Atlantic City Diamond Lounges...

I received a postcard today from Caesars/Harrah's marketing department based out of Atlantic City. To paraphrase the postcard...

Basically, they received very poor grades from customers about the food in the Diamond Lounge. They have decided to upgrade the quality of food, offering both carving stations and seafood options (I guess a mini-buffet if you will). Of course, every change comes at a cost, and this one will come at the expense of lower level Diamond players. Get this: Seven Star and Diamond level players who have earned at least 25,000 tier points will get in for free. Diamond players with less than the required 25,000 tier score can get in, but at the cost of 1000 points.

As a Diamond level player, but at the lowest level of the tier, I find this treatment appalling. I understand reasons to offer nicer surroundings, but it just goes to show that Caesars could care less about anybody less than Seven Star. Before you know it, you'll have to be gambling millions of dollars before they even welcome you to the table.

Doesn't Caesar's local competition charge for admission to their comparable lounges? Borgata and Trump both charge ~$10 for access to their lounges, don't they?

I can understand how lower level Diamond members would be frustrated by this, but what choice do they have?

I am a low level Diamond and it seems fair. The DLs are too crowded as it is. I am willing to pay $5 for quality if that's what it takes. The food was pretty bad before.

Quote: teddys

I am a low level Diamond and it seems fair. The DLs are too crowded as it is. I am willing to pay $5 for quality if that's what it takes. The food was pretty bad before.

I am also low level Diamond. The free-access DLs in Vegas are okay (I happen to love chicken wings), but I always heard in AC they were outstanding, but they cost $5 for entry.

Quote: Tiltpoul

They have decided to upgrade the quality of food, offering both carving stations and seafood options (I guess a mini-buffet if you will). Of course, every change comes at a cost, and this one will come at the expense of lower level Diamond players. Get this: Seven Star and Diamond level players who have earned at least 25,000 tier points will get in for free. Diamond players with less than the required 25,000 tier score can get in, but at the cost of 1000 points.

Here, the OP states it costs 1000 points for entry, NOT cash. Besides, 1000 comp points is $10, not $5. At least I hope you mean COMP points, not TIER points, right?

Quote: zippyboy

Here, the OP states it costs 1000 points for entry, NOT cash. Besides, 1000 comp points is $10, not $5. At least I hope you mean COMP points, not TIER points, right?

Yes that's correct.

At one point, a long time ago, Platinum status actually meant something at Harrah's. Now, it MIGHT get you into a special line at the buffet, and I think you may get an extra 5% off certain logo items at the gift shop. At regional casinos (i.e. Midwest), Platinum status might as well be eliminated as it really doesn't get you anything. Those players use the same lines as Gold members at the buffets, no special perks that are noticeable. I believe the Wizard mentioned this in his review of the Total Rewards program. If this progran is widely accepted in AC, and they decide to try it out other places, I can see all Caesars properties doing this. At that point, they'll probably just raise the amount of points needed to be Diamond status... actually, as I typed that, I realized the horrible marketing ploy. Instead, they'll just create a "Ruby" status and basically that will be come the current Diamond level and Diamond will be just a glorified Gold card.

Quote: teddys

I am a low level Diamond and it seems fair. The DLs are too crowded as it is. I am willing to pay $5 for quality if that's what it takes. The food was pretty bad before.

Personally, the Diamond Lounge food is fine by me. I'm not expecting a gourmet meal when I go in, but snacks and a comfortable place to sit away from the floor with good cocktail service is nice. Paying the comp equivalent of $10 for a watered down buffet is ridiculous to me. If I want a buffet, I'll just go to the buffet.

Quote: Tiltpoul

At one point, a long time ago, Platinum status actually meant something at Harrah's. Now, it MIGHT get you into a special line at the buffet,...... At that point, they'll probably just raise the amount of points needed to be Diamond status... .... Instead, they'll just create a "Ruby" status and basically that will be come the current Diamond level and Diamond will be just a glorified Gold card.

Here in LV, Platinum gets you into the same buffet line as Diamond. That's about it.

