UDSKRIFT 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:15.199
Well, hello and welcome to the Informed Traveler Podcast, a weekly travel podcast where our goal is to help you become a more informed traveler.
00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.120
I'm your host, Randy Sharman.
00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:23.039
With summer coming to an end, fall travel is showing increasing numbers, especially to Europe.
00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:30.800
So in a few seconds, travel expert Onanta Forbes will join me to discuss the shift towards traveling during the fall season.
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:38.000
Plus, Calgary International Airport opened a new airport lounge this past week, and I was lucky enough to take a sneak preview.
00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:43.439
So we'll talk about what they have to offer for guests and airport lounges in general.
00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:53.359
But first, let's kick things off chatting with travel expert Onanta Forbes, who joins us each week to talk about the latest travel news, trends, and travel tips in general.
00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:57.439
You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X at Onanta Forbes.
00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:59.840
Onetaforbes.com is her website.
00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:00.799
Hello, Onanta.
00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:02.399
Hi Randy, how are you?
00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:03.759
I'm very well, thank you.
00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.319
I'm excited about talking about fall travel because I think I'm a leader of the trend here.
00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.000
Uh because I always liked traveling in shoulder season.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.879
And I suppose you can include spring as well in this because it's it's quieter.
00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:22.959
It's uh well, if if you don't like hot weather, not as hot, depending on where you're going, there's all kinds of advantages, isn't there?
00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:27.760
Oh, yeah, there's definitely pros and cons to traveling at any time of the year.
00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.120
And low or off season does offer some benefits.
00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:38.159
And when they when the you know, I guess the definition of uh low season, it it varies per destination.
00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:46.319
And while it's largely impacted by climate, there's other factors such as activities, festivals, and events that they can affect the timing.
00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:52.959
So um, you know, some of the benefits that people like when they travel off season is avoiding the crowds.
00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:01.920
Um, because this is when like fewer tourists meet smaller crowds, which equates to um like long lists of advantages.
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:08.560
So you have you know, you spend less time waiting, more time doing, you minimize the chaos on the noise.
00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:19.280
Um and then you have more, I'm gonna say intimate experiences where you go because I you're you're not fighting with the crowds to go look at a like the Mona Lisa.
00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.800
You know, you you actually can get closer to see it.
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:27.360
You might even get um more value because it usually has a lower demand.
00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:34.560
So some companies um reduce prices um or offer promotions to stay uh booked or go.
00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:40.400
And they you might expect uh more affordable accommodations, cheaper airfare and transportation.
00:02:40.879 --> 00:03:05.520
So uh, you know, what's important to some people right now is um interacting with the locals, having the opportunity to maybe trade a story with your waiter or walk the streets when it's peaceful and and and maybe uh have a conversation with somebody that lives there, enjoy a leisurely meal, you know, it it's not rush, rush, rush.
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.719
And in low season, as I said, like fewer tourists compete that you have to compete with.
00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:16.639
So um the experiences are more about what you came to look.
00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:23.199
And sustainability is getting really um more prevalent and more important to travelers.
00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:27.199
So traveling in low season can be more planet-friendly.
00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:34.479
So when there's heavy tourism, there comes a sizable carbon footprint and it can strain an area's resources.
00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:47.199
So opting for off-peak travel, you have more of an opportunity to reduce your environmental impact by taking less congested routes or choosing greener activities and transportation.
00:03:47.680 --> 00:04:02.800
So it's it's a it's a good opportunity too to benefit the local economy because where tourism could be the main driver of business, a lack of travelers during um part of the year constraints communities and livelihoods.
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:07.039
So you're helping people who rely on tourism in less popular times.
00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:14.719
So if but again, I think you know, we were chatting before um we we started our podcast.
00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:24.399
Um I went to Newfoundland last year and I went after the Labor Day weekend, and that seems to be the the cutoff mark for the maritime.
00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:31.279
Because a lot of um, you know, accommodation, activities, attractions may close.
00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:34.240
So it it depend on where we went.
00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:44.879
Like in the larger cities, it was okay, but when you kind of ventured off into the smaller communities, um uh people kind of pack up for the season and are gone.
