Last Month Fort Wayne Airport Gave Away its [insert Dr. Evil pinky to lip] One Millionth Cookie
There was a great article yesterday from Harriet Baskas at USA Today on Airports that ‘give a little extra’ to differentiate themselves. Harriet focused in particular on Fort Wayne International Airport. Known throughout the country as “The Cookie Airport”, it is famous for handing out cookies to arriving passengers. What a great ‘first taste’ of the hospitality in Fort Wayne.
Here is a couple of excerpts from the article:
“Larry Thompson arrived at Fort Wayne International Airport one day back in 1988, walked out the front door of the small terminal and took a deep breath. “Instead of smelling jet fuel,” he remembers, “I smelled the cookies from the bakery across the street.”
The aroma gave Thompson a reassuring, “welcome home” feel. So when the airport marketing committee needed a low-cost way to promote the facility, Thompson suggested a campaign involving those cookies. Phone calls were made. A bulk cookie order was placed. And soon volunteers armed with goody-filled wicker baskets were on duty inside the terminal offering arriving passengers an enthusiastic “Welcome to Fort Wayne” greeting – and a complimentary, individually-wrapped, locally-baked cookie.
More than ten years later; volunteers at Fort Wayne International Airport still give out free cookies; up to 100,000 a year. And this past December, TV crews and well-wishers were on hand when volunteers presented the airport’s millionth free cookie to an unsuspecting, but appreciative passenger. Arriving home on a snowy day after a trip to Florida with her husband, Fort Wayne resident Lorraine Leach not only got a free snack, but a prize package that included 25,000 airline frequent flier miles, locally-made gourmet chocolates and, of course, a big box of the airport’s signature sugar cookies.
Do cookies = customers?
Everyone, except maybe travelers trying to stay on a diet, loves getting those free cookies. But in these tough economic times, when every penny counts, does it make sense for an airport to spend $15,000 a year buying cookies?
Dave Young thinks so. Although he admits he thought someone was trying to sell him something the first time he was offered a free cookie at FWA, he says he soon realized it was a sincere, Midwest welcome. And now that it is his job to drum up business for the airport, Young sees those cookies as a valuable marketing tool. “We’re a small, non-descript, typical airport,” says Young, “And although fares are often cheaper at Indianapolis International Airport and other airports that are just a few hours drive from here, free cookies and other amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and our free Skycap service, help us differentiate our airport as a friendly and very customer-oriented place.”
Today’s Lagniappe – Check out Purple Goldfish #176 on YouTube courtesy of [ditalianishere] who states in the video, “Love me some Fort Wayne Airport” after receiving his cookie.
FISHERMAN WANTED: HELP me catch another 820 purple goldfish for a great cause. Click here to send me your example.
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