I've heard talk in the DLs here that Caesars is thinking of implementing a card status in between Diamond and 7 Stars around 50,000 points since there's such a huge jump between 11,000 and 100,000 tier credits. Is that what you mean by Ruby? I've also heard there is another unadvertised status card called Chairman, or President, that's above 7 Stars.

Have you heard that?

Quote: zippyboy

... I've also heard there is another unadvertised status card called Chairman, or President, that's above 7 Stars.

Have you heard that?

I've heard that. I also heard that Watanabee (sp?) is the only one ever to reach that level. Would you like the same kind of treatment?

Quote: zippyboy

I am also low level Diamond. The free-access DLs in Vegas are okay (I happen to love chicken wings), but I always heard in AC they were outstanding.

It's funny. Being from NJ, my wife and I got used to the DLs in AC and thought they were OK. The food was good, although selection was limited. Drink service took too long.

Then we went to Vegas. We thought the DL at Rio was marginal, but at Flamingo it was pathetic.

I just don't get the whole DL implementation. Because we go to Showboat a lot, I'll use thier's as an example.

The concept, as I understand it, is to give the most valuable players an option where they can eat quickly, and get back to the tables.

At Showboat, the DL is on the second floor. Note that there is the security floor between the casino and the second floor, and the casino already has rather high ceilings, so it's a LONG escalator to get up there. That escalator is near the boardwalk, by the poker room and party pit. I.E. Not anywhere near where those Diamond players are most likely to be playing, so they'll have to waste time, hiking to get to the DL. The alternative is the elevator, which is kinda near the center of the casino, but once you get to the second floor, it's far down the hall from the DL.

The DL itself is rather spacious. The largest of all DLs I have been in. There is a central bar with some seating, and additional seating all around the outside of the bar area, as well as patio seating overlooking the boardwalk. Obviously, the most desirable seating is the patio or just inside the patio. The food display is along the wall furthest from the patio, adding to the wasted time walking, for these valuable players.

OK. As someone with food service experience, I get it. Put the food close to the kitchen, so that it can be better maintained. Except there is hardly ever anybody watching over it. When an item runs out, it takes way too long to replace it. More wasted time for those valuable players.

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My last gripe has to do with the lack of an ability to link accounts for spouses. I understand why my wife is more valuable than I am. She like slots, and occasionally plays $5 machines, while I prefer poker, and occasionally play craps. But we're a couple. One bankroll. If she's entitled to the Diamond Lounge, why can't I be too? Does the casino REALLY want me to drag this valuable player away from her machine, so she can bring a guest into the DL?

Quote: Doc

I've heard that. I also heard that Watanabee (sp?) is the only one ever to reach that level. Would you like the same kind of treatment?

I heard that it's automatically given to the ONE player who is most valuable to each location.

I am low level Diamond. i really never went there for the food mainly for the free Grey Goose vodka, which I love. I always thought the lounges were for people to come in and grab a free drink or 3 but not to make a 6 hour evening of it like some folks do. A lot of guys in A/C have their wives pumping ungodly amounts of money into slots, while they drink and eat for hours for free. I have a very good friend who does this almost every weekend. Carl will even give him a ride back over to Harrahs at the end of his shift! I have seen people taking food home and even stealing silverware from the Showboat diamond loungue.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Then we went to Vegas. We thought the DL at Rio was marginal, but at Flamingo it was pathetic.

The concept, as I understand it, is to give the most valuable players an option where they can eat quickly, and get back to the tables.

