Big cutbacks for Total Rewards in 2018

[Riggs]

FYI:

https://travelzork.com/changes-total-re ... -benefits/


Editor’s Note: Nobody is more suited for providing the latest update on Total Rewards than Eric Rosenthal Eric was kind enough to put together the major points of the current changes (devaluations) shortly after the announcement yesterday. Be sure to continue the conversation about these changes on twitter (@erosenthal1029) and also in the ZorkCast Facebook group.
Caesars unveiled their Total Rewards benefits for 2018. While rumors had been circulating of an upcoming degradation of benefits, nobody predicted how steep it would be. Most of the key benefits of the Total Rewards program that made it the best casino loyalty program in the country are all gone. The biggest head-scratcher, is that the higher the tier one attained, the more that was taken away.
Total Rewards offered 4 official tiers, in ascending order: Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars. The two lower tiers are largely unchanged, including parking benefits, but the two upper tiers lost substantial value.
Changes for 2018 – Mostly Bad, Some Very Bad
Diamond Tier
– Aspiration Level 1 and 2 REMOVED
The third tier ranged from 15,000 Tier Credits to 149,999 tier credits. To entice players for their play, spend, and loyalty, there were two Aspiration levels at 40,000 and 80,000 tier credits. At Aspiration Level 1 (40,000) members were given a 4 night complimentary stay at any Caesars property as well as a $100 Folio credit on that stay. At Aspiration level 2 (80,000) members were given $750 towards airfare for 2 as well as an additional four night stay at any Caesars property. Additionally a two night stay in a suite at any Las Vegas property was added in 2017. As of 2018, both Aspiration levels and their associated trips are all gone. Leaving a chasm between Diamond at 15,000 and Seven Stars at 150,000.
Devaluing Diamond status further are the new national requirements for entry into their Diamond Lounges. As of 2018, Diamond status (attained at 15,000 tier credits) will not be enough for free admission into the Diamond Lounges. A Diamond member will need to have at least 25,000 tier credits in the current year, or year prior, to gain free admission. Any diamond member beneath that threshold will be required to pay 1000 Reward Credits (worth $10) per person. Cash will not be accepted, Reward Credits are the only official way to gain admission.
Note: This has been the case in a few markets for some time (such as Atlantic City), but will extend to all Diamond Lounges nationally.
Diamond members had been able to redeem Reward Credits at a Rate of 1.75: 1 for free play. As of 2018 the conversion will now be 2:1.
The good news: Resort fees will still be waived for all Diamond members, and $100 celebration certificate used for dining are still available in 2018.
Seven Stars Tier
– Guaranteed Rooms REMOVED
The top tier for all players earning 150,000 tier credits and up. Subjectively, the largest benefit of attaining Seven Stars were guaranteed complimentary rooms in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. This benefit has been removed in 2018. A room is guaranteed in these two markets with 72 hours notice, but the asterisk denotes that prevailing rates will apply.
Reward Credit redemption for free play will change from the current 1.25:1 ratio to 2:1, like any other tier.
In order to qualify for Seven Stars one would need to achieve Aspiration 1 and Aspiration 2 along the way, those trips are no longer available for Seven Stars players either.
The good news: Annual Trip with $1,200 airfare and $500 Folio credit still applies. Five $100 celebration certificates for dining remain for 2018 as well.
In short, those that rely on their higher level gambling for comps and offers will see fairly little change. Those that play at a lower level, or compiled their way to status will likely find another place to play. As a business decision, the stance can be justified, but delivering the message with two weeks left in the year while encouraging players to reach the next level, is an unfortunate way to treat loyal customers. Loyalty programs like everything else in a casino are a gamble.

[London Shooter]

Yes, bound to be a good few people pissed off at the rug being pulled from under them when they thought certain benefits would apply for the level they reached.

