News Releases
Airline gives Canadians and Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada families a holographic Christmas experience to remember
CALGARY, Dec. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - WestJet today released its Christmas Miracle video, To Give or Receive [link to video], highlighting real acts of giving and receiving, with a twist.
This year, families visiting a market in Toronto were invited into a life-size WestJet blue Santa hat for an experience they would never forget. WestJet left it up to them, with help from a holographic, interactive Blue Santa and his newest co-star, Ebeniza Scrooge, to determine whether to give or receive the presents waiting under the Christmas tree.
"The conversation around giving and receiving is a powerful one and this year's video finds inspiration in both sides of the story," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President Marketing Communications. "The authentic reactions and emotions made possible through these acts make this year's Christmas Miracle truly heartwarming."
With presents like a $2,500 WestJet gift card, a beach vacation and more, the choice was up to Canadians to either give the gift to families with sick children staying at a Ronald McDonald House or keep it for themselves. There were no wrong answers and the touching moments are captured in the WestJet Christmas Miracle video here.
WestJet is committed to keeping families close when a child is sick by providing the gift of flight to its WestJet Cares for Kids partner Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. To Give or Receive participants who chose to donate their gift were also invited to join a special celebration at Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario in Hamilton, Ont.
"For over 10 years, our incredible partners at WestJet have helped us keep families from across Canada close together during a very difficult time in their lives," said Cathy Loblaw, CEO, RMHC Canada. "We are so humbled by the generosity of Canadian families who chose to donate their gifts to Ronald McDonald House families this holiday season, giving them the greatest gift of all: family."
WestJet created the magical Christmas experience for participants by working alongside partners ARHT Media Inc., leaders in holographic telepresence, who created the projections of Blue Santa and Ebeniza Scrooge.
"The incredible hologram technology allowed us to create immersive and personalized experiences in real-time," continued Bartrem. "We wish guests and WestJetters throughout our network a merry Christmas."
To find out more about WestJet Cares for Kids and its partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada click here. For information on Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada visit their website here.
To find out more about ARHT Media Inc. visit their website here.
About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airlines, WestJet Encore and WestJet Link, we offer scheduled service to more than 110 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 250 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas. Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.
WestJet is proud to be recognized for three consecutive years as Best Airline in Canada (2017-19) and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (2019). From 2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North America. The airline was also recognized among the Economy Class winners in North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.
WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)
2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018/2017 Winner Among Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
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About Ronald McDonald House Charities® South Central Ontario
Ronald McDonald House Charities® South Central Ontario (RMHC®SCO) serves as a regional resource for hundreds of families of critically-ill children who are being treated at local hospitals. As a 41 bedroom House, RMHC®SCO provides a warm, compassionate and safe home away from home for families through accommodations, programming and services. RMHC®SCO provides families in crisis a home to everyday moments when life is far from ordinary. www.rmhcsco.ca
About Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada
In Canada, 65 per cent of families live outside a city with a children's hospital, and must travel for treatment if their child is seriously ill. The RMHC network of programs in Canada helps to keep more than 25,000 families close to their sick child and the care they need each year. The 15 Ronald McDonald Houses provide out-of-town families with a home to stay at while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital, while the 17 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide a comfortable place for families to rest and recharge, right inside hospitals. Through the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, basic medical care is available to underserved communities in Alberta. For more information visit: RMHC.ca
SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership
