opening 12/15/2010 http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/

This place looks amazing and right on the strip. I booked it for a week in June for a business trip. Not the best time to be in Vegas, but oh well.

Grand Chateau is like an old folks home. This is going to be awesome.. Great pool overlooking the strip vs a bathtub on the roof of the Chateau. Also restaurants and casino!

I went by the Cosmopolitan last weekend and they were racing to complete it. If they make it, it will be just barely. It smelled like the lobby was being painted.

I was looking to book a company meeting there in January. I called the numbers on the website – 1st one nobody answered; 2nd one just said no one was available.

I hope the service gets better once they open.

What's the local buzz about this place?

We go out every Labor day, and I just booked a nice rate for a terrace studio...normally stay at the Wynn or Encore, but they're rates are going up and their service is going the other way.

A Peek at Its Players-Type Program
 

Identity Membership is a unique program that allows you to accumulate “Identity Points” on all types of spending in a resort/casino including room, dining, spa treatments, entertainment and gaming.

It enables you to earn points faster than other resort/casino programs which offer points just for slots and table play. Identity membership lets you choose from a menu of ways to redeem your points such as:

•dinner for 2
•spa treatments
•free room upgrades

The program includes three tiers of membership depending on the points you have accumulated with more generous benefits as you move from Silver to Gold to Platinum. For example if you’re a Platinum member you are entitled to a personal host. A personal host gives Platinum members the ultimate in special treatment with the discretion to give you complimentary privileges and benefits to match your interests and needs.

Nice! Looking forward to my stay in January. Do you have to be onsite to sign up for the identity program?

Have a one-night stay here in January for a speaking gig, booked the conference rate which was really good. Through the conference site I couldn't add my Marriott Rewards #, and received a hotel confirmation # rather than a Marriott confirmation #. So Marriott couldn't access the res, had to call the hotel. Added my Marriott Rewards #. I had understood that elite benefits would apply, the agent on the phone said they wouldn't "because this is a casino property." Not that I actually care, but will be curious to see how it shakes out. Calling before the hotel even opens I can imagine that information and training is uneven. No doubt some kinks to work out here. But looking forward to checking the place out if only for a night.

I had called to switch my room type since a deposit is required to book a room and I didn't want things to get messay with returning deposit on one room and then applying it to another. Anyways, I asked the guy on the phone if it would have similar benefits to other marriotts for elite members. He said it was a full partner and they would, although this may be an example of the uneven training the previous post discussed. I really wouldn't expect to get upgraded unless my casino business justified it, which it won't. I'm curious if anyone who stays there can elaborate. Is there even a "elite check in line"? That would be a good start....

I spent over a hour at this hotel talking to several managers about the Marriott Reward Elite benefits.

Bottom line - this is not a Marriott Brand hotel - it is a partner hotel that books through the Marriott reservation site. It has its own rewards program.

I spoke to several people starting at the front desk. The front desk people had no clue about Marriott Gold/Plat benefits. I then spoke to a front desk manager - who also did not and she indicated that this was only a partner hotel not part of the Marriott brand - even though it is an Autograph hotel.

Then I spoke to a higher level upstairs supervisor and got pretty much the same story. Then I spoke to a Marriott transition supervisor and got the story that this is considered a Resort and therefore does not provide the normal Platinum benefits other than earning MR points.

I also call Marriott Customer Service and they indicated that the Cosmopolitan was a full benefit hotel. They then transferred me to someone at the upstairs office at the Cosmopolitan and they said they do not provide benefits.

Bottom line - consider this a resort with No Benefits even though Resort is not in the name.

The Marriott transition supervisor indicated you would get a Plat arrival gift and they if not you get the $100. One should book here and go for the $100 as the staff is not knowledgeable. But no breakfast or lounge access - even though the Identity program Platinum level does give lounge access.

I am not sure why this is a Marriott brand at all. It has been advertised on the Marriott webpage but it really is not a Marriott brand.

There is a desk with a big line to join the Identity program which has three tiers Silver/Gold/Platinum but these do not translate to MR levels, even though the benefits are somewhat similar. MR Golds/Plat also do not get any room upgrades.

