Rai$e VIP Team
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - Fabio
Some people might think playing poker it is just a matter of saying: I call, I raise or I fold. I guess all that people have never played poker as you and I, along with millions of online and live Poker players know that it is a tough job not so many can handle. You might be thinking, what is this guy talking about? Oh well, let me explain you.
Basically I have a couple of reasons to blog about this. The first will be that the other day I was talking to this VIP customer over the phone that was playing more than 15 tournaments at the same time. I know this is a regular for you guys but still amazing to many others like me, who doesn’t live from Poker.
This customer told me that he was already tired and he wanted to take a break, but sitting out was not an option so he kept playing for 3 hours more… impressive, that’s all I have to say. I guess you´ve been there before and I admire you. That’s what I call a poker lover.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot the second reason! Ultimate Bet and the CEREUS poker network just introduced a great feature specially created for those who play zillions of tourneys at the same time like you: exactly! The now famous Synchronized Breaks.
Synchronized Breaks is the answer to that question you have been asking yourself during the last week. Yes, the one that says: Why is it that all my tourneys are going on break at the same time every single hour? I am glad this blog is helping you somehow.
It is a pretty simple feature but more important a helpful one. From now on, the majority of Multi Table tournaments within the CEREUS network will go on break at the 55th minute of every hour. It doesn’t matter if the game started 25 or 55 minutes ago, they all will go on break at this specific minute. And do not worry about it; all hands will be completed before the break starts.
Some important details I suggest you double check, such as: this is not an add-ons break, can be reviewed by clicking here. Or you can always give us a call at any time you want and we will address any question you might have.
I am so glad now the 15 tournaments VIP guy will be able to at least go to the bathroom or to take a smoke break or to grab a snack. It really doesn’t matter what you do, as soon as it takes 4:59 minutes.
So, now that you are more than aware of this new feature Ultimate Bet introduced due to your demand, help us out by spreading out the word with your poker buddies. I am sure many of them have been waiting for this glorious 5 minute breaks.
I am finishing a little different this time….. Take a Break! J
Tags: break, Cereus, features, Multi Table, skills, Synchronized, tournament
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - Jim
Aruba was a tremendous success and we all feel proud about it. You played, you had joy, some tears when you were busted, you had insuperable parties, you shared with not only excellent co-workers, but also great people that went out there to be your Hosts. I guess Aruba madness is somehow still inside all of you. Well, let´s take a break from Aruba.
As probably many of you remember, in the past weeks we ran some satellites for the Poker Hispano Tour – Costa Rica, which was played from October 17th through the 25th. I´m pretty sure I mentioned it on my previous blog.
I truly feel this is a very interesting approach to expand Poker in Latin America where a considerable amount of players are thirsty to take their shot at live events. It consisted in a week full of exciting tournaments.
I was expecting to watch the Final Table of the PHT Main Event on Saturday, as well as play the closing event on Sunday 25th. Unfortunately my 95 yr old grandpa had to get into the hospital on Saturday, so I spent that night and most of Sunday and Monday taking care of him. The good, is that he is very healthy now, and even though I wasn´t able to watch nor play at the PHT, I found out something very interesting.
Lately, I haven’t been playing a lot of poker, I´m into Poker whenever I come to work but schoolwork has used up my days off. While I was taking care of my old man, I had plenty of time to read at the moments that he was taking a nap.
Obviously I brought with me a couple of poker books (in my undisciplined attempt to improve my game) however it was a very short paragraph I read that reminded me a key of being successful at poker.
Use a GOOD Bankroll Strategy! Sometimes I speak with players complaining about bad beats, terrible luck… you know what I´m talking about… then I take a look at their accounts and I find out that they are investing 50% or even 100% of their BR in a single game. No matter how tight you play, sooner or later the Bad Beats will show up, at least once in a session, the capricious Poker Gods, will send you a disgusting river card.
It´s up to you to combine your style of playing, with a protected Bankroll management strategy. You can find plenty of BR management strategies by browsing the web, the most important part is definitely how disciplined you are to keep yourself within the stakes you should play.
Anyway, I´m sure you guys know about this better than me, for those of you who hadn´t been taking it into consideration lately, I hope it refreshes your mind! J
Take care everyone!
