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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blog.westjet.com
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