Go online to show support for Southwest
We have a lot to be proud of in Memphis. We have a unique culture that gives our city a personality, its own soul. Whether it’s the sound of our Memphis music heard the world over, the “grit and grind” of our winning NBA team, the Grizzlies, or the fact that some of the best-known corporations call Memphis home, there is much to appreciate about the city of “Good Abode.”
We have another star on our roster that perhaps we don’t always remember when we’re ticking off the things that make Memphis great — Memphis International Airport. In 2012, the airport generated a $23 billion economic impact and supported 139,820 jobs.
Our airport is one of the top economic generators in this region, and we need to keep it that way. The time is ripe for bringing in low-cost airline carriers. Southwest Airlines has already stepped up, and we need to do our part.
As you’ve no doubt heard, Southwest Airlines — stock exchange symbol LUV — has be- gun entering the Memphis market and is already offering Aug. 11 flights on its AirTran brand to Chicago, Baltimore/ Washington and Orlando, Fla. The tickets are sold through the Southwest website. Flights to Houston, Texas, and Tampa, Fla., will be added on Nov. 3 when the Southwest-branded planes arrive in Memphis. These five cities will offer travelers hundreds of other destinations on Southwest’s network.
On June 18, Southwest’s 42nd birthday, the Greater Memphis Chamber launched the #MEM- LUV: Rewards4Rewards campaign. Our goal? Get 50,000 Mid-Southerners to sign up for Southwest Airlines’ frequent-f lier program, Rapid Rewards. It’s free to enroll and allows passengers to earn points for reward travel.
Everyone who signs up before Nov. 30 will be entered for a chance to win round-trip tickets to one of many Southwest destinations. The winners will be announced at our annual Chairman’s Luncheon in December. If you are already a Rapid Rewards member, you can still enter for a chance to win. Just check out memphischamber.com for the complete rules on how to enter.
Why is the chamber doing this? We want to show Southwest how much its presence means to our community. Signing up for this program is a simple process that will help bring powerful impact.
This is a unique opportunity for the Memphis community to partner with our country’s largest domestic airline and will help ensure Southwest Airlines commits to a strong future at our airport. The availability of dependable and low-cost flight options is critical for our economic growth. Mid-Southerners’ support for Southwest will go a long way in demonstrating how eager we are to help them succeed.
Sign up today at southwest.com/memphischamber and let your actions show we mean business. Do your part to help reach and exceed our goal of 50,000 new Rapid Rewards members and start booking flights today. John W. Moore is president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.