Seven Stars Insider - April

Seven Stars Insider is back with more information for Harrah’s, Total Rewards, players. Of the subjects covered in this edition, I’m most curious about texpress at Ceasars Palace. I’m into technology stuff like that. On to the newsletter.

Seven Stars Insider – April 2010

NOTE: While this newsletter was originally designed exclusively for Seven Stars Club members, there is useful information for anyone who has a Total Rewards^® player’s card and/or plays/stays at a Harrah’s property. Please feel free to pass this on to your friends. Back issues of the Seven Stars Insider newsletter are available online at http://sites.google.com/site/sevenstarsinsider/. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view them, but this is a free program available at www.adobe.com.

Signature Event Scheduled For New Orleans

Choose the weekend of April 22 – 25 or April 29 – May 2 and journey to Harrah’s New Orleans. The weekend includes cocktail parties, dinners, local tours and the annual Jazz Fest. Click here for a copy of the invitation. If you haven’t received information, contact your host.

Harrah’s Resort Offers Dedicated Self-Parking

Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City now has a dedicated Seven Stars self-parking area. You’ll need to use a valid player’s card to access the gated area; however, several visits found the gate open so anyone could park there. When leaving the garage, there is a special Seven Stars Club/Diamond express lane which allows you to bypass the booth attendant by swiping your player’s card to open the gate. Caesars, Showboat and Bally’s all have similar express lanes, and Caesars has a gated Seven Stars Club parking area on the seventh floor of its self-park garage.

$500 FreePlay, 3 Nights In A Suite, $100 Dining Credit

The Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno is offering $500 in FreePlay, three nights in a luxurious suite and a $100 dining credit to all current Seven Stars Club members, as well as those who were Seven Stars Club members last year (April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010). For details, go to www.atlantiscasino.com/insider.

Caesars Palace Goes High-Tech

Texpress – At check-in opt in for Texpress at Caesars Palace and you can do everything from find your Total Rewards balance, check any special offers you might have, get hours of operation and menus for Caesars 12+ restaurants, and more. Simply go to any one of the 14 Total Connect 42” digital screens located throughout the casino. Tap your special room key on the sign and your personalized messages will appear. If you have a special restaurant offer, take your key to that location, give it to an associate and your offer will be activated – no vouchers or promotional codes needed. While at this point Texpress is just a test program, you will have access to this at least through the end of June.

Yes, There’s An Ap For That! – Dubbed a “virtual concierge,” a new iPhone ap is being called the “ultimate electronic pocket guide” offering things to do, as well as famous features and tidbits on Caesars Palace’s history. You can take a virtual tour of hotel rooms, review dining options and menus, and view a map of the casino floor. The Special Offers function will alert you to offers just for you, and you can send an e-postcard where your picture appears on the Caesars Palace marquee. Download the ap through the iTunes App store or call **7777 on your iPhone.

Upgrade To My Sands Preferred Card

The Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pa., will upgrade new My Sands player’s card members to its blue Preferred card. Simply show your Seven Stars Club (or Trump Signature) player’s card when you sign-up. In addition to the standard benefits – same-day comps, free alcoholic beverages on the casino floor, etc., players earn comps at a higher rate, get free valet parking or special Preferred-Level parking in the self-park garage, priority access at the My Sands Card Center, and access to a small private section of the High Limit area which serves hot and cold hors d’ouevres, cookies and other treats. This area also has a small bar, but drinks are not complimentary; though you can use your comp dollars, and prices are extremely reasonable. Visit www.pasands.com for more information.

Buffet For A Day

If you like casino buffets, the Las Vegas Harrah’s properties have a special combo offer that’s hard to resist. For $29.99 during one 24-hour period you can sample the following buffets: Flavors at Harrah’s, Le Village at Paris, Carnival Word at Rio, Paradise Garden at Flamingo, Lago at Caesars Palace, Emperor’s at Imperial Palace and the Spice Market at Planet Hollywood. Luxor has been offering something similar, but just at its own buffet, and Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City has an all-day buffet offer, as well. The Taj deal is scheduled to end April 30, but may be extended.

What’s Your Recommendation For The Annual Seven Stars Trip?

Lots of people reported poor or marginal experiences on their trips. Some loved Caesars Palace, others hated it. The Grand Biloxi had several negative reviews, as did Rincon and Ak-Chin (mainly because of their “isolated” locations – especially Rincon where the individuals felt a bit misled in terms of its distance from San Diego and area attractions). Harrah’s New Orleans got unanimous raves. However, one reader was so impressed with her trip to the Flamingo in Las Vegas, she wrote a four-page trip summary. “Overall, the Flamingo made this feel like my first REAL Seven Stars trip, and is definitely the property I’ll return to!” You can view her full report by clicking here.

Are You Exclusively A Harrah’s Player?

Some people are so loyal, they won’t even play anywhere other than their favorite Harrah’s casino; others “play around” at a number of Harrah’s casinos, but wouldn’t even consider playing at another chain’s casinos. What about you? Are you also a “regular” at any non-Harrah’s casino? Do you hold another casino’s premium (similar to Diamond level) or ultra-premium (similar to Seven Stars) card? Send me an email (sevenstarsinsider@gmail.com) and I’ll share your thoughts – anonymously, of course – with everyone in a future newsletter.