Tags: Aruba, Costa Rica, Hispano, luck, madness, Strategy, success
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - Mia
I feel like I was on a dream and it finished a bit too soon! Now that I am back in Costa Rica doing my blog again and I can’t believe that just a week ago I was at the beach with a background sound of the chips flowing at the poker tables in Aruba.
First of all, this was my first live event and I never thought the energy you feel there would be so intense. Second, I truly got to see a whole new face of what we do on a daily basis; all the guys that attended are in a super nice mood; I guess the scenery and environment there help to create this. And last but not least, there were some insane parties and activities that took place alongside all the poker.
On that note, I can surely say that the Icons where the ones who had the best deal there is! You can ask any of them that attended this year about the nice treats and good parties we had for them….. or, you can just take a sneak peak:
Or…
Maybe…
Plus, it is not bad at all to be able to enjoy the breaks of the event chilling at the Icon Lounge. We had food, drinks, games and some comfy couches to chill and talk poker. Here are some other pictures of what we had at the Icon lounge, they might move you to become Icon and have a taste of the VIP perks:
Seems like home…
But there are not enough blog posts or cool pics that can really translate the environment that I lived there, this just doesn’t cut it! So as a personal goal I promise that next year I will get more of you guys to go there, you will thank me later. Think of it this way, even if you don’t have a seat to the main event we do have live satellites to it and many other tourneys and SnGs; plus you can give multipurpose to the trip and make a nice vacation of it. We expect all you guys to join us next year so we can have some Aruba Aribas!
Still Loving Aruba…
PS: I bet you really want to know what an Aruba Ariba is…
Tags: Aruba, beach, dream, Icon, memories, partying, Rai$e VIP Team, sand
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - Victor
Players just wrapped their stuff and now heading back home for a well deserved REST after the amazing experience lived in Aruba. I was not there, but I can tell that a great Team represented our VIP cause Live from Aruba. Lots of our players came back to us via email, chat and phone expressing their gratitude to us and sharing some highlights about the great Loyalty Service they received; plenty of entertainment , relaxation and friendly support.
I was just thinking, that’s the real thing about being VIP you are always going to have a friend backing you up for anything you need. Aruba, that’s the VIP scenario you all shared.
In the name of our VIP Team we want to congratulate the Organizers involved in the logistics of our 2009 Aruba Poker Classic Tournament. A complete success!!! Everybody is now on their way back home with lots of new amazing stories to tell. Congratulations to the Winners, a well deserved prize.
See you in Aruba 2010!
Tags: Aruba 2009, family, loyalty, Rewards, stories, success, team, VIP
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - Fabio
Right now here in Costa Rica it’s raining a lot and it looks like it will never stop, meanwhile, sunny and beautiful Aruba is heating up the tables and the best live Poker it’s going on. Why am I comparing both places? Not sure… Costa Rica is the one I can refer to and actually, I just wanted you to picture the great time many poker players are enjoying over there.
Just a couple of days ago, my coworkers: Andrea, Mia and David were working around the clock to prepare everything for you and today it is a REALITY. I bet they are having a great time with you guys learning about your poker strategy and of course cheering you up while the game is on.
But, do you know what the most important thing is for them?
Well, that they are finally meeting face to face all those players that not only contact the VIP Department from time to time, but that have become important assets for our operation and of course our lives.
Certainly we do get to know you guys over the phone or chat, but you might agree with me, there is nothing like the “live” contact. Actually this is the main purpose of taking part of the VIP team over there. We want you to stop by and say hi!
As you know, the poker business and important events like the Aruba Poker Classic Tournament are built based on what you guys like and need and what a better way of keep building this empire than hearing what do you have to say. Oh yeah, you can talk about any other thing, too.
Many of you might have already met these guys and if you haven’t make sure to put it on your “Things I must do in Aruba” list. They are just great and have prepared many things for you.
Does the RAI$E Booth or the awesome ICON lounge tells you something? Yeah, I know you are enjoying all these perks and just FYI; you will be able to find the VIP ambassadors over there, too.
Its Wednesday, it’s the 3rd day of playing. The Welcome Party was a blast and many but many things are coming. I just wish you the best of luck and the best time.
