Bombardier Aerospace is redirecting a large part of its
marketing effort from the NBAA Orlando Convention Center to its full-service
chalet at the Orlando Executive Airport static display this year. The
82-ft-by-82-ft enclosed, air-conditioned facility provides virtually
all the same services to visitors as Bombardier's Paris Air
Show chalet at Le Bourget. Indeed, Bombardier took its international air show
chalet kit out of storage and shipped it to Orlando this year.
"We've always felt that the best way to sell airplanes is to
get customers into our airplanes. In the past, we've had an imbalance between
our facilities on the convention floor and at the static display," explained
Leo Knaapen, communications manager for Bombardier Aerospace. "Before,
customers would spend most of the first day on the convention floor, and then
move to the static display on the second day. We wanted to get customers to the
static display earlier and provide them with the same high level of service
they receive at the most important international air shows, such as Paris,
Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore," Knaapen continued.
Tuesday evening's introduction of the Challenger 605 was
well attended at the chalet, confirming the wisdom of the decision, according
to Knaapen. The firm elected to unveil the Challenger 605 mock-up alongside the
chalet and introduce the launch customer at the event rather than at the
convention hall. The chalet also is flanked by Learjets 40XR and 454XR,
Challengers 300, 604 and 850, and the Global 5000. The Global Express will
reappear as the Global Express XRS at next year's show.
Bombardier's Paris Air Show chalet features a Sky Lounge
reception area, press entrance, private meeting rooms and VIP quarters.
Bombardier plans to host 150-plus people for lunch every day, providing all the
gourmet delicacies one expects at Le Bourget, sans vins extraordinaires, in
keeping with U.S. air show tradition.