[skasower]

I attended a conference last week in Las Vegas (December 11 to 15) and stayed at Caesars Palace where the conference was held. I am diamond tier with Total Rewards and my room in the Palace Tower was comped. By the way I did not file a trip report as this trip was too much conference and too much business with only a short time at the video poker Sports Bar at Caesars. There I discovered that just being a Diamond does not get one some the alcohol that is always available at Total Rewards casinos across the street. For example, I enjoy a Bombay Sapphire Martini up with an olive. The bartenders could not comp me that. Well, they could if I did not get it in a Martini glass but instead in a tumbler or Manhattan glass. This was only because the bartenders are human and realize that Diamonds were already getting screwed at Caesars Palace. One day I walked up and put $20 into the VP machine along with my Diamond card. I was already carrying a Fiji Water. Now, I do not like Fiji water it was just a bottle I got at a reception. I asked the bartender for a bottle of water and he told me that he could not comp me a Fiji water. Luckily I prefer the Caesars branded bottled water anyway, but really, how parsimonious is Caesars Palace getting that they distinguish water brands for comping.

One quick note about craps at Caesars Palace: the tables are so bouncy that either you are playing basketball with the dice or you don't toss. The only way I can come out ahead at Caesars Palace is dark side and watch out for the missiles the Randys toss over the rails constantly.

skasower, aka....

[mssthis1]

I haven't been happy with them for the past couple years. Their worse craps rules in KC (vig up front) and worse BJ rules in Vegas (no DAS on double deck) made switching to MGM, boyd and station casinos in Vegas and Ameristar in the local market a no brainer for me.

Used to be seven star. Barely made diamond this year.

[heavy]

I just made Aspiration Level 1 with around 43000 points for the year. Odds are I'll see that run up to around 60000 when December's numbers roll in, as I played quite a lot this week when I was getting 9X points. And if you're interested in hitting those step levels then that's the best way to do it. Plan your trips so that you're there on bonus point days.

As of this morning I had over 180 casino offers in the Total Rewards System. I could probably live in Caesars properties for the next six months without giving them a dime's play before they figured it out and cut me off. So in that regard, it's hard to complain. With that said, I've already heard players talking about class action suits against Caesars over this. I don't think that's likely.

Personally, I just with they'd take the water-savers out of the faucets in the mens room so I could wash my hands in under five minutes.

[mssthis1]

As of this morning I had over 180 casino offers in the Total Rewards System. I could probably live in Caesars properties for the next six months without giving them a dime's play before they figured it out and cut me off.

Same here. Almost all of 2017 I stayed at CET properties in Vegas that were comped from previous play and played elsewhere.

[Dylanfreake]

My young wife is at 24,000 points as of right now and she says she is not not going to try for the extra thousand to get free entry into the diamond lounges. When we were at CP a couple of weeks ago we went to the diamond lounge once but the wait was so long to get in that we left.

I suppose all the casinos are cutting down on comps . I prefer MGM properties myself, mainly because I get my best comps from my local casino.

[tonybugs]

I’m spending most of my time now in the Borgata. I think they comp very well. Crap tables suck, but poker room is big with lots of action. Have a ton of slots and table games.
And now that it’s connected to Mlife even more of a bonus!

Tonybugs

[heavy]

I saw that Penn Gaming acquired Pinnacle Entertainment this week. That will open a lot of options to Midwest and southern players, giving them a track into M Resort and Tropical in Vegas.

[heavy]

I saw that Penn Gaming acquired Pinnacle Entertainment this week. That will open a lot of options to Midwest and southern players, giving them a track into M Resort and Tropical in Vegas.

[220Inside]

Looks like Boyd will get some more exposure in the Midwest as well as part of the merger of those two, since they're acquiring 4 of Pinnacle's properties: Ameristar Kansas City and Ameristar St. Charles in Missouri; Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana; and Belterra Park in Ohio

[mssthis1]

That is good news. I really like Ameristar KC.

[luxlogs]

Diamond Lounge, where to find the worst food in the casino. Scrambled Eggs out of a box, Yummm