Skip to main

Are You Keeping Your Social Antenna Up?

Posted Under: Social Media
Listen to this Article

Sure, the instantaneous nature of the social Web can create business crises faster than you can say “Tiger Blood” and “Kenneth Cole is an Oaf”. But, that rapidity also creates unprecedented opportunities for marketers with their antenna up, scanning the real-time horizon for a chance to make a difference.

George Jordan, the General Manager at Hotel Felix in Chicago is all about the antenna. The guy is practically an ant.

In the big Chicago blizzard earlier this year (so big that it was Chicago’s third-largest snowfall day on record), George realized as the forecast turned to Snowmageddon that commuters would be stranded by the thousands.

Seeing an opportunity unfolding, Jordan and his PR firm instantly updated the hotel’s Facebook page, Twitter account, and blog with a special $79 blizzard rate. 41 rooms were booked almost instantly.

Hotel-Felix-9

This one-night-stand turned into a full-blown dalliance when guests taking advantage of the offer woke up the next morning to find 20+ inches of snow. Anticipating this, Jordan added extra employees to the dining staff, enabling the boutique, eco-friendly hotel to feed guests on-site.

The snow interrupted the hotel’s regular supply chain, so when supplies ran low on the second day, staff trudged through the blizzard to Whole Foods to restock. Stranded is stranded, so many hotel team members stayed in the hotel two or three nights, giving them a fresh perspective on amenities and guest relations.

This is The NOW Revolution in action. Having a culture that supports and rewards quick thinking; listening and responding with context and speed; and using the real-time Web for purposes that support your business objectives.

For his nimble offer that kept both commuters and his bottom line warm, George Jordan is the winner of the inaugural NOW Revolutionary of the Month Award. He’ll be getting a book signed by Amber and me that he can read the next time he’s snowed in.

(Thanks to hotelinteractive.com for their initial coverage of this story)

Who do you nominate for the next NOW Revolutionary award? Let us know in the comments, or on the Facebook page for The NOW Revolution.

Blog Banner Image

Get our best tips in your inbox! Join the smartest marketers who receive our ON newsletter.

Join the Social Pros LinkedIn Community

Join a community of real social pros doing social media on LinkedIn. Receive all the inspiration and ideas straight to your feed and add your thoughts to the conversation.

Follow Social Pros on LinkedIn

Subscribe to Social Pros Podcast

b2b influencer

Ready to Get Started?

I am looking for...

(Required)