In the news, we have all heard about the terrible tragedy that has happened to Haiti with the monstrous earthquake that hit the island. Thousands of people have died while others are struggling to survive through the day. The American Red Cross and other non-profit organizations have made a great effort in making sure that supplies and help are on their way.
However, one company is being blasted in the news media for not doing enough in this situation. Cruise liner Royal Caribbean has been taking frequent trips to Haiti for their vacationers to go and see what is going on. No volunteering for getting supplies to those that have been affected, no statement saying that they will use their ships for transport of injuried or those that need to be evacuated. So, this is a PR nightmare in many respects. The company was also struggling with getting out a consistent statement to address these concerns – and when they finally did – it was a little too late. However, the company has pledged to donate $1 million to the victims and relief efforts of the Haiti Earthquake.
In crisis communication, scholars and practitioners state that timing and perception are everything, and Royal Caribbean really is learning the hard lesson of what happens when you don’t think how these actions will ne perceived and how fast this information spreads, especially with the power of social media and the Internet.
Hope you all are having a great day. 🙂
Best Wishes,
Karen
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