Here in rainy but still beautiful Costa Rica, we will be anxiously waiting for great news, pictures and EPIC stories. I bet Andrea, Mia and David will have some… 
Tags: Aruba, Aruba Poker Classic, Costa Rica, Icon, Poker Poker Poker, raise, VIP
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Vincent
Like Ultimate Bet, Poker here in Costa Rica is HOT and all of us (the VIP Hosts) are attending to some poker tourneys at some parties and on several Casinos from around here; however, it is a shame we do not have such extraordinary tourneys over here than the ones offered at the UB Website. My favorite one is the Mercedes Giveaway!
Why? Right now I am getting my driver’s license and playing some poker games in order to save as much money as possible to buy a Mercedes. Of course it would have been a lot easier if the poker games from around here would’ve offer a hot, beautiful and gorgeous Mercedes ML-350 like the one that it is currently offered at our website.
Can you imagine yourself seating on that soft, comfortable and perfectly designed leather driver’s seat? OH MY GOD! And then calling your buddies or arriving at any place on such a majestic piece of art which is this breath-taking beautiful car. And then hear your buddies say to you:
“Hey man.. How come you were able to afford such cool car?”
And then you respond to that all cocky:
“The magic of POKER!!!” Hehe
I can imagine myself going to the beach with the music really loud, driving to the horizon, drinking a refreshing piña colada (without alcohol.. remember that I am driving.. lol) and talking non-sense with my buddies in order to shorten the travel time and be able to arrive to the hotel and go to the beach in time to get the coolest waves in Guanacaste. That would be totally awesome and you guys as Ultimate Bet’s players have the chance of taking home this extraordinary car. How fortunate each one of you are, I would definitely love being able to take part of this giveaway if I were you.
http://www.ultimatebet.com/poker-promotion/mercedes-giveaway
I wondering right now who is going to become the owner and take home this beautiful Mercedes by winning this exclusive Giveaway!
I wish you the best of luck for you all!
Tags: Hot, luck, majestic, Mercedes Giveaway, Party, Poker Poker Poker, VIP, wheels
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - Jim
I don´t know if it´s only me or if it´s the “general” feeling, that these last few weeks have gone extremely fast.
In the blink of an eye, we´re now half the way to what seemed like a remote and distant Main Event Final Table, how about Aruba? in less than 2 weeks you´ll be drinking piñas coladas while sweating to the heat of the flop.
After weeks of good results at the home games where I usually play with my friends, including several first places in a row, the downswing came without a warning. All of a sudden found myself being the first…to bust, and when your chips are on the middle and the river card has been dealt, well you know, there´s nothing else to do.
The days simply keep passing and I´ve been looking forward for so long now to take a course at college, finally the time has come. I´ll be in the Photography class for the next few months. I had to invest the whole Monday searching among Auctions sites and Online Big Stores for the camera that will be my friend in this journey. I wanted it to be a nice one.
Couple weekends ago I regained a bit of confidence claiming the first prize once again, beating a small field which gathered VIP Hosts as well as other people who work at UB. It feels great! When I was at the Photo class last Saturday, the professor was talking about our final project, immediately I got concerned about what theme would I pick, I wish I could avoid it, but no, I guess it will be Poker!
Where will I find a lot of people crazy about poker around here? In case you haven´t noticed, the first Poker Hispano Tour will be held here in Costa Rica. If you need to rest from the extraordinary parties in Aruba, take a shot at the weekly satellites.
http://www.ultimatebet.com/poker-promotion/poker-hispano-tour
I will try to make it there through the local satellites, but if I don´t, I´ll be very happy taking some pictures for my final project.
Hopefully I can also meet some of you out there!
Tags: Aruba, Costa Rica, Hispano, journey, Party, Photography, river
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - Fabio
Painting, acting, writing and singing are just some of the many ways you can use to express who you are, what you think, what do you like and even what you´ve been doing. It doesn’t matter if the things you have to share are positive or not. You might agree with me, it feels so great to do it and it gets better when you realize someone is actually paying attention to your thoughts and sharing his/her own ideas with you.
Times have changed and dramatically. Just some hundreds of years ago, people had only parchment paper and some ink to spread out the word and it was obviously a little bit more difficult to do it.
As I told you, times have changed! Now you just need a computer or actually any little device with internet connection on it and in just a few seconds, everyone, no matter the date, hour or country will be able to find out what you are doing. It is indeed amazing!
