Friday, December 9, 2005

Holiday tourists get friendly valley welcome

'Host' program renewed at Friedman airport


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

By the time some passengers arrive for Christmas vacations in the Wood River Valley, they may have endured snowstorms while driving to their hometown airports, airline delays and any number of irritations that make holiday travel a nightmare.

So, it's a welcome sight for harried travelers when a young "host" at the Friedman Memorial Airport terminal steps forward and offers help with baggage, directions to rental cars or to answer questions that only locals can handle.

"The first and last impression of our valley," said Friedman Operations Manager Peter Kramer, "is at the airport, and we want to make sure that impression is good."

The airport's government board three years ago authorized Airport Manager Rick Baird to hire four young people as terminal "hosts" to assist the 1,500 passengers arriving each day.

This year's airport hosts—two college students and two high school students, two males and two females—will man the terminal from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily in two shifts for up to three weeks during the Christmas holidays.

Paid $10 per hour, the hosts are easily spotted—they each wear blue vests with Friedman identification.

Kramer says the program has drawn compliments from travelers.

Meanwhile, the Sun Valley/Ketchum and Hailey chambers of commerce will have an airport hospitality reception booth at the Hailey terminal during the peak holiday season, from Dec. 19- 30.

Holiday visitors will be greeted with smiles and cookies by Chamber staff and volunteers. They will also provide local area information, such as a calendar of events and vacation planners.

Enthusiastic volunteers are needed to cover shifts from 2-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. People able to participate are asked to contact Stefany Mahoney at 725-2105.

In another move to make certain arriving passengers receive a good impression, Baird told the Airport Authority at its monthly meeting Tuesday night that he has told contractors renovating the terminal building that work on restrooms, the heated sidewalk and interior amenities must be complete prior to Christmas.

Baird told the board last month that work had not been completed on schedule, partly because of supply shortages created by demands for emergency hurricane Katrina repairs.




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