This is an amazing story about Westjet airlines and their very merry Christmas. Now, I’m in marketing, so I’m not naive to the idea that this is a huge marketing strategy and PR campaign – but WHO CARES?!? This company brought the joy of the holidays in an interesting and unique way to hundreds of people. A very memorable campaign, but equally “human”. Do you believe that this campaign increased their website traffic? Did it probably increase their customer base? Unlike most holiday marketing; I believe this act of selflessness resonates with people in a way the holidays are always supposed to. I can tell you after seeing this I went to their website, and if they have a flight out of Syracuse, NY I’d fly them to Las Vegas, NV this April for a business trip I have to attend.

In conclusion just because it’s marketing doesn’t make it sleazy or dishonest. To quote Rod Serling – if you don’t know who he was, he was a television writer during television’s infancy.   Rod Serling said,

I don’t think calling something commercial tags it with a kind of an odious suggestion that it stinks, that it’s something raunchy to be ashamed of. I don’t think if you say commercial means to be publicly acceptable, what’s wrong with that?

Thank you Westjet airlines for just doing something wonderful publicity stunt or not.

Happy Holidays from Gaber Marketing Studios.