HOTEL SOLD OUT ?? – SOCIAL NETWORK YOUR WAY IN

Social Networking Killer Case Study

When Persistency & Social Connections intersect with a World Class Hotel General Manager – anything is possible…

A story of how a very persistent and well connected social media expert performed expert social networking to get into an otherwise sold out hotel by socially networking with the hotel’s world-class general manager…

Social Networking Case Study

Date: July 1st, 2011, Situation – Hotel Sold Out on 1^st of 2 day Planned Stay – Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing is the best hotel for my upcoming & out-of-town meetings, but I can only book Thursday July 14^th, not Wednesday July 13^th which is completely booked – no luck in booking 2 consecutive nights at this same hotel. The hotel showing booked for 7/13 for many days. Call hotel – they say the hotel is oversold. I obtain Hotel General Manager’s name from front desk agent – his name is Mike Costello.

Date: July 10^th, Action Plan – Find Mike Costello on LinkedIn, Send Him an Invite, Ask to Connect due to ‘upcoming stay at hotel’

Date: July 11^th, Update, Receive Response E-mail From Hotel General Manager: Mike Costello e-mails me indicating the 13^th is completely sold out and suggests that I drop my bags off early on Wednesday so I could proceed to my planned meetings. Mike Promised to “review our status tomorrow for any changes due to cancellations or people not showing up without indicating so.”

Date: July 11^th, Update, Send Response E-mail To Hotel General Manager:

Date: July 12^th, 9:30 AM, Update, Receive a “Reservation Change” E-mail from Hyatt indicating my reservation for the 13^th had been made.

Date: July 12^th, 11:24 AM, Update, Receive an E-mail from Hotel General Manager. Mike Costello indicates I am I am “Set for Wednesday “ (the 13^th) and wishes me “Safe Travels”. I write back immediately indicating “Thank you so much!”

Date: July 14^th, 9AM, The last day of my stay. I make it a point to visit the hotel Administrative offices to thank Mike, but unfortunately he is a meeting. I convey my “Thank you” to his Administrative assistant. She Promises to relay the message to him.

Date: July 14^th, 4PM, Call from Hotel GM while on the train on my way home. Receive a phone call on my cell phone from the hotel GM (Mike Costello) indicating he was glad to be able to help me and appreciated the fact that I told him that his hotel was top-notch and that I really enjoyed my stay. Mike then said to please consider coming back to his hotel when I am in the area again. I told him I would now consider no other hotel except the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing to stay when in the area due to the following:

1) His world-class customer service and going above and beyond to assist guests

2) The way the hotel was run as a model of hospitality from the excellent level of guest service and the excellent staff that was always willing to help at every instance.

Bottom line – Persistence and connections do pay off (I seldom take no for an answer and always ‘figure out how to get to the goal line’ no matter what – my nickname was “tank” in college days for being so persistent and always getting the job/task done), but only if this persistency is met by a savvy and World-Class Hotel General Manager like Mike Costello from Hyatt.

If you are in the Philadelphia area, I urge you to seriously consider the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing – the staff, the management and accommodations are world-class and 5-star all around.

For Additional Information on This Topic

Social networking has fundamentally changed how individuals and organizations connect, collaborate, and solve problems. In many cases, a well-developed professional network can provide access to opportunities, information, and resources that may not be available through traditional channels. Whether seeking business opportunities, career advancement, customer referrals, or even last-minute solutions to everyday challenges, strong social networks often create value beyond what transactions alone can accomplish.

Organizations can apply these same principles by building online communities, encouraging customer engagement, and fostering authentic relationships through social media and professional networking platforms. As social networking continues to evolve, the ability to develop and maintain meaningful connections remains a critical success factor for both individuals and businesses.

For additional information on social networking and relationship building, review these resources:

• The Complete Guide to Social Media Marketing
  HubSpot Social Media Marketing Guide
• Networking: Building Relationships for Professional Success
  Indeed Career Guide on Networking

Strong professional and social networks often create opportunities that would otherwise not exist, demonstrating the lasting value of relationship building in both personal and business environments.