platbrownguy

You have to call the property after you've made the reservation. At Delano, there was a VIP reservation line (phone number was in the email). Bellagio has a similar line. For MGM National Harbor, I called the 301 number (never call a generic reservations line, it goes to some outsourced agents). The operator transferred me to the host on duty who did it for me.

Technically if you have a host at a given property, your host should be the one to do it. But my host at National Harbor has been nonresponsive the past couple times I dropped in (for all I know, he is no longer there), so I proceeded as though I didn't have a host. (I know for a while, I was "overcomped" and was only getting $50 at a time for drinks rather than the usual $100-200, but last time I went, the floor gladly gave me $100 after pulling up my account so I don't think my host's nonresponsivess is on account of my being too low-value.) Ended up with a positive win/loss last year, plus lots of comps along the way. Can't complain about that

Edited to add: I got a great call just now from a host at the MGM National Harbor. My old guy isn't there anymore. New guy is very excited to meet me. Says he'll comp all my F&B this weekend (there won't be a ton, maybe $400, but still a very nice gesture). Confirmed the airport limo both directions. Obviously the host/comps is not tied to tier status but still seems like maybe an indicator that the Noir isn't going away. We shall see.

Matt4200

Were you just randomly given Noir one day?

I’ve been a Glob since 2018 and linked Hyatt to MLife in March 2019. Been hoping to get matched to Noir, but nothing.

Visconti

Call the hotel you're staying at (look for their general contact number under "guest services"), and select the VIP option for Golds, Plats and Noir. Then, just request a limo pickup. While the ride is complimentary, it isn't completely free. While a tip isn't mandatory, if you don't tip, I suspect your next limo requests may suddenly be met with, "oh, sorry Mr. Markie, we don't have any cars available at that time."

I'm assuming my Noir status was renewed by my host and not via Hyatt (not really sure, since I think Hyatt had sent me an email about comping me Noir, which I already had been for several years), but here's my experience. I tested it on a stay at the Park MGM and my resort fee was waived automatically (never had to request it), room upgraded (not that it matters here), and, though I didn't require it, requested late checkout to test it out, which was honored.

59Impala

i still have no idea, why I was comped. I am LTG, maybe that is a reason. Are you LTG?

Visconti

No. I've only really started staying with Hyatt during the SPG match after Marriott had taken over.

platbrownguy

I was given Noir as part of the same promotion that 59Impala received. I received the same email he posted at the top of this thread.

Likewise, I am not LTG, and I don't spend more than $10k a year with Hyatt. My night count is usually at or just above 100, but for a while I was putting all my personal spend on the Hyatt card, so a lot of the nights were from that.

The comped Noir status remains one of the best loyalty program perks I've ever gotten, simply because of the handful of times where it allowed me to drop a car right in Bellagio's front drive, or to prance past a 100-deep line to place a cash wager on a football game, or to nab a prime table at the Petrossian bar on a weekend night, on no notice. The published benefits aren't over-the-top (though the airport limo is nice)... but the seemingly random noir lines, check-in areas, lounges, etc., are really fabulous. Not enough to even attempt "earning" Noir in real life, of course (I could just tip the valet a $50 if I wanted him to keep the car close). But enough to really appreciate it & to try to get use out of it while I have it.

Visconti

While I'm certainly not an expert on such things, in my view, this and the comped AA ExPlat has to two of the best "free" perks offered by any rewards program. So, as much as I rag on them for coming up with the WOH branding crap, I have to given them kudos for somehow managing to con...er...talk MGM & AA into the aforementioned deals.

smilee

LOL - sad that you find the best loyalty perks are getting satisfactory customer service...that should be a given.

platbrownguy

Not sure if you've been to Vegas for a fight weekend or Superbowl weekend, but dropping your car in front of a hotel (where there are maybe a dozen spots, but thousands of guests) is far beyond mere "satisfactory" customer service. (After all, whatever the norm is that is being offered to everyone else, the premium is in being able to skip the everyone else.)

Likewise with the 100-deep line -- 15 minutes before the Superbowl, being able to walk up to place a wager when (understandably) the line is out the door... big perk. (Yes you can do some betting online, but it's Vegas. Cash is cash.)

Visconti

Right. Or, during the really busy times when you're leaving to catch a flight, just cut the long taxi queue (at the Bellagio anyway), rather than waiting or making that trek to rideshare which is likely surging a gazillion times normal fare.

GundamWing01

hey guys. anyone here with Hyatt/NOIR promo with a host? im curious what the discussion is like because they fully expect certain level of play or downgrade but many people have maintained NOIR since the dark ages during the hyatt/mlife launch. im wondering if any insider info has been shared about how these partnership NOIRs are treated.

Visconti

Ah, I've had the same host since 2006 or 2007? I was Noir long before ever being Hyatt Diamond (as it had been then), and probably ignored all of the marketing emails announcing their partnership. I mean, back then I was focussing on SPG, in particular the Amex SPG card, and the Hyatt thing just didn't move the needle for me. I didn't even bother requesting or paying attention to any matches I may have gotten--just didn't care, at all.

While they're very secretive about how things really work, I can share some things I suspect I've figured out over the years. A host couldn't care less about whatever status one may have, Mlife or otherwise, and only focus on what you bet, the average bet, time betting and what you're mathematically determined to lose. When it comes to Noir, they have complete discretion to confer the status to, more or less, anyone they see fit, as they do with just about anything else within their casino; not unlike where they could with a phone call instruct the FD to comp just about anything on the bill--they literally have the power of the pen over their domain. So, you can walk into the VIP host room, flash your Noir, and they'll check the computer, where unless you have a commensurate gambling history, you'll get nothing except for a polite, "see you later."

