability of the free magazines, What's Happening, Show Biz, etc. and the fact that you have to go on a scavenger hunt for Vegas 7 magazine is really disconcerting. All these magazines used to be at your fingertips around the Strip, the hotels, etc. What's offered in them are (were) comps to me. Thank heavens for LVA and what you keep at our fingertips concerning everything Las Vegas." [Ed: Thanks! And happy to oblige. Not meaning to be self-serving here, but since you raised the subject, we just launched our annual end-of-year coupon-blowout sale and are offering a 3-month trial membership to Las Vegas Advisor for just $12. You still have a month to take advantage of all the coupons in the Member Rewards Book (minus a few casualties due to shows closing, hotel ownership changes, etc.) -- for a $12 outlay, the $50 Palms coupon becomes even stronger, and you can check out all the other member benefits, too.]
  
  
• "My mail offers vary according to the amount of play that I give. I used to get $100-125 free play at the Fremont, but now I get $40, but I still get regular offers for 4 free nights, weekends included. I don’t think my play has gone down that much, but I seem to be able to get whatever food comps I want each day for the buffet or Tony Roma’s.Total Rewards rooms have been consistent at 4 nights comped anyplace but Caesar’s, for most nights. I won’t make Platinum this year, though, so that may change."
  
  
• "I used to stay/play at LVH but it went so far downhill I moved to South Point. LVH skimping on the comps to save what? All they did was make me leave. The comps I'm getting now are what I got years ago at LVH. I'm never going back to LVH (or whatever they are calling themselves this month)."
  
  
• "I am receiving better comps from Coast Casinos (Orleans) and M-Life casinos, but mediocre comps from Wynn/Encore and Venetian, even though I have gambled and stayed at the resorts in the past year."
  
  "I’ve been spending much less time in Vegas because I have so many Indian Casinos here in Oklahoma. I use to go to Vegas to gamble, 6 times a year. I’ve not been to Vegas now in over 4 years."
  
  
• "I recently received the best comp offer I have ever seen from Total Rewards! 3 free nights at ANY of their properties, show options, free play, and free food. Does it get any better? Can't wait to use it!!" [Ed: Enjoy!]