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.240
Workers are gone.
00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.959
So you have to have good planning and know where you're going.
00:04:51.360 --> 00:05:04.959
Um and also like companies or airlines like WestJet, who's a a major airline from Calgary as a hub, they have seasonal flights that might may end at certain times or may begin at certain times as well.
00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:05.600
Mm-hmm.
00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:13.360
Well, it's funny you mentioned Newfoundland in the fall, because I did the very same thing
Load full transcript
in Prince Edward Island and found that a lot of things were closed.
00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:27.600
So but I'm but I'm thinking too, if this becomes more of a trend where more and more people travel during the shoulder seasons, I'm gonna use string and fall, then maybe there'll be reason for people to stay around, open up longer, those types of things, right?
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.680
Uh demand always uh brings forth those types of things.
00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:32.800
Right.
00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:48.000
You know, and we just went to a conference this week, and one of the um guest speakers were mentioning um that sometimes you know, lately it it it's not always, but there sometimes is no high or low seasons.
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:56.560
It's just where people want to go, where they feel the the urge to go and they want to travel right now or this certain time of year.
00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.000
So sometimes our seasons are blending a bit.
00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.360
Um, pardon me.
00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:11.839
Like in last summer, I had one of my busiest summers for travel, or and then it dropped off when you thought it was going to be high season.
00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.240
So it like you know, to different places.
00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:21.600
So it people's um time frame is ch is changing to travel as well.
00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:32.720
So keep that in mind that what what was busy m will may not be busy or destination may change the the focus of where you're gonna go.
00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:42.480
Social media has so much to do with this because everybody's you know plugged in and then they see something that interests them, so they want to go.
00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:48.079
But you know, thinking of where to go in fall, where travelers looking.
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:54.480
Well, Japan's a great example, like fall there is incredible, like as far as the autumn colors.
00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:01.920
Um, you get more comfortable temperatures for sightseeing because Japan has hot and humid summer months.
00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:06.560
Um, then there's Italy and Greece, um, hugely popular destinations.
00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:10.639
So September and October can be attractive alternatives.
00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:22.240
Um temperatures are more manageable, the major sites are less hectic, and you're getting more of that Mediterranean experience, like the food, the coastline, the history, and the outdoor cafes.
00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.160
But it's interesting again.
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.879
Um, I had a guest who wanted to go to Greece, and they said, What about January, February?
00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:31.199
And I thought, just think it's cool.
00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:36.079
And what you're thinking of, like the the ferries don't go as often, the hotels are closed.
00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:38.800
So maybe go a month or two later.
00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:47.839
Um, what you know, one one destination that's really becoming a hot destination or more on the radar is Morocco.
00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:54.399
Like the Marrakesh, the Atlas Mountains, the desert offer a very different kind of uh travel experience.
00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:59.680
And traveling when the temperatures are more comfortable can make a big difference when you're out exploring.
00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.680
And a perennial Canadian favorite is Mexico.
00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:11.839
So for Canadians who are starting to thinking of get away getting away for cooler weather, Mexico has plenty of choices.
00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:24.560
Um like you can do a traditional resort vacation in Puerto Rico or Las Capos, or um, you can go to like Mexico City or the Yucatan or other parts of the country.
00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:28.879
So it's not necessarily about getting a bargain.
00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.480
It you know, so kind of keep that in mind as well.
00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:42.399
Um it it means that maybe getting the fights you want, the hotel you like, or a particular um state room that you've been watching that may not be a be available.
00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:45.919
So um don't always just look at price.
00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.159
Look at the experience that you're gonna get.
00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:49.919
How busy will it be?
00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:53.519
Um what will you actually do when you're there?
00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:57.519
Is going a particular season gonna make the trip better?
00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.440
Is cruising another area where fall travel really shines?
00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:10.000
So it you know, for those who want to travel a little further, maybe um our fall is spring in Australia and New Zealand.
00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.840
So, you know, there's opportunities that way as well.
00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:16.240
Yeah, and here's the conundrum too.
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:30.879
Uh the more we talk about it and the more people travel during the fall, and I'll throw in the spring as well, the shoulder seasons or off-season, uh, the less they become off-season because they become more and more popular, and the things that attracted them in the first place go away.
