When Hurricane Ian struck the Fort Myers, Florida area in 2022, Mainsail’s Luminary Hotel swiftly mobilized to support affected employees using goHappy’s one-way text messaging platform to connect them with essential resources. Today, goHappy remains a vital tool for Luminary Hotel, fostering a more engaged and connected workforce.

Mainsail Lodging and Development is a Tampa-based hospitality company known for owning and operating hotels, resorts, corporate housing, and vacation rentals. The company focuses on providing unique, luxury accommodations across the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean.

One of Mainsail’s Fort Myers properties, Luminary Hotel, began using goHappy in 2021 to improve communication with their frontline workforce and gather valuable employee insights. They had no idea that goHappy would become a vital communication tool during the emergency response to Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022 as a powerful Category 4 storm. With wind speeds reaching up to 150 mph and a storm surge that flooded parts of Fort Myers and other coastal areas, millions of homes and businesses lost power.

The storm impacted many employees at Mainsail’s Luminary Hotel, and management quickly offered help and support. By prioritizing effective communication, they engaged with staff to ensure everyone had the necessary information, resources, and supplies. 

This timely communication facilitated a coordinated response and fostered a sense of support and community among employees during a challenging time, highlighting the important role of effective communication during a crisis.

“goHappy was critical for us during Hurricane Ian to communicate with employees. We were able to triage items employees needed, and get them those things quickly. It was really, really critical to be able to communicate with the staff,” says Courtney Johns, Mainsail’s Human Resources & Corporate Learning & Development Manager.

Once Mainsail ensured the safety of their staff, they extended help to their entire community by hosting a three-day rally that provided critical supplies to those in need. 

“We got all of the resources that people needed from not only this hotel but from the entire town, and put them in one spot for people… tarps, water, food, FEMA, so they could come get food and supplies in one location,” says Johns.

With the help of goHappy, Mainsail was a crucial player in the emergency response efforts to Hurricane Ian.

goHappy continues to be an essential tool for Mainsail, enabling effective communication with staff and gathering actionable insights well beyond emergency scenarios.

Traditional communication methods proved ineffective for Mainsail, as most employees work without a desk and lack access to email or messaging platforms. This created significant barriers to distributing information quickly, leaving staff feeling disconnected from management and each other. 

“The biggest problems with prior solutions was not getting the results we were looking for, or people claiming they were missing the message, and they were feeling left out, which creates a fairness issue. The importance, especially when managing a large team, is that everyone is getting the message,” says Larson.

Using goHappy, Mainsail has seen consistent improvements in employee satisfaction regarding how leadership communicates with frontline staff.

Mainsail also leverages goHappy for quarterly employee nominations, where employees can nominate their peers for doing great work. The nominees are celebrated at rallies, and selected winners receive high-value prizes like TVs, cash bonuses, and coveted parking spots. Thanks to goHappy, Luminary Hotel can quickly and effectively receive employee nominations and foster a more engaged and happier workforce that makes employees feel valued.

It’s no secret that happy customers correlate to happy employees, and goHappy has proven to be an essential solution for improving employee happiness at Mainsail properties, including Luminary Hotel.

Using goHappy’s survey platform, Mainsail conducted a benefits survey to understand what employees care most about. The responses from that survey led to the following changes:

Mainsail’s partnership with goHappy has transformed how they communicate and engage with their frontline workers. 

Using goHappy’s text messaging platform, Mainsail could quickly communicate with employees during a crisis, ensuring their safety while providing comfort and appreciation. This rapid outreach prioritized their well-being and reinforced their value within the organization, helping foster a supportive environment during a challenging time. 

Beyond emergencies, goHappy enhances employee engagement, streamlines feedback processes, and improves overall job satisfaction. At this point, there is no going back to the old way of frontline communication at Mainsail.

Interested in learning how goHappy can help your organization improve communication and engagement with frontline workers? Book a free 30-minute demo today!