Every host has a discretionary amount of comps they can confer to anyone, but they only spend it where they think a person may return that comp via the theo loss, not unlike any other business person. So, whatever your status, unless a host believes you're worth it, you won't even get a buffet comped. In my experience, you probably have a better chance to score an initial comp by strolling into the VIP host offices with a super bling watch (think Hublot Big Bang or decked out Rolex) flashing an Amex Cent than a Noir card sans favorable gaming history. Even then, after the initial comps, if they don't see any gambling commensurate with the freebies, you'll never get it again.

That's it. Aside from the published benefits, being Noir in of itself confers nothing beyond that. I suppose, on your very first check in for a hotel on a newly minted Noir match, you may score an upgrade; but, if you don't have any gaming afterwards, good luck on getting that upgrade again. Vegas is fair, and has always had a relationship built upon a simple monetary meritocracy--it's one of the few towns where virtually everyone knows the score.

platbrownguy

I agree with most of this. Personally, I didn't have a host at MGM National Harbor until after getting Noir. It has definitely been a somewhat odd experience compared to what I know of a normal hosted experience.

1. I have gotten a number of promotions and invitations to Noir-only events at the Harbor. One was an intimate dinner with my host at Voltaggio. My wife got to come, we ordered whatever we wanted (king crab, chateaubriand, Pappy Van Winkle), then got a bunch of promo chips to play with after. Once I got a mailer with one of those "spin the wheel on the kiosk, get a gift card" things, but it ended up being $1500 in gift cards from Best Buy (I could have chosen other stores), pretty cool. I guess this could be play-based but IME $150-200/hand of blackjack (with occasional drops to $100 or pushes to $500) for a few hours here and there isn't enough to get anywhere near that.

2. I tried getting a host at Mandalay Bay and couldn't really get one. Once I emailed the hosts and they coded me for 62nd floor lounge access. Another time I emailed and asked for a comp room for a fight weekend and they hooked me up again with lounge access but no mention of F&B etc. And another time when on a self-booked comp stay, I tried calling at check out to get some charges wiped but they'd only do $100 despite the longest and highest play I had ever shown (minimum purples all night).

3. As I mentioned above, I've been flat out told that I was "overcomped" at the Harbor. But that went away with time I guess.

4. The only caveat I would add to Visconti's post, and it's a big one to me, is that the "published benefits" IME go way beyond the literal chart of benefits. It's the random surprise-and-delight things like line cutting (other than just taxis), lounges, parking, etc., that have made it a great perk.

Visconti

Ah, while only speaking for Vegas, this happens with some regularity and every host, including mine, engages in the practice. Now, during their annual reviews, the issue for the host becomes when their attempts of overcomping isn't accompanied by a similar increase in, say, coin in/out, theo loss, time of play and average bet sized. And, if this were to continue, the host would ultimately be terminated, which happens with relative frequency in Vegas. While I'm speculating here, your host, for whatever reason, made a judgement and felt that whatever initial comps he had spent on you would ultimately be repaid by your theo associated with your year's gambling activity.

In Vegas, a Noir guest with an unknown gambling history has the benefit of the doubt where a host may think there is hope the person "may" turn into a profitable gambler, whereas a wealthy person with a history of not gambling or penny machine gambler will be universally ignored and relegated to the dustbin of those who simply don't matter--this is how Casino hosts view things. In other words, as far as hosts are concerned, if one doesn't gamble, they couldn't care less if a person's a beggar or a billionaire--it means all the same to them, in that he/she'd be a time waster.

Good point. Not sure if any here recall this, but pre-pandemic lunch time at Shake Shack always had a line out the door. The Noir and Plat once allowed to cut the line. Not sure why they got rid of this perk.

platbrownguy

A quick update, I had an overnight layover at DCA on Sunday (arrived 7:30pm, back out at 6am), so I booked a comp room at the MGM National Harbor, used the free transport each way, and played some cards while wife and kid relaxed in the room.

The ride from DCA was in an MGM-plated SUV driven by an MGM employee, I tipped him $40, he was very helpful with all the bags and baby stuff, and he managed to pull up right in front of baggage claim rather than on the rideshare pickup lane. The 4:30am ride back was in a Suburban that was on standby in case a VIP needed last-minute transport -- I mentioned the ride to the front desk, they summoned him up. (Not sure if it was meant to work that way or if the booking was lost in translation, but it was quick and easy anyhow.)

We had dinner at Ginger (~$200) which was excellent, and I drank three XO cognacs while playing (~$120), which was all comped by my new host along with our modest minibar raid (big Fiji, juice, gummy bears).

I played 2.5 hours at, according to the floor, an average of $250/hand. I stopped when I was up a small amount & needed 3 hours of sleep before the early flight.

The next day, host called me and just said he was glad to help and glad I could come in. I told him I hoped to be able to stay for longer next time. He's new as a host (at least to this property), so I also mentioned that I knew how the "game" worked and that I appreciate whatever comps he could offer but that I understood he needs my theo to be there too. He sounded appreciative of those remarks.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get my card reprinted (the rewards desk was closed), but when I tried to reprint on the kiosk, it said my tier level could not be reprinted, so I think I will get to keep the Noir status. Time to book a Vegas trip...