- Slug: News–Airport Culture Center. 700 words.
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By Samantha Rea
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Travelers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 3 might catch more than a flight. Once a month, the airport’s new Culture Corner showcases the diversity of Arizona.
It’s just one of the ways the airport is trying to enhance the guest experience, said Misty Cisneros-Contreras, superintendent of guest and employee experiences at the airport.
“We are always looking to add the next layer of customer service,” she said. “Because we are an international airport … and we have folks that travel domestically, we wanted to expose them to the diverse cultures represented in Arizona.”
J.D. Power’s 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which measures overall passenger satisfaction, said more airports are showcasing their city’s unique, local identity. A key indicator that separated the top-ranking airports was “unique décor, signage, stores and restaurants that celebrate the region,” according to the latest study released in September. Overall, 70% of passengers agree their airport reflects a genuine sense of its city or region.
Sky Harbor ranked third in satisfaction in the 2024 survey among mega airports, defined as those with 33 million or more passengers a year, behind Minneapolis-Saint Paul International and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airports.
For years, the airport has showcased restaurants that introduce travelers to local favorites, including Barrio Cafe, Cowboy Ciao and La Grande Orange. The Phoenix Airport Museum is among one of the oldest airport art programs in the country, and features themed exhibitions as well as artist-designed floors, ceilings and murals not just in the terminals but in the rental car center. Traveling Tunes brings in local musicians who perform several days a week on stages in Terminals 3 and 4.
The Culture Corner is the latest offering, featuring monthly performances as well as displays and interactive activities from local groups.
At its January debut, the Culture Corner featured demonstrations of Asian character calligraphy and paper folding by the Phoenix Sister Cities Taipei Committee.
Wen Chyi Chiu, chairperson of the Taipei committee, said the group was honored to kick off the monthly showcase.
The Culture Corner captures Phoenix and its diversity, she said.
“We have 11 sister cities,” Chiu said. “Everything about Phoenix is very international, very welcoming of international audiences.”
February’s event highlighted Black History Month with performances from a drumming circle, stilt walker and several spoken word artists.
Jumoke´ Farrow, a drummer with Creative Concepts, noted the importance of recognizing cultures other than one’s own.
“We live in our bubbles. We go to the same places, we sort of create a routine as human beings. We don’t typically go outside of that bubble to experience new things,” Farrow said. “So having another cultural experience outside of your bubble, confronted with it right here in the airport, is awesome. You have an opportunity to ask questions, to be inquisitive about what’s going on here.”
Thea White was passing through Terminal 3 when she heard an announcement about the February event. She said she was pleased to find the activities happening next to her gate. White said she enjoyed the performances, adding that she loves to see anything “outside of her norm.”
Cisneros-Contreras said they hope to increase in frequency as the program develops. Events are free, but are only available to those who have purchased a ticket and are traveling in the airport.
“Any time we can understand cultures, we’re opening ourselves into understanding why people make the decisions they do or why people are the way that they are,” she said. “It gives us a better inside look as to understanding cultures other than our own.”
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