I would not recommend staying at this hotel if you are expecting Elite benefits from MR.

Thanks for the updates. That message was consistent to what I experience when I called them 2 weeks ago.

I just called the Marriott Line asking about whether they accept the Bonus Bucks for this hotel. The operator called the hotel and the answer despite being advertised as a Autograph Collection hotel, the WILL NOT accept the Bonus Bucks because they say that it's too new of a hotel to accept it. Total garbage.

Lesson here is that they treat Marriott members like they don't exist. Unless you end up redeeming points for peak weekends, Wynn/Encore or Venetian/Palazzo offer better service. I even heard that once Venetian/Palazzo will accept IHC/Priority Club members, they will honor any elite status. For this hotel, forget it.

The hotel is nice and new - but overall it will not be competitive over time with the Mega properties. It has a fancy 4 story shopping complex in the front but that is pretty much it. But once the novelty runs out, it likely will be having special deals.

The pictures I have seen - the room are sort of like Marriott Suites. The hotel views this as a super luxury hotel, hence it doesn't need to provide benefits. Ritz Carlton is the luxury brand - and this is not a Ritz.

None of the employees are Marriott employees and none of them are familiar with Marriott Rewards rules. The Marriott supervisor there for transition was aware of the $100 penalty for not offering Plat arrival gift, but she was not aware of the $100 penalty for not offering breakfast if there is no concierge lounge available M-F.

The hotel position is that this is the only hotel on the strip that allows Marriott Reward members to earn and redeem points. But the benefits go to the Identity members. The hotel is not pushing MR it is only pushing Identity.

The net is this is nothing more than a Marketing arrangement - Marriott sells rooms through its reservation system and collects a fee. The hotel hopes to get access to Marriott customers.

The Cosmopolitan Identity Membership Program
 

Silver Membership
Base level - simply enroll for free
- Inside information to get the most out of Vegas from Zagat
- Access to special offers and unpublished room rates

Gold Membership
Qualify by earning 20,000 Identity points in a 12 month period
- Upgrade to terraced suite (when available)
- 24-hour advanced ticket sales and/or invitations for headliner and other entertainment
- Complimentary fitness center access
- Arrival amenity
- Upgraded turndown service
- One in-room movie per visit
- Birthday champagne toast
- Invitations to special tournaments
- More inside Vegas information from Wallpaper
- Dedicated Gold reservations hotline
- Early check-in and/or late check-out (when available)
- Priority access to Wicked Spoon
- Access to Marquee Nightclub & Day Club at the Cosmopolitan

Platinum Membership
Qualify by earning 80,000 Identity points in a 12 month period
- Personal host service
- Pool host service
- Insider tours of restaurants
- Perferred seating in restaurants
- Deluxe arrival amenity
- Deluxe turndown service
- Complimentary spa services
- Access to member lounge
- Access to chauffeured limosine
- Dedicated Platinum reservations hotline
- VIP check-in
- Priority valet
- Guaranteed room/suite availability
- Complimentary transportation to/from McCarran airport


Earning Options: - 10 Identity Points when you spend:
$1 on room or suite accommodations
$4 on other resort spending (restaurant, spa, nightclub)
$10 in any shops
$15 wagered on reel/video reel slot
$50 wagered on video poker
$100 wagered on table games

So if you bet $100 - you get 10 points.
Spend $200 on your room - you get 2,000 points.

Redemption Options:- Dinner for two
- Sahra Spa
- Free room upgrade

So points cannot be used for free rooms

Free Rooms - Stay 8 nights, get 1 night free

Personal Host- For Platinums - personal host lets you choose from a variety of benefits for you points

Also - not clear whether you can earn both Identity Points and Marriott Reward Points - but I would assume not.

I agree, it sucks that MR status members get zippy for staying here, but I booked to accumulate the points. I would rather get a load of MR points on my account for staying here than nothing for staying at every other hotel on the strip for the same price. Free internet and breakfast would be nice, but in lieu I will take the points.