00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.679
You know, the the quiet, uh the less expensive, that kind of thing.
00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.080
Yeah, that's it exactly.
00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.759
People people are itching to travel.
00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:55.759
And yes, there is, you know, a lot of factors that make us stop and ponder, but it doesn't but and maybe think about um think about the travel decision of when to go.
00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:01.360
Like maybe the decision making takes a longer time, but people want to travel, so they're gonna go.
00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:04.639
I I hate to say it, but they're gonna go when there's a good price.
00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:06.879
Off I go.
00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.480
This is true, this is very true.
00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:26.480
And there's certain things that you know, like I'm thinking of
a fall uh cruise where you go in in into the eastern part of Canada where it's specifically for that because of the fall colors, and you know, and if you go further into the season, there's the Christmas market.
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:38.639
So there's certain different markets that are tailored to that, but in general, uh you know, I like I still like traveling in the off seasons, and hopefully uh the reasons why stay that way.
00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:50.320
Yeah, well, um a good point that I learned from one of um our uh guest speakers this one past week at the conference was um look at you know for cruises, repositioning cruises.
00:10:50.799 --> 00:11:13.600
He was saying that there's such good value in um repositioning cruises that it's a great um it's a great way to relax if you, you know, depending on how many days at seas there is, um, an opportunity to use the cruise ship as the destination and just value for money because they can drop the prices uh quite substantially.
00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.279
So repositioning cruises is another way of fall travel.
00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:36.639
That's very true, and you get into some different types of ports of call that you wouldn't normally, and I'm thinking specifically of you know, like um Alaska, where the ships reposition into the Caribbean, where you're gonna go through the Panama Canal and you're gonna go down the coast of Mexico and hit some Caribbean islands you wouldn't normally do.
00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:40.320
So yeah, that's that's a really good point about repositioning cruises.
00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:41.679
Right.
00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.440
Yeah, so always talk to your travel agent, they always have ideas for you.
00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.399
They certainly do.
00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:48.559
Onetta Forbes is a travel expert.
00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:52.639
You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and X at Onanta Forbes.
00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.120
OntaForbes.com is her website.
00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.799
So always great chatting, Onanta.
00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.600
Thank you so much.
00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.799
Take care.
00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.399
This is the Informed Traveler Podcast.
00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.519
I'm Randy Sharman.
00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:13.279
Just want to remind you of our website, the informed traveler.org.
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:18.159
That's where you can find our contact page if you have any questions or comments about the podcast.
00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:23.120
You can also email me too with any questions you might have or show segment ideas.
00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:27.519
My email address is randy at the informed traveler.org.
00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:37.679
You can check out our social media pages too at facebook.com slash informed traveler, Instagram at informed traveler, or on X at informed traveler.
00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:43.279
That's where you'll find a number of videos and photos from our recent and past interviews and stories.
00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.759
Plus, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter.
00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:47.919
It's released at the beginning of every month.
00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:50.639
Our September issue is available now.
00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:56.799
Just go to our website, the informedtraveler.org, click on the newsletter button, and it'll take you right there.
00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:02.240
Or better yet, you can subscribe to it and have it arrive in your inbox each month.
00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:09.200
Well, Calgary International Airport opened up its new airport lounge this past week, the Aspire Amex Lounge.
00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:14.320
And I was lucky enough to be invited to get a sneak preview before the official opening.
00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:17.360
I also got the chance to talk with George DeSilva.
00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:25.919
He's the VP of Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality in North America about what they offer their guests and airport lounges in general.
00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.240
And here's that conversation for you now.
00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.600
I have to admit, uh, I'm not an expert.
00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:35.679
I would call myself a virgin when it comes to airport lounges.
00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:40.399
So just kind of fill me into the whole concept and especially about uh Aspire.
00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.320
So I too am relatively new in the lounge business.
00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:47.279
I joined Swiss Sport nearly four years ago.
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:53.120
I used to be in the FB industry, I knew nothing about airport lounges, and now it's become my entire life.
