People are always asking me to hook them up with a room in Las Vegas. Some are polite other get insulted when I suggest they try the Hotel/Casino web site.

But Kimo aren't you connected? Try asking someone you know in the hotel business how many requests they get for a rate or comp from relatives and friends. If you work in a popular destination (like Hawaii or Vegas) the number is staggering and the favors few and far in between.

Wynn Las Vegas

Meaning no offense I say that the best deal on a room at your favorite hotel or a hotel you would like to stay at... comes from the hotels website. There are many dynamics in play here.

First the hotel does not have to pay a third party commission (to travel agencies local or web based) and they save on employees and phone charges.

Secondly the hotels see ONLINE booking as the future... as more and more people become comfortable with online transactions the hotels will realize greater savings.

Lastly the hotels can change the price instantly to reflect their remaining capacity (how many empty rooms they have) and what their competitor is doing.

MGM

To find a hotels official website go to www.KimosVegas.com click on the maps button then select Downtown or Strip. Click on any hotel to see a page with the hotels info, phone numbers, property map and a direct link to the hotel website. To get the hotels lowest rates because there is no third party commissions.

I also recommend signing up for the hotel's email bulletin/newsletter. You'd be surprised how much they discount rooms. Dan Shumny (retired VP of Sales and Marketing for the Golden Nugget) and I were talking about how major strip hotels will give you a $49 rate (Monday - Sunday) and jack it up to $299+ on Friday and Saturday. Are they really fooling anyone?

Golden Nugget

How does one get a comp'ed room? If you are not a rated player (the subject of next months Kimo's Vegas) for most people the answer is sign up for the hotel/casino's player's card.

They can't comp you if they don't know who you are and most importantly how much you play. The casinos use a formula to determine how much they make from you and what level of comp's you'll receive (this too is the subject of a future Kimo's Vegas).

The basic comp is the free beverage while you're playing slots or table games. You may also ask the pit boss or slot host for a line pass (gets you to the front of a buffet or café line) if you've been playing for awhile (you did remember to use your players card).

Next you may get a Room comp these come in many flavors. The casino may invite you (based on your play/gambling) to stay at a reduced rate (called a casino rate) or give you a special deal like a free night if you pay for two nights or 3 nights for $99 or even a free 3 or 4 day stay (subject to availability). I have received all these offers and have invested very little time and money in some casinos. A casino marketing rep told me that sometimes they extend offers to people who have spent very little because they have the right profile. Perhaps you met a friend who was staying at that hotel and dropped a few bucks in a slot machine.

Finally the best comp of all (and the hardest to get) is called R.F.B. an acronym for Room, Food and Beverages where you charge all your meals, spa treatments and hotel services to your room and have a host comp your entire bill. Lose enough and the casino may even rebate some of your air fare... lose more and they may rebate a percentage of your losses back to you.

Bellagio

Check back with us next month when we talk about casino credit and becoming a rated player here on Oceanic Time Warner's Around Hawaii.

Get more Kimo's Vegas at www.KimosVegas.com, Monday night at 9:00 on OC16, in both editions of MidWeek and with Billy V Friday Morning at 7:20 on Hawaiian105 KINE.

Add Your Own Comment