Typically when I review a Wi-Fi hotspot, it is a solo act … I mean, it would have been quite difficult to take the PingWi-Fi gypsy caravan entourage on the PWF tour, which now includes 47 states, 65 cities, 30,000 miles, hundreds of Wi-Fi hotspots and several cups of coffee.
So … my one goal on Saturday for The Omni Fort Worth visit was to review the Wi-Fi hotspot and to send out a few tweets from the 8th-floor balcony perch. Mission accomplished.
But, when I realized what an awesome penthouse suite I had at my disposal, I thought it would be a crime not to do more with it. Also, we always look for unique ways to test the Wi-Fi. So … quickly, the Ping team organized our first PingThing social media event. We had people watching our video stream all over the world. There were people winning prizes and commenting on Facebook from several northern cities – Lubbock, Amarillo and Seattle. LOL. We got input as far south as San Antonio. We just about ran out of hashtags, we sent out so many tweets.
Elizabeth, Michelle Represent
So, was I disappointed that only 15 in-person peeps checked out one of the most awesome views of Fort Worth from our suite? Not at all. I guestimated 20 max, before the event. It was a holiday weekend, short notice, and the hometown Purple Frogs were tailgating over at The Death Star — home of The Dallas Cowboys. Congratulations TCU, BTW.
But … if I ever have the run of the place in a high-rise, 1,276-square-feet par-tay pad again … I may drag you in by the hand.
It is not often that I get to use my favorite word … no, not that one … opulent! The Fort Worth Omni = opulent … multiple O’s baby!
The Omni Fort Worth
Don’t tell management, but also, the next time I am entrusted with such a huge loft, I will bring in my bike and ride figure 8s around the longhorn hide rocking chair, through the work desk area, and all around the catwalk balcony on two sides of the dining area. The suite was that big.
Ping's Eye View
Opulence, I say! I don’t think I have used that O-word this many times since I hung out in the Fairmont Turnberry Isle near Miami or the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort (for our official launch):
Had you attended the PingThing at The Omni Fort Worth, you would have also heard me saying the other “multiple O” word over and over … no not that one … I mean coooooool!”
Cool people, who seem to like their jobs! Cool artwork — avant, modern, abstract, southwest. Cool restaurants, nightclub and spa. Cool walk-in shower that takes a multiple point of attack to hygiene (5 spray nozzles, strategically placed, firing at you all at once.) Cool wine chiller that will also keep spinach dip functional. “Oober” cool swimming pool! We also ordered chips and queso, but the cheese hardened before guests arrived, and apparently more affluent travelers that stay in places like this don’t use microwaves???
Ha! We thought the suite had a really cool doorbell at the entrance too … but come to find out, it was the fire alarm … awkward!
We liked! But confession time — we knew what we were getting into since PingWi-Fi.com covered the grand opening for The O Fort Worth a few months back:
PingWi-Fi At Omni Grand Opening
Ping This!
Anywho … had you attended the PingThing in person, we would have force fed you queso and Starbucks coffee and green tea in mass quantities … special thanks to Kris at Starbucks! You would have enjoyed slightly chilled spinach dip. too. You would have seen a polished rock, hand-painted with the PingWi-Fi logo and hand-delivered by a loyal reader. (Is the rock ammunition for our David vs. Goliath trademark battle in federal court?) You would have met the PingWi-Fi technical guru, the second in command and the research department. Last but not least, you would have seen our new friend Mick play the nose flute. (Yes there is such a thing … $2.99 from World Market … money well spent for a door prize.) Oh … you can see young Mick rocking the nose flute on video shot during the PingThing on our uStream channel … The PingStream at:
So how ’bout that Wi-Fi?
Can Wi-Fi be opulent too? Well … don’t know about that, but it certainly can be omnipresent. I logged on in the PingThing suite, rode the elevator down to the lobby, went up and down the escalators, and parked in the Starbucks adjoining the hotel. My computer was still logged into
the Omni hotspot. AND, there wasn’t any of that messing with a Starbucks/AT&T splashpage monkey business in the coffee shop.
Sidenote: My Starbucks, over on University, used to be the best Starbucks in the country. Part of that was because of the flawless Wi-Fi network. Lately, when the hotspot works, it kicks me off about every 30 minutes. What in the world has happened? Starbucks? AT&T? Ferris? Anyone? …. I digress.
Ha … I dared the Omni hotspot to kick me off … or at least I gave it opportunities, as I went to a couple of floors and also dangled out over the rail on the balcony. I had no problems with my iPhone or my laptop. We did lose the connection with uStream as we were uploading a live feed via the Wi-Fi … but that could have been the result of carrying the laptop and the tethered video camera around … More research needed. In about 36 hours at the hotel, I was only asked to reboot the Wi-Fi connection one time!
The Omni and its omnipresent Wi-Fi made us feel like someone died and made us Ping Tut! We could have tweeted, updated, blogged and streamed video from Cowtown until the cows came home. We considered deducting one point because the penthouse windows needed some attention … surely, someone does windows. But, we merely circled the balcony to get an awesome 180-degree view with fresh air. Perfect score — 7 pings.
Know what I sayin?
