Forget robins and tulips. The first signs of a truly new season of post-COVID travel at some of Canada’s airports comes from the return of the ‘soft touches’ that have been missing for the last two years of the pandemic.
Calgary's White Hat Welcome
In Alberta’s main hub, White Hats are reappearing. YYC announced the return of its iconic White Hat Volunteers to the airport experience.
White cowboy hats are a famous Albertan symbol of welcome and hospitality - often gifted to visiting VIP’s like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
YYC’s White Hat Volunteer program was inaugurated on Canada Day 1991. The group of 45 volunteers grew tenfold, with volunteers contributing 100,000 hours a year of airport hospitality prior to its pandemic pause.
Chris Miles, VP Operations & Infrastructure at The Calgary Airport Authority. “White Hat Volunteers are public ambassadors for YYC and we are excited to welcome them back and make sure they are supported with the tools and training they need to engage with guests in a positive, safe, and inclusive way.”
During the pandemic, the airport authority and volunteers collaborated on modernizing the volunteer program with new uniforms and training.
In addition to the highly visible White Hat Volunteers at YYC, pax over the coming months will also notice “Pre-Board Pals” and musicians returning to enhance Calgary’s airport experience.
Rolling out the Blue Carpet in Winnipeg
Meanwhile, YWG is rolling out the welcome mat for pax - literally. The airport has announced the return of its beloved ‘Hug Rug’ - an iconic meeting point at the bottom of the Arrivals Hall escalator.
The impossible-to-miss round blue rug emblazoned with the term ‘Hug Rug’ has been the scene of countless embraces between returning travellers and their family and friends at YWG since its installment in 2013.
The rug was stowed away during the pandemic, but after 736 days of contact-free airport greetings, the Hug Rug has reappeared. That’s just in time for Spring Break in Manitoba, which is already fulfilling expectations of becoming the busiest week since the pandemic started.
“With restrictions continuing to be lifted, community members are telling us they’re ready to connect again with loved ones,” said Nick Hays, President & CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority. “We can’t wait to welcome back more travellers safely. What a better way to do so than rolling back out the unofficial welcome mat for our province.”
