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Downtown Grand may have finally lost me

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by mjames1229, Nov 10, 2016.

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  1. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Its too bad because there seems to have been a lot of VMBers really pulling for DTG over the past few years and really giving them the benefit of the doubt over and over again. For me, I always stop in there hoping to see things have improved and that they are on the upswing but always leave disappointed. I'll check it out next week when I'm there, if for no other reason than to update people on what is going on there on my TR, but have come to the realization that things will be stuck on their plateau of mediocrity until the DTG is sold.
     
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  2. Yall

    Yall Low-Roller

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    I ended up choosing the GN over DTG for my first ever downtown stay, in large part due to this post. Place just sounds like it's in its death throes.
     
  3. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    This thread has said it all, for the most part, and it sure is an enigma. Many of us were pulling for DTG, even with the constantly fluctuating VP pay tables and on again off again restaurants. They had everything they needed to be a success except for three things.

    1) A strong vision at the top that filtered down to and motivated the employees to be oustanding.

    2) A single owner of the casino and hotel.

    3) Customers.

    The hotel is a separate entity from the casino, and that is I think where a LOT of the problems around reservations, comps, charges, parking vouchers etc. originate. One entity needs to run the entire place.
     
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  4. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    See, that's another part of the problem... What is good is TOO good for it to be in its death throes. It is still a very nice place, and if you don't have any problems (chuckles softly to himself) the place is a lot of fun. I don't think DTG is in any significant trouble right now, but they've got to pull it together at some point.
     
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  5. eaglejohn

    eaglejohn VIP Whale

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    think you will find the gambling odds worse at GN than DTG. Sort of cutting your nose off to spite your face.
     
  6. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    This morning I received an E-mail from Stephanie Arthur, the Guest Services Manager for the Downtown Grand. She apologized for the issue at check-in and mentioned that an offer code wasn't activated by the reservationist upon making the reservation. She then offered me two complentary evenings on a future visit.

    It was nice to get a personalized response, and I will probably use the offer in the future to give them another chance. But my radar will be very finely-tuned.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
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  7. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Just my opinion, but only two nights after all that BS, seems like a weak, make good.
     
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  8. vegasdev

    vegasdev VIP Whale

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    that is some crappy service from the top down, and I hope that it is an isolated incident. I am one that has wanted them to succeed, it is a nice property and I love the standard rooms. have stayed there several times, and for the most part things went ok. there were times when they would not let you book a room with the offers that they send you. they would just keep saying that the nights that I wanted were not available. so I would say .. well what nights are available? none were available to me. very frustrating. I think my latest offer is for one free night instead of two, that is unusual for most places. I will soon be booking my march trip, and I will stay there for free, even if it is only one night, if they offer it. the Freedom Beat diner is over-priced. I wish I could buy the place!
     
  9. AllenAndRossi

    AllenAndRossi VIP Whale

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    This is a MAJOR part of the problem. My host has told me that the entity that manages the hotel and the entity that manages the casino don't play nice together, and this makes the hosts job difficult. The hotel side offers discounted rates on the DTG website and offers rooms on Priceline at deep discounted rates(sometimes under $20 for a standard room and sometimes under $50 for a 1 bedroom/2 bathroom suite), but won't extend these rates to the casino side. And with 2 completely different outfits running each side, the casino is actually paying the hotel for comp'd and casino rate rooms.

    2 things most people aren't aware of:

    1) Tier Scores are based on a 6 month earning time. March 1-August 31 and September 1-February 28. So your score resets to 0 on September 1 and March 1, but you never lose your points as far as using them for comps or free play. I was close to their second tier level when I visited the first week in September. I earned the points needed to advance in an hour of playing, or so I thought. But it was new earning period, so my tier score had reset on September 1. However, my host advanced me to the second level anyhow.

    I should mention that this particular host is great. Patient, wants to take care of you, does everything he can for you, never takes longer than 12 hours to respond to an email or voicemail. I've been thru the hosts that help you once then act like you are a pest the next time. This guy cares and is working hard to change the impression of DTG hosts.

    2) You can get the $7 Valet Parking charge comp'd by earning 25 points. Earn the points, go to the players club desk and get your comp slip. If you're staying there, take it to the hotel desk right away so they can credit your account. And do it everyday of your stay. And you keep the points.
     
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  10. keno60

    keno60 VIP Whale

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    Yes, offers are inconsistent at best!
     
  11. buckeyetodd

    buckeyetodd High-Roller

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    stopped by while walking back to fremont from the Mob Museum. place seemed nice but was empty. played some three card poker and the dealer and pit boss were super. i have never stayed downtown but if i do, i might consider this place along with the gn and d
     
  12. Candy Apple

    Candy Apple VIP Whale

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    As paying customers (no comps), we had no issues during our summer visit. Loved everything about our stay and time there.
     
  13. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    An annoying quirk of staying there is your points reset every morning when playing on your card. I've had to go to the players club and get them activated. They're aware of the issue and it seems to only effect customers that are staying in the hotel. Minor but annoying.
     
  14. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    I'm starting to think this is a scam. This has been going on for well over a year, maybe longer. They know about it, but most customers don't notice. They don't fix it. It stinks on fuckin' hot ice.
     
  15. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    And it can't be hard to fix considering ALL other casinos seem to have this ability to roll over points.
     
  16. abescan

    abescan Tourist

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    What do you mean by the card points resetting every morning? I will be staying there this Sunday thru Wed and want to make sure I don't have any problems.
    I really hate how they run their Valet parking by requiring a slip every day to get it free.
    Thanks!
     
  17. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    Pretty simple. One day, I arrived at the Grand. There I was, minding my own business... I took note of how many points I had when I started so that I'd know what my coin in was.

    At the end of the day, I took note of my points again.

    The next morning.... hey, waydaminit - all my points from the day before had disappeared.

    I went to the slot club and they were all business - yup, this happens all the time, but only for people staying here. I'll fix it up for ya.

    Next day, same thing.

    Other stays, same thing, but not every day.
     
  18. LVHooked

    LVHooked High-Roller

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    Day one you gamble and end the day with say xoxo points on your card, day two you put your card in and now have 0 or xo points. So you wait at the players club and they fix it. Day three the same thing happens, and if you leave without getting it reset you lose a days points and it looks like you no played them on a comp.

    My wife and I play on her card and got to the second card level easily, valet is free just show the card.
     
  19. willywilkes

    willywilkes Low-Roller

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    I'm staying on Monday but my partner gets there Sunday - first time staying downtown. If I just don't tell them I'm staying at the hotel I should have problems it sounds like? Since I don't have to deal with check in or out, I assume I can just get a players card and not associate with my stay.
     
  20. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    Who's name is the room under? My gf stayed with me last trip and her points didn't get reset each morning. It was my comp we were staying on. Her name was on the room I think so she could charge to the room, get a new key if needed. But I assume it was not linked in any way to her players card.
     
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