GundamWing01

the link you had provided is actually no longer in use. there is no more chairman lounge. its going to become a Cartier. not sure why we need more of those. but its funny that the webpage is still up.

here is the new website:
https://bellagio.mgmresorts.com/en/h...xperience.html

the lounge itself is called the VIP Lounge. No longer chairman. but the experience you had with aaron was part of the OG chairman lounge pre-arrival package based on ur room type. usually $150/night add-on. but all the extra personal touches were def based on ur noir status which is common for casino noirs even at the base room level. and thats why its so surprising to hear ur perspective because aaron put in huge effort beyond the "VIP Arrival Experience".

platbrownguy

Fair point, I missed the picture on that link, that was indeed the old lounge. Cartier is fully operational. Gotta have one (or more) of each brand in each casino evidently...

Haha, well -- Visconti, whaddaya say? Vegas trip December 2-4?

GundamWing01

FYI. if you guys party during MGM shopping.

https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mgm-re...oppe.html#/FAQ

1. When is Holiday Gift Shoppe 2022?

- Express Shopping and catalog browsing stations will be available at all Las Vegas MGM Rewards Desks from November 15 – December 4.

- Showroom Shopping events will take place at MGM Grand on November 18 – 20, Bellagio on November 25 – 27, and ARIA on December 2 – 4, 2022.

6. When do I stop earning HGS points?

HGS point earning for 2022 will stop at 6:00pm on Sunday, December 4, 2022. However, members who redeem in-person will begin earning points for 2023 starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2022!

Visconti

After they’ve nerfed the program, it’s sort of a mystery to me. In the past, it was pretty straight forward where you’d earn equal points for free-play, express comps and that shopping points. One of the benefits of Noir was the ability to earn express comps up to 10K, whereas lower tiers were capped at 5K. This becomes important for those few things where not even a casino host can comp, like spa treatments, facials and massages. I never understood this but stuff like that ain’t exactly my cup of tea.

Now, I’ve noticed the new MGM rewards has greatly reduced the pace of express comps and even free-play where it’s much less intuitive on how it’s all calculated—they’ve sort of gone the black-box route.

LOL…Not quite 50 yet, but will be there soon enough, in about two years. Wow, I remember being in my 20s and thought I’d be young forever, never grow old and time would just stand still for me—not the case! I can’t recall “hanging out” with too many in their 20s these days, but I’d imagine there’s a considerable generational gap there. During my clubbing days, we were drinking and dancing the night away to Enigma’s Sadness, not sure if you or your friends would even know what that is these days!

As to keeping up, I’ll put it this way. If I had to, I could still steal 2nd base, but unlike in my younger days where I could do it every game, it’s only once a week and I’d have to pick my spots. LOL

These days, as with the 20-somethings, my experiences with “influencers” have been limited—it’s basically nil. I don’t use any form of social media—except FT & Twitter (no longer necessary)—and probably wouldn’t even know an “influencer” if I saw one. Are these the folks who when they don’t get there way, start b*tching & whining on social media until they do? Anyway, from what I know of them, not from experience but from repute, I’d probably use them as contrarian indicators.

Amex does the same thing and there are cardmembers whom they issue the Centurion to free of charge and without the customary "requirements." So, I guess, why not MGM? It’s the times, I guess. Let’s see if this phenomenon sticks.

Sure, I’ll make plans to be there and pencil it in!

platbrownguy

Heard of Enigma but I pulled up Sadeness (sp?) and indeed had not heard it. Seems like I was just a few years too young for that though. As for stealing 2nd base, sounds like you'll keep up just fine -- I doubt I could do that once! I was moreso referring to what I observe in "old people" which is a tendency to go to bed way too early, as in before 2 a.m. (I can't recall ever going to bed before 4 on a Friday or Saturday night in Vegas). Pre-order room service breakfast for a reasonable hour and boom, it's go-time the next day.

Those are a subset of influencers, but the mainstream influencer is someone who has enough followers on instagram to be a viable advertising platform. Many are just reasonably attractive people (mostly women, but not always) who make little teasing videos or reels and show off some hotel room or designer clothing that they are getting for free in exchange for showcasing it. For an example, check out my friend Alexandra on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewayfaress/?hl=en (she actually went to law school with me, started down the BigLaw path, and then bailed to be an influencer in Bali, and it seems to be treating her just fine).

Amazing. I'll do the same and maybe post a meetup in Community Buzz later this week, see if we get any other FTers on board.

Visconti

If I recall, Sadeness (probably something to do with the Marquis DeSade or something) was the spelling used for the European release, while in the UK and US, it released as Sadness, probably because during the time, any association with the S&M thing wasn't acceptable. During my "clubbing" days, late dinners and the night didn't even really start until 11 pm where the drinking and dancing would end at around 3 - 4 am. Then, onto a 24 hours breakfast joint, some fond memories of Denny's (only place open), if you can believe it. But, alas, as you've observed, those days are well behind me; now, here in the West Coast, I routinely have to get up at 4 am to begin my day job stuff.

Oh, I see. That's probably the best definition of "influencer" that I've had explained to me. I'm sure many must be successful if they're able to make a living from the endeavor, and good for them. Irrespective of what I think, which really doesn't matter, if the free market values their services, I'm all for it.

I'll try to conjure up something young & hip to say here. Groovy? Cool? Smashing? Perhaps, I'll just go with copacetic. LOL

Troopers

MHC got back to me and did not specifically answer my question about complementary Noir. She stated the current program terms where Globalists match to MGM Gold. And since I am earned Platinum, she said not to match since Platinum higher than Gold.

platbrownguy

Surely you'll be on the list next year?! My Hyatt spend numbers are similar to yours, I tend to have around 100 nights (including maybe 15 CC "nights") and 100k base points by end of year. Who knows what their metrics are though.

Side note, I was glad to see that my Bellagio stay automatically posted as 3 nights with a boatload of eligible spend and the 2x points promo. (I booked it as 3 nights "comp" but picked a room category that had a modest charge like $41 for one of the nights... then paid upgrade fee on top for 3 nights, and the upgrade fee plus restaurant and some other spend all counted.)

Troopers

Right, who knows....I just returned from LV with some decent spend, and looking forward to the double promo bonus points. It'd be killer if the WOH card earned 4x at MGM properties.

dpb132

Dropped from Noir to Pearl overnight. (Guess I’ll have to rematch to Gold.)

It was never clear to me why I was given the benefit originally or allowed to maintain it for so long.

Honestly I won’t really miss it - I am much less interested in Las Vegas generally and the MGM properties specifically than I used to be, and able to maintain Globalist status without those nights. If I go again to LV I will appreciate the opportunity to be a free agent when it comes to hotels.

Alexsth2011

Same. Lost the shiny Noir. Currently MGM in LV, so I did the match to GOLD just now and it shows instantly.
I got it matched to Cosmo Platinum and Hardrock Unity X right before it expired.

Troopers

Wait, I thought Cosmo didn't match to MGM Rewards?

MasterPlanner

I lost my Noir last year (was dropped to Gold) and then seemingly lost my Gold today. Thanks for the tip re: instant match to Gold!

Troopers

Surprise surprise, I'm Noir now

I don't think it's via Hyatt as I have never matched to MGM. I earned MGM Platinum last year.

Boraxo

Thanks for the reminder - very timely before I lose Globalist. Just updated to Gold (again). Waiver of bogus “resort fees” is huge + $100 dining benefit.