Gaming Loyalty Programs - personalized casino host for Diamond status?

Hi everyone, I recently was upgraded to a diamond card from Harrah's. I am curious to know what the benefits are of having an exclusive host. Also, do you guys have any tips on how to take advantage of this card?
Thanks,
David

Benefits of having a host:
1. Can get you show tickets comped, very fast.
2. Can get you rooms most of the times after reservation agents say "there are no rooms available"

Well thats what my family used our host for... When we needed two/three rooms he would reserve it for us as well. Even though Harrah's was our primary casino and he was a host there, he would even reserve multiple rooms for us at Caesar's. Not sure if our tier score of 90K+ was the reason for us getting whatever rooms, whenever. Unfortunately, Harrah's didn't give us the bump to Seven Stars even though we reached up to 96K. :(

96k is a large tier score. I'm barely at 14k. Do you think you get comps on free tickets and treated like royalty because of your tier score, or is it because of the diamond status? I want free shows too :D
Thanks for replying so quickly,
David

I agree that 96k is a very high tier score. That is why I wish the requirements to be a Diamond is set higher since Diamond clubs are packed nowadays.... Not really my account but my parent's since I'm still a minor. However, I pretty much traveled with them whenever they went and we went quite frequently....

I think it is our tier score that gets us our free tickets and all. However, I wouldn't say we are treated like royalty because we only got suites, three times. Most of our food unfortunately aren't comped like the rooms but since we have a good chunk of RC's we use them instead. The best show ticket we got was probably front row seats to a Jimmy Eat World concert. Of course the venue was packed with kids in their twenties and they all came to the front even though they weren't supposed to in the first place.... Other show tickets we went to were a Cirque de Soleil show and a Jon Stewart show.

You don't need a host to get free show tickets. Every Diamond member gets 2 free tickets per month, Here is the list of current shows offered to Diamond members:

Flamingo: Vinnie Favorito and Nathan Burton

Harrah's: Legends in Concert and Mac King

IP: Matsuri, Diva's, and Human Nature

The real must-see here is Human Nature. See them now before a bigger room snaps them up at a much higher price than $0. One of the best shows we have ever seen. We have seen it 4 times, and brought friends.

Vinnie Favorito is probably the funniest guy on the strip. In the old days at Improv he was the only comic where the laughter poured out of the room and beyond. He uses the f-word a few times, but he is so funny you will probably overlook that. His specialty is picking on members of the audience (Rickles-style, but harsher), so don't sit in the front!

Also free to anyone, not just Diamond: Big Elvis at Bill's Casino (formerly the Barbary Coast). Wonderful *free* show - Better than the real Elvis. Do not miss this, and plan to stay all afternoon.

As you become a regular customer (read: player) at HET, you will receive more offers. Shows we have been given free tickets are Better Midler (twice), Elton John (twice), Cher (twice), Rita Runder (twice), and maybe others I can't remember.

We are both low Diamond, never more than 25-30k points, and currently less since we moved away from a HET midwest city. Now we only go to Las Vegas, and the offers keep coming.

Need I mention the Diamond Lounges? Don't get me started!

Don't be misled. Being Diamond can cost you. Just so you know.

- tcccc

And now the million dollar question...
Is there a specific host that you guys would recommend? Or, are all of them cool people? I'm heading out to Vegas in a couple weeks, so I can set myself up with a host by then.
Thanks,
David

I can't recommend a host by name. Every once in a while we get a letter from a someone introducing themselves as being our "host," but in reality all they are are glorified reservationists.

Keep in mind that a host can't comp you until your Total Rewards points have been exhausted. If you have $100 in comp points, they'll just take your comp out of that - they have to. Only after those points are used up, THEN they will look at your play and see what they can do for you. Some high-level players exhaust their points regularly for this reason.

We maintain well over $1000 in comps in our accounts at all times, so we never ask for anything. (You never know when you will need a Thanksgiving dinner for 6 at Nero's.)

However, our mailed offers are great - Cher, Donnie & Marie, Slot and VP tournaments, Gift cards, Reel Rewards (Free-play), Coach bags, Ipods, Televisions, etc.

If we have a question or need to ask a favor, then we ask the host on duty in the Diamond check-in area - no one in particular. For example, once we were staying at Harrah's, but our friends could only get the Flamingo on a comp. We spoke to a Diamond host on duty, who changed our friends' reservation, and switched them to Harrah's as a favor to us.

One of the best things you can do is to get to know the check-in people at Diamond check-in and the Diamond Lounge. Have a conversation with them (as long as there isn't a line of people waiting). Make them remember you, and you will be treated very well at check-in. Avoid "newbie" check-in people - wait for someone you know.

- tcccc

Hosts have a lot of discretion as to what they can comp. Often much better than what the official rules say. Remember, they work on commission and you are a customer/client of theirs. It helps if you bring a small gift (not cash) and are very appreciative of anything they do above and beyond.

We had a host at Tahoe who would upgrade us to a suite whenever possible, comp us free boat rides and meals, way above what our status or comp points would get us.

I've had a diamond card for as long as I can remember. You can pretty much get most things you want within reason by just asking a host. Also I think Tier Score is a little over rated as they put much more value in the amount you play per trip. So someone that hits 10k in tier score in one trip will be much more valued then someone who gets 1k in tier score for 10 trips.