00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.080
Um airport lounges, very popular at the moment.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:00.799
Uh, travelers looking for a nice, calm, serene place to relax.
00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.840
Uh we are lucky to have three lounges here in Calgary.
00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:09.600
We have the Calgary International Lounge, Transporter Lounge, and now the Aspire Amex Lounge in the domestic concourse.
00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:20.879
It's a great space to come if you're looking for good food, some nice drinks, Wi-Fi, charging outlets, uh comfortable seating, away from the hustle and bustle of an airport environment.
00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:24.240
And the beauty of all of this, everyone is welcome.
00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:35.440
So it no matter what, if you either you have credit card access through Amex, either you go through uh Fidelity programs like Dragon Pass, Priori Pass, or you're flying on WestJet, or you can simply be a walk-in.
00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.679
Everybody is welcome to visit the lounge.
00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:43.679
See, that's the thing about the airport lounge, is I always thought it was, you know, you had it had special status to it.
00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.000
So is there sort of a conundrum like if everybody's allowed, then what's special?
00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.440
That's true.
00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:53.200
Uh it's become much more
democr democratized over the past few years.
00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:58.240
And I remember the first airport lounge I ever visited, there was maybe 10 people in there and it was ultra VIP.
00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:05.840
But it it's a good thing that people and it also allows different lounge operators to step up their game and create fun products like this.
00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:13.120
Like to me, uh when I joined Swissport, one of the things I said was if it's just gonna be the status quo, I don't think I'm the right candidate for you.
00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.399
And they had told me no.
00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:23.519
We want someone who really is gonna change the game, bring it up to a whole new level, not only in terms of design, but also in terms of hospitality, in terms of food and drinks.
00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:29.440
So let's let's talk about this particular lounge, how it came to what it is today.
00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:36.399
So uh basically uh we are a victim of our own success in our lounges here in Calgary.
00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:41.840
So the international lounge, even though it's in the international concourse, people flying domestically can access it.
00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.879
So we're at a point where we're hitting capacity, which is always a bit uh disappointing because we can't let everybody in and people get frustrated.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.799
So we were looking for an additional space.
00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:55.200
We saw this beautiful space that used to be a lounge of ours, maybe eight to ten years ago.
00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:57.039
And then uh the dream came to life.
00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:59.440
We started working on brainstorming ideas.
00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:04.559
I had a vision of say, you know what, we're in Calgary, we've got the mountains, we've got a beautiful view of the city of Calgary.
00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.600
Why don't we do something different, like an aptisky chalet vibe?
00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.720
And uh the airport loved it, Amex as well.
00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.679
And then the fun part was okay, now who do we work with?
00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:21.679
And this is where we get to do great collaborations with fellow FB uh professionals like uh Connie D'Souza, John Jackson of the Shark of the Hospitality Group.
00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:29.120
We have Thomas from Missy's uh This and That, Cocktail Bar, and of course working with hospitality designers like uh Menal Dorkin.
00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:33.600
So a lot of fun collaborations behind the scenes allow a type of project like this to come to life.
00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:38.720
Well, you're right, it does have that Apriski vibe to it, it has an energy to it.
00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.279
Um so what's the best way to use it?
00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:50.480
I look like so if you want to get to the airport early, if you're just on on one flight or if you're uh connecting a flight, maybe doing a longer connection so you can enjoy these.
00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:57.279
So the beauty of Calgary is that whether you fly domestic or international, you can access this lounge.
00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:04.640
So I always recommend uh show up to the lounge three hours before your departure time, and that should give you enough time to have a good experience before your flight.
00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.200
Nice.
00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.759
So what what makes Aspire different from some of the other lounges around the world?
00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:16.960
I'm sure you probably have a standard uh sort of scheme that says we need to be at this level at all times.
00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:26.079
So the beauty of Aspire, even though we're a global company, we do have the freedom uh to design and influence how each location looks and how it reflects the local market.
00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:30.160
But yes, indeed, we have a global standard, and our global standard is hospitality.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.440
We go above and beyond.
00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:42.240
We want our team to be out there to anticipate the needs of our guests and to offer a program, an FB program that is unlike anything else that's being offered currently on the Canadian market.
