Having the opportunity to break geographical barriers via my blog and twitter I am always in constant contact with people that are interested in traveling to Puerto Rico.

In my efforts to help tourism on the Island I have been very outspoken on the things many of us can do to help the Tourism Industry improve the probability of someone choosing the Island as a location.

Last night @mzelma sent a tweet my way informing @Tifannyrom that I lived on the Island and that I might be able to help her in choosing Puerto Rico as a Destination.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/mzelma/status/71005189284429824″]

Once I confirmed @tifannyrom was interested in visiting I got very excited and  I followed up with my first recommendation to go to Culebra and stay at my friends @mark_hayward’s Palmetto Guesthouse.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/71006259842785280″]

My second recommendation was based on my two favorite hotels in San Juan the @sanjuanmarriott and @laconcharesort.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/71023411954073600″]

I also made my recommendation on my favorite restaurant Pikayo from Celebrity Chef @wilobenet.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/71023742310035457″]

I got a quick reply from @mark_hayward thanking me for thinking of them. If you have not met @mark_hayward or read his blog and tweets you would be able to know what an awesome guy he really is. He is always helping out others and being very thankful. After reading @garyvee’s Thank You Economy I can clearly say that @mark_hayward is a pure example of a business supporting the Thank You Economy.

Minutes later I saw a tweet that really confused me completely coming from @laconcharesort. I am still not sure what they where thinking:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/laconcharesort/status/71040250071351296″]

From my perspective I had recommended @laconcharesort to help them sell a room and gain a guest like @Tifannyrom which if you see has good following online. Instead of focusing on the guest and being grateful that I did some leg work (business development without compensation) they decided to pat themselves on the back and on write how great they are.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/71046108494839808″]

Honestly I have stayed at @laconcharesort and I have to say that there staff is awesome and the arrogance I perceived in that tweet is nothing I have experienced while visiting the hotel. I understand it is difficult to communicate 140 characters but not sure how bragging about how great you are is really going to help your effort.

I try to be grateful for the things people do for me. If someone did something to help me get a client or a lead I do the following:

1. Thank them for the effort since I need to appreciate that someone is bringing me business without receiving compensation.
2. Look for a way to entice or inspire that possible customer or lead into buying my services by offering help or assistance.
3. Think of how I can repeat this behavior so I can have more people selling for me is a topic @ducttape talks about in the The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself (Amazon Affiliate Link).
4. I try to do something special or payback what was given to me in one way or the other.

As I was finishing the touches on this post we got the following tweet from @laconcharesort

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/laconcharesort/status/71198069991030784″]

I guess @laconcharesort needs to work on establishing a relationship with the client and being grateful before trying to use humor. I have to say that first impressions, whether on or offline, count.

What are your thoughts? What would have you done if somebody is referring your customers?

How would you engage with the person that referred you business and the lead?

photo credit by lindsay.dee.bunny