MGM and the Credit Card Hold Policies

I have seen a lot of questions about credit holds when checking into hotels and a lot about when you call and book. Well the MGM Props still have me confused and here is why.

My sister calls Monte Carlo and books on a Casino Marketing offer for her first ever stay at Monte Carlo. They charge her the first night on her credit card. She questioned them and said TI never does that, they just take the credit card number and do not charge anything. They say that is the policy to charge the first night.

Today, I get an offer from MGM for Feb stay and call to book it with Casino Marketing. This is my first stay at MGM. The charge on my credit card a big fat ZERO, just like normal at TI when I stay there.

The rates are exactly the same for the rooms. So my question or concern is why doesn%26#39;t MGM Players Club/Casino Marketing have the same policies?

MGM and the Credit Card Hold Policies

Every hotel in Vegas charges for the first night when you make a reservation. I%26#39;m sure all casinos have marketing departments but I%26#39;ve never heard of these ';Casino Marketing'; offers you speak of and don%26#39;t know why they%26#39;d be sending randoms offers out to the public.

MGM and the Credit Card Hold Policies

although Open may not understand casino marketing offers, many others do and quite a few posters here receive and use them regularly. Of course Open%26#39;s lack of understanding of casino marketing has nothing to do with your Q.

If you must know why all the properties don%26#39;t have the same policies when booking casino marketing offers why not contact the person in charge of the MGM clubs and ask - I doubt if anyone who posts here is in a position to know.

I take many first-time visitors to LV, many who recieve casino marketing offers after playing in a casino - when they do book one of these offers they are usually asked for a credit card #. Somewhere on the offer in the fine print are the terms. This is at The Venetian or Wynn, both independents, so can%26#39;t speak to the MGM casino offers. As you know, even within the same group the casinos operate as own business, and the offers differ from property to property.

bridge

Are you saying that ';casino marketing'; and the Player%26#39;s Clubs are the same thing?

I am not aware of not being charged for the first night. I thought hotels always did that. I recently booked two free room offers and was still asked for a cc to reserve the room and guarantee my arrival. At MGM, I won%26#39;t be billed unless I don%26#39;t show. At Excal, I believe I will be billed the $1 phone charge x 3 when I check in. But if the room isn%26#39;;t free, what hotel doesn%26#39;t charge you the 1st night?

I think it all depends on your level of play.

I am a diamond member at Harrah%26#39;s and book my room with my host but there is never a hold or charge on my credit card.

I usually stay at Mandalay Bay and make my reservations through VIP services and I usually always have a Casino Marketing offer - never have been charged a 1st nights deposit, they have just taken my credit card number to hold the reservation and I pay when I check out whatever I owe.

I think it%26#39;s odd that they have different policies from hotel to hotel - because I have stayed once at Mirage (for one night) and they followed the same procedure as MB.

If you just book a room, I do believe that all charge the 1st night - it is just if you have the marketing offer or a host that you book through that you do not.

Open - if you have a MGM players card, and log into the website, and they will tell you whatever ';marketing'; offers you have - this is probably called something different at other hotels/groups. It is different than a host, just a discounted rate for people who use their card, but don%26#39;t necessarily get ';comp'; rooms.

OK to answer some questions. This is in no way either of our first times in Vegas we go at least 2 times a year, however normally stay at Harrahs or TI. We both just recieved great offers for these two and decided to use them.

Chi got my question. What I do not understand is if they are owned by the same person why do they have different policies and someone said that no one on the board would be able to answer that, which I do understand.

I guess my question was more of an observation and something to make you go HMMMM.

My trip is not until Feb and I am hoping to get my offers from Harrahs soon so I can play the hotel game I love to play.

But thanks for everyones thoughts on the question.