00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.519
And what's the menu like?
00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:48.960
I know you have a a buffet here and you have uh uh food to order, that type of thing.
00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.880
Yeah, so we call it a hybrid model.
00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:56.079
So we have uh a buffet with small uh plates, plated food.
00:17:56.240 --> 00:18:05.440
We have roasted carrots, we have pork schnitzels, we have um a nice beet salad, we got scrambled eggs, we got a good falafel bowl.
00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.880
Those are just some examples that we have.
00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:12.960
And then we have our QR code where you get more signature items, like a mortadella signature hot dog from Sharcut.
00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:16.960
Uh we also have a classic Sunday ice cream.
00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:24.160
So these items are meant more to be uh savored uh table side rather than being on a buffet for a while.
00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:26.640
Uh families uh welcome as well.
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.240
When you say everybody, you mean everybody.
00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:35.599
Everybody families are also welcome, and again, that's part of everybody's uh either credit card programs or fidelity programs or as a walk-in fee as well.
00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.200
And that's changed over the years too.
00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:48.799
Used to be, to my uh sort of thinking, is that you had to have a special credit card or special status with an airline, and now even if you don't have any of those things, you can always just pay to come in.
00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.319
Exactly, and we encourage that.
00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.759
People can also pre-book on our website, aspirelounges.com.
00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:59.920
So, you know, you want to just guarantee your spot, that's
a great way to avoid any hassles coming to the airport.
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.279
I like that idea too.
00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.839
Then you don't have to worry about that sort of idea.
00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.279
Uh so what is the like the world of lounges like a few years ahead?
00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:12.480
Like what's what's ahead to for uh when you're designing, thinking of lounges?
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.319
So every project is different and every project motivates us to do better.
00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:32.240
Uh for example, we recently opened the Jet Blue Lounge in Boston, and that one was unique because we had like one section was the dugout of Fenway Park, another section was uh the Boston Public Library, and again, collaborations with uh local artisans make it better.
00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:35.039
So every project we try to outdo ourselves.
00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.839
We're like, okay, we did it great, but now how can we better?
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:44.880
And that's how I challenge and motivate my team to find ideas that's fresh, that is modern, and not just have cookie-cutter concepts.
00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:49.359
We really want to be different and again always have an emphasis on the locality that we're in.
00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:56.160
Okay, so if I came here tomorrow catching a flight, and I was here again six months from now, is the menu the same?
00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.240
The menu will rotate with the seasons.
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:03.680
So and we'll have a fall menu, a winter menu, a spring and summer menu, and we'll also have activations throughout the year.
00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.519
So, for example, I hinted at that before.
00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.880
Calgary Stampede is a major cultural event here in Calgary.
00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:15.680
Every year we do collaborations with Connie and John where they visit our lounges and have like taste tests uh with our uh passengers.
00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:18.240
So we'll definitely be doing something uh unique here.
00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:23.920
We've been talking about a fire pit barbecue style, considering that Connie and John are recently on a Food Network show.
00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.640
Excellent.
00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.519
Anything else?
00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.359
Uh we also offer grab and go.
00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:31.759
So let's say you're in a rush, you come to the airport a little bit late, you woke up late, you got your flight to catch.
00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:37.839
We got grab and go as well as an option uh that is with the menu offerings that we offer here that you can savor in flight.
00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.240
People want to find this lounge, it's in the domestic terminal A, right?
00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:46.240
Terminal A uh near gate 821 and open from 5 a.m.
00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.119
to 10 p.m.
00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.759
daily.
00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.319
Perfect.
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:54.400
Thanks so much, George DeSilva is uh VP of uh Aspire Preflight Hospitali North America.
00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.759
Thank you so much.
00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.240
That is our show for this week.
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:05.599
If you have comments or questions, we'd love to hear from you.
00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:08.480
If you have a show idea, send that along as well.
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:12.960
My email is Randy at theinformed traveler.org.
00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:15.440
And if you like what you heard, tell a friend.
00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:19.680
You can check out our website too at theinformedraveler.org.
00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.240
In the meantime, thanks for listening.
00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:26.000
Travel safe and be an informed traveler.