Let’s put it this way. Before it was parchment paper and ink, now you have a bunch of social networks like Facebook or Twitter and certainly the unique and multi-task BLOGS. So, my question is: If you have so many tools and ways of sharing your essence, why don’t you do it?
If you do not have a BLOG, then do not worry about it. This one I am using right now, it is yours, too. Ultimate Bet created this space, so all of us (Pro players, employees and certainly our valuable customers) can get to share a little bit more, as the huge family we are.
Not sure if you know, but our Ultimate Bet Blog has a special section to publish and obviously save “eternally” what you have to say. It is called Player’s Voice and it just can’t have a better name. Exactly, it is all about transforming your voice into MAJOR words, pictures and also videos, I´m pretty sure everyone would love to read and watch.
Stephen King´s skills are no required here. Blogging is equal to being natural and honest.
So, the invitation has been made. If you ever want to share something with all the UB family, you just need to send me an email and I will be glad to share it with everyone out there. The email address is: vip@ultimatebet.com
Remember you can send pictures and videos, as well.
I will be waiting for that brilliant text I am pretty sure you have somewhere in your computer. In the mean time, if you have a minute, make sure to check the blogs my coworkers and I have posted. Hints are always helpful!
Have a great one!
Tags: art, channels, communication, expressions, Player's Voice, sharing, Social Networking
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - Mia
I can remember very clearly the day I got my first walkman. It was a huge deal, because it was a Strawberry shortcake one, pink and huge for today’s standards. Yet, I felt like the coolest kid in the block. But definitely the end of that era came when I got an iPod! No more hanging around with a bunch of CDs or even mixed tapes; now I have access to more than 9,000 songs in one little device.
Well, today in VIP we have reached the end of an era. We are saying “see ya later” to one of the best hosts we have had. Although she will still be down the hall in her new office, we will miss her on the day to day running. And I know that as soon as I tell you who is leaving the team many of you will miss her as well. They say it’s best to pull the “bandaid” quickly, so here it goes: Cristina got a promotion!
Even though you won’t get to speak with her on a day to day basis she now will be in charge of many projects that will surely make your lives better. I know she will be in many of your hearts, because more than a host she has become a friend to our VIPs, so feel free to post any messages you have for her here; I’ll make sure she gets them!
Tags: changes, Cristina, era, friend, future, promotion, VIP Rai$e Team
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - Fabio
It feels so good to help other people! You guys might think this is something we do every day, but actually, it is not true. At least, that’s what I think.
From time to time you get to know your customers in such a different way and all because of a problem they have. And if at the end you are able to help them, not exactly giving them what they were expecting, you end up with this amazing feeling that cannot be compared and then you know that your job is worth it and it means a lot to you, not as a employee or customer support representative, but as regular person with feelings.
Whenever you guys look for us, you are looking for good service and it is pretty logical, right? However, it all changes, when we are able to understand that this is not enough. There is a huge difference between “good service” and “help”.
A couple of months ago, I had this experience with a VIP player just like you. He had some serious problems with a disconnection that actually did affect him a lot and obviously he was not happy.
At the beginning, it was not easy. “Cordiality” was not a word in our conversations and we were only talking about the service he was receiving. We were going around in circles without getting a real solution and things were getting worse and worse every day.
This was a huge issue. Not only me, but many other people worked really hard in solving this matter. It took more time than expected and this did not contribute to the situation, of course.
But then, one day of the many I spent talking to this guy, I had the opportunity of really knowing him more as person and then everything changed. It was easier to understand what both of us were looking for and thankfully, this helped me a lot to actually HELP him.
That day, I finally understood that truly knowing a customer is equal to the action called HELP and this is the real deal of our job.
At the end, the resolution I had for this customer was nothing at all what he was expecting and please believe me; it was difficult for me to tell him about it. He was not a customer anymore, he was an important person that trusted me and as cheesy as it might sound, I was his only hope.
He impressively took this ok and understood all the things I had to explain. This was a relief for me and I was only able to thank him for that nice gesture. He said something simple like: “Thank you for being there until the end, it is easier for me now that I know you more” and that was just amazing for me.
I have to admit it; I learned a lot from this situation and it did help me in so many ways.
Now, I always do my best to really know more about you guys, just as all the people over here, I will be there until the end to HELP you.
Tags: amazing, commitment, help, Rai$e VIP Team, relief, service, solving, support, trust
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