Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas REVIEW - MASTER THREAD (Destination+other brands)
#871
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,321
Casino hotel properties operate completely different than Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, despite they have a partnership with the hotel chain, they basically only care about high rollers, or those sit in front of same slot machines for hours hoping for a hand pay or jackpot. So unless you are one of those, or in a higher end property like Vdara, Aria, and Bellagio, they don't care what rooms you booked, as they always have to satisfy those with comp offers first, so many times at lower end properties Excalibur, Luxor, NYNY, MGM grand, I have been downgraded with no compensation (when I saw a higher category rooms that is not much more than standard room, so I decided to pay extra)
#872
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,617
I'm sorry but no. As the other poster said, this is an absurd and insane take. No casino in Vegas gets to tell you, oh we're sorry you booked a $500 suite but we have people sitting in front of a slot machine who need a comp room so you're going to get a $20 base room. Your request for a suite is denied, and then charge you $500 anyway.
#873
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,321
I'm sorry but no. As the other poster said, this is an absurd and insane take. No casino in Vegas gets to tell you, oh we're sorry you booked a $500 suite but we have people sitting in front of a slot machine who need a comp room so you're going to get a $20 base room. Your request for a suite is denied, and then charge you $500 anyway.
#874
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,081
I wonder what happens if a globalist chooses to order a breakfast item from the normal menu. Will they charge the full price of the item and treat them like any other guest? Or would they potentially apply an upcharge" fee that is less than paying the full price of the item?
If the latter, I think it might still be worth ordering from the regular menu and paying a small fee. Can someone who is staying there ask?
If the latter, I think it might still be worth ordering from the regular menu and paying a small fee. Can someone who is staying there ask?
#875
Moderator: Hyatt, American Express; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 19,133
Checked in for a two night stay having paid up for a "high floor, strip view". Was given what turned out to be a low level floor facing away from the strip. I waited for the crowd to clear at check-in and came back, asking to move to my booked room - was told that the booking category is only "a request" and that they were fully sold out; offered to move me for my second night "if something becomes available".
I don't know how often you go to Vegas, but with last two years when MGM decided to waived resort fee for gold, and combine with Hyatt partnership, I was in Vegas a lot for both work and pleasure, get to stay at every MGM properties + those affiliated with Hilton.
Casino hotel properties operate completely different than Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, despite they have a partnership with the hotel chain, they basically only care about high rollers, or those sit in front of same slot machines for hours hoping for a hand pay or jackpot. So unless you are one of those, or in a higher end property like Vdara, Aria, and Bellagio, they don't care what rooms you booked, as they always have to satisfy those with comp offers first, so many times at lower end properties Excalibur, Luxor, NYNY, MGM grand, I have been downgraded with no compensation (when I saw a higher category rooms that is not much more than standard room, so I decided to pay extra)
Casino hotel properties operate completely different than Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, despite they have a partnership with the hotel chain, they basically only care about high rollers, or those sit in front of same slot machines for hours hoping for a hand pay or jackpot. So unless you are one of those, or in a higher end property like Vdara, Aria, and Bellagio, they don't care what rooms you booked, as they always have to satisfy those with comp offers first, so many times at lower end properties Excalibur, Luxor, NYNY, MGM grand, I have been downgraded with no compensation (when I saw a higher category rooms that is not much more than standard room, so I decided to pay extra)
And FWIW I have been going to LV/Reno/Tahoe/etc. for nearly 30 years so I feel like I am familiar with how comps work and how casinos do room allocations
*regardless of whether anyone feels it is worth the extra cost, or if the room is not meaningfully different and the hotel is just playing games with categories
#877
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,878
To me, this is a really key point and one that should be highlighted for those considering staying at this property. Acknowledging that this property can be a great deal for mattress runs, it is going to be a shock for those who assume a certain quality level based on the Hyatt brand.
#878
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA ExPlat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 17,150
Casino hotel properties operate completely different than Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, despite they have a partnership with the hotel chain, they basically only care about high rollers, or those sit in front of same slot machines for hours hoping for a hand pay or jackpot. So unless you are one of those, or in a higher end property like Vdara, Aria, and Bellagio, they don't care what rooms you booked, as they always have to satisfy those with comp offers first, so many times at lower end properties Excalibur, Luxor, NYNY, MGM grand, I have been downgraded with no compensation (when I saw a higher category rooms that is not much more than standard room, so I decided to pay extra)
#879
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,459
Anyway, Hyatt has to 86 all the different categories on the website. it's just plain false advertising.
ORDnHKG, sorry, your comments about prioritizing the high rollers and comps are nonsense in this context. First, the majority of comps are given at booking (as an incentive to come) or retrospectively at check out as a credit (against room, food, whatever) after looking at your Theo and whatever RTP they have assigned to you. Second, I don't gamble much anymore but I understand how comps work, and I can tell you it's not by upgrading someone in a low category to a "high floor strip view" room (also not a particularly luxurious category) room and bumping another guest is not happening...
Last edited by aCavalierInCoach; May 10, 2024 at 5:41 pm
#880
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,321
Have you asked them to refund the difference? Having paid extra and confirming a higher room category seems incompatible with the "merely a request" BS they tried to sell you.
If OP had booked a comped room and been upgraded to a higher category in advance but then downgraded again at checkin, then I might agree with you, but if someone _paid_ for a higher category* then the property needs to provide it, or else some form of compensation.