I'd rank the LV DLs like this:

1 Harrahs (with bar and restroom) always good food and service, deep fried wings, nice desserts, 3 TVs behind bar
2 Caesars (with bar and restroom) but dislike the baked but usually cold wings, great service, great room space
3 Planet Hollywood (restroom) HUGE wide screen hi-def TV, good food
4 Rio (restroom) I love how the elevator inside hi-limit slot room only goes to DL, nice space
5 Paris (with bar) service sucks here (10 minutes for a drink every time), good food though, decent space
6 Flamingo lots of TVs, no bar, boring space, but it's still a DL! free Glenlivet and food....I won't complain

I love the loyalty TR program at Caesars Corp. and I am just a loyal peon. It offers things you just won't find anywhere else here. TR card is tied into every other property, just like Stations, but NOT like MGM Mlife. Points I gain at Ballys I can redeem at Rio for their Carnival Buffet (half price for locals, and always on customer's Top 10 list). You cannot cross-spend at MGM properties. Diamond gets DL access, jumps to front of the line at buffets, registration line, taxi line, shuttle line, free gifts for locals every Tuesday (bottle of wine, box of chocolates, BBQ grill), email offers for rooms and Summer/Winterfests, free gifts at Christmas (Great Gift Wrap-up, based on tier credits earned through the year), etc.

I don't play BJ anymore, so I don't even want to hear about the 6:5 vs 3:2 debate. All the casinos are heading that way, and raising limits.

I agree with you. i dont get maybe as much "cash"back, but Diamond the last four years has given me great benefits. last year we took two trips to New Orleans and through Harrah's we stayed 4 and 5 nights at the beautiful $400 a night downtown marriot for FREE. Six straight trips including four New Years eves in Vegas FREE. Five days in Tahoe FREE. 10 out of 11 weekends in A/C FREE. And up till now free Grey Goose. Also in A/C $80 dollar weekly vouchers and $30 weekley slot coupons in addition to the accumulated points. Not to mention I have gotten to know the people in A/C that work there and the majority of them or very nice people.

I received the post card and I knew what it was from reading about the new DL rules on another forum.

Caesars must really think that we are stupid. The post card read "Your ENHANCED (my caps) Diamond Lounge Experience is Here"

The only thing that was ENHANCED was the admission charge!

Keep in mind that it is 1000 points for each patron. So if you're with your spouse /friend that's 2000 points ($20).

They also mentioned that they will have a carving station. Well, when they first opened the DL at Caesars, they had a carving station and eventually replaced it with trays of hot food already sliced. Now they sometimes only have hot dogs.

My gripe about the DL at Showboat and Harrahs is that there is only one line to get the hot buffet. That's why it takes so long. If one person is waiting for them to bring out another tray of meatballs or chicken (LOL) the entire line is held up. At least Caesars and Ballys has two lines.

I always enjoy getting a quick bite before the drive home. Now I might have to stop at Five Brothers for one of their delicious burgers.

Quote: FatGeezus

I received the post card and I knew what it was from reading about the new DL rules on another forum.

Caesars must really think that we are stupid. The post card read "Your ENHANCED (my caps) Diamond Lounge Experience is Here"

Thank you! Very well said.

By the way, I'm not griping about the Diamond program in general. Obviously, I tend to like Caesars properties (actually, Horeshoes tend to be my favorite, like Horseshoe Southern Indiana and Tunica). I am a loyal patron and drive more than an hour out of my way to play at Horseshoe Southern, because the service and amenities are truly fantastic, they have a good selection of good games (9/6 JoB ALL over the casino, not so horrible BJ rules, and 100x odds on craps). The hotel is like a mile and a half walk, but outside of that, it's probably my favorite place to play anywhere.

That being said, I feel that Caesars is testing the waters with this program. I can forsee them (as another person in the forum pointed out) as creating a level between Diamond and Seven Stars. When this happens (it almost certainly will if this is successful), my argument is that Diamond cards will become the equivalent of Platinum. Sure, we may get to enjoy little perks like a faster buffet line, some higher reward credit mulitpliers and a few free hotel rooms, but Diamond lounges and the personal service that you tend to get as a Diamond member now will be less important.

As far as the Chairman level, yeah that's a step above Seven Stars and is supposedly offered to the best player at any given property. It was created for Wantanabe, who of course gambled away all his money he made from Oriental Trading Company. I am from Omaha, and my dad sang in a group that performed at his mansion back before hitting the poorhouse. The guy spent money like it grew on trees; I don't really feel any sympathy for him.