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Date Change: PDX People Customer Service Awards Moves to Tuesday, Jan. 24
Please note the date of this event is now Tuesday, Jan. 24.
To recognize airport employees who truly stand out as extraordinary, we hold a quarterly PDX People Customer Service Awards. The winners in each category – along with their managers and members of our volunteer working committee – are invited to attend the event in person while it's live-streamed on YouTube. To watch, head to the Port of Portland YouTube page on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at noon.
Guest speaker Dan Pippenger, Chief Operating Officer with the Port of Portland, will provide an update on the status of airport operations and what we might expect to see in the coming year.
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What’s New with PDX Next: Restroom and Baggage Carousel Closures, Ticket Lobby Update
Restroom Closure: The restrooms near Gate E6 will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for lighting control work.
Baggage Carousel Closures: Baggage carousel 4 will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 19, through Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Baggage carousel 5 will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ticket Lobby Work: Scissor lift work noted last week is postponed. We'll keep you in the loop when it's planned to start.
Looking for more PDX Next information? We're keeping you in the know on what's new on the PDX People website. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com or call the construction hotline at 503.460.4339.
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Spotlight on Mark Tarutis
PDX People working in shops and restaurants interact with lots of travelers every day – from passengers looking for gifts for a loved one to someone seeking a knowledgeable employee to help answer a question. Mark Tarutis, winner of a PDX People Customer Service Award, gives us his perspective on creating friendly, respectful connections: "Some people come in and they're really frazzled. I'll just have a conversation with them. If they're feeling something, I want to try to make them feel better. I really, really am attuned to people's emotions." Watch Mark's spotlight video.
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New Indoor Navigation App Improves Accessibility and Increases Ease of Travel at PDX
Last week, GoodMaps Explore launched at PDX, making us the second airport in the world to offer travelers this new resource. Available for free on iOS and Android devices, the indoor navigation app enables travelers with different needs – including people who are blind and low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, neurodiverse or anyone trying to find their gate – to navigate safely, efficiently and independently through PDX.
Launched in partnership with the PDX Accessibility Committee, the Oregon Commission for the Blind, Portland State University, Washington State School for the Blind, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, this effort is the next step in our journey to continuously enhance accessibility at PDX. With that in mind, here are a few quotes from recent news coverage that convey the impact of this work.
KATU: PDX Launches App Offering Audio, Visual Directions to Help Travelers Navigate
"I want to put in my gate, I want to know what 'points of interest' are along the way, and how to get there independently without having to ask strangers or wait for somebody to come help me. My dog is for mobility, or if I have a cane, that's for obstacle detection and guiding me around things. But the dog, unfortunately, can't yet read print signs. So I need to have another way of doing that."
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"Reflection" by Shohei Takasaki
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| Lunar New Year: Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit
Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, starts on Sunday, Jan. 22, and marks the end of the Year of the Tiger and the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity; 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
The annual event is celebrated in various Asian countries and in many other parts of the world with feasts, fireworks and parades. With more than 1.5 billion people celebrating the Lunar New Year, the holiday is rich in traditions. Some of these include sweeping the grounds to drive away misfortune, negative spirits and bad karma; family reunions, parades and fireworks to ward off bad spirits; gifting tangerines and oranges; and cooking and eating traditional dishes.
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PDX in Pictures
Last week, Cha! Cha! Cha! opened on Concourse D. Their menu features traditional recipes from South-Central Mexico using sustainable, locally sourced ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. In addition to fantastic food and drink, their PDX space features a mural by local artist Olivia Ennis Hilton. During their first month, operating hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Don't forget to ask for your employee discount to get 10% off!
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