And FWIW I have been going to LV/Reno/Tahoe/etc. for nearly 30 years so I feel like I am familiar with how comps work and how casinos do room allocations
*regardless of whether anyone feels it is worth the extra cost, or if the room is not meaningfully different and the hotel is just playing games with categories
If OP had booked a comped room and been upgraded to a higher category in advance but then downgraded again at checkin, then I might agree with you, but if someone _paid_ for a higher category* then the property needs to provide it, or else some form of compensation.
And FWIW I have been going to LV/Reno/Tahoe/etc. for nearly 30 years so I feel like I am familiar with how comps work and how casinos do room allocations
*regardless of whether anyone feels it is worth the extra cost, or if the room is not meaningfully different and the hotel is just playing games with categories
.
ORDnHKG, sorry, your comments about prioritizing the high rollers and comps are nonsense in this context. First, the majority of comps are given at booking (as an incentive to come) or retrospectively at check out as a credit (against room, food, whatever) after looking at your Theo and whatever RTP they have assigned to you. Second, I don't gamble much anymore but I understand how comps work, and I can tell you it's not by upgrading someone in a low category to a "high floor strip view" room (also not a particularly luxurious category) room and bumping another guest is not happening...
ORDnHKG, sorry, your comments about prioritizing the high rollers and comps are nonsense in this context. First, the majority of comps are given at booking (as an incentive to come) or retrospectively at check out as a credit (against room, food, whatever) after looking at your Theo and whatever RTP they have assigned to you. Second, I don't gamble much anymore but I understand how comps work, and I can tell you it's not by upgrading someone in a low category to a "high floor strip view" room (also not a particularly luxurious category) room and bumping another guest is not happening...
Once again, base on my experience with lower end properties with MGM in the past two years, I had not been offered any form of compensation. And this occured numerous times not just one time. Higher end properties however are completely different, they did offer comps or upgrade for compensation
NYNY: booked Soho premier king and downgraded to Soho 2 queens
Excalibur: booked resort tower strip view downgraded resort tower view facing inside
Luxor: tower king downgraded to pyramid premier king / tower elite king downgraded to tower king
Last edited by ORDnHKG; May 12, 2024 at 8:19 am
#882
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 10,228
I wonder what happens if a globalist chooses to order a breakfast item from the normal menu. Will they charge the full price of the item and treat them like any other guest? Or would they potentially apply an upcharge" fee that is less than paying the full price of the item?
If the latter, I think it might still be worth ordering from the regular menu and paying a small fee. Can someone who is staying there ask?
If the latter, I think it might still be worth ordering from the regular menu and paying a small fee. Can someone who is staying there ask?
The information was just an agent at the desk.Her manager stepped in and backed her up
Im there tomorrow and can ask the restaurant directly
They told me the new menu was instituted by Hyatt 🤷♂️
When I called Hyatt consumer affairs they let me know Hyatt has nothing to do with the property as its non Hyatt owned 🤷♂️
I stated Im ok if Hyatt or any of the hotels wants to cost cut at the expense of elites but not ok with not having an option to pay
up for personal choice
I go back to the day when Hyatt and Starwood SPG had no top tier breakfast benefit.
Suite upgrades and breakfasts were the catalyst that took elite importance by storm decades ago
As well as standard room award availability.
They were all game changers upping the importance and moving the needle for motivating members business behavior
Im shocked at how petty some hotels have become in North America with breakfast.
In Australia Marriott held brand supremacy over Hyatt where we stayed recently when it came to club lounge or restaurant both quality and variety.Hyatt is clearly slipping.
If Marriott performed that well in the US I might rarely ever stay at Hyatts.
Last edited by Markie; May 13, 2024 at 12:17 am
#883
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,867
Rightfully so
I go back to the day when Hyatt and Starwood SPG had no top tier breakfast benefit.
Suite upgrades and breakfasts were the catalyst that took elite importance by storm decades ago
As well as standard room award availability.
They were all game changers upping the importance and moving the needle for motivating members business behavior
Im shocked at how petty some hotels have become in North America with breakfast.
In Australia Marriott held brand supremacy over Hyatt where we stayed recently when it came to club lounge or restaurant both quality and variety.Hyatt is clearly slipping.
If Marriott performed that well in the US I might rarely ever stay at Hyatts.
I go back to the day when Hyatt and Starwood SPG had no top tier breakfast benefit.
Suite upgrades and breakfasts were the catalyst that took elite importance by storm decades ago
As well as standard room award availability.
They were all game changers upping the importance and moving the needle for motivating members business behavior
Im shocked at how petty some hotels have become in North America with breakfast.
In Australia Marriott held brand supremacy over Hyatt where we stayed recently when it came to club lounge or restaurant both quality and variety.Hyatt is clearly slipping.
If Marriott performed that well in the US I might rarely ever stay at Hyatts.
#884
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Nor Cal
Programs: AA Alaska Hyatt
Posts: 6
Rio guest of honer cert.
I used my own GOH cert to avoid resort fee and get breakfast on a 6 night stay in April. Its a good way to get back to globalist after losing it this year. Im trying to do the same this week, but it seems you cant book with GOH certificates any longer or possibly its just my dates. Anyone else have experience with this?
#885
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 5,072
I used my own GOH cert to avoid resort fee and get breakfast on a 6 night stay in April. Its a good way to get back to globalist after losing it this year. Im trying to do the same this week, but it seems you cant book with GOH certificates any longer or possibly its just my dates. Anyone else have experience with this?