Now we’re flying: Porter Airlines brings Mr. Porter’s House Party to town

Industry event offers guests full Porter experience in food, drinks and service without stepping on an actual plane

DJ/producer Marsh at Mr. Porter's House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-used waterfront community that's being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
DJ/producer Marsh at Mr. Porter's House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-used waterfront community that's being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
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A former abandoned industrial building set the scene for one of the most impressive parties our region has seen in recent memory. As for the impeccable host, it was a raccoon.

Mr. Porter is the anthropomorphic brand mascot for Toronto-based Porter Airlines. 

Hundreds of guests were invited on Thursday to the company’s so-called “house party”, where, thankfully, the leave-your-shoes-at-the-door rule did not apply. 

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The venue, with its exposed brick walls, concrete floors and open spaces, offered the perfect urban loft-feel that organizers were going for. The party was held at Zibi House, which is part of a remarkable mixed-use development project that spans the Ottawa River, involving both Gatineau and Ottawa.

The evening celebrated Porter’s growing presence in Ottawa, which remains its fastest-growing market outside of Toronto. It also allowed guests to enjoy all the key elements of the airline’s onboard service, kind of like getting the full Porter experience without stepping on an actual plane.

“What we’re doing is creating a brand immersive space,” Porter Airlines president Kevin Jackson said in an interview. 

The party went all out. For example, many guests received a parting swag bag that included a complimentary flight from Porter Airlines.

Porter Airlines hosted Mr. Porter’s House Party on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Porter Airlines hosted Mr. Porter’s House Party on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The unique, modern and fresh vibe captured everything Porter believes it should be as an airline. Normally, what the public would get is “someone like me, in front of the room, with a power point,” said Jackson. “We said to the team, ‘No talking heads’. We want people to come into this space, we want them to take in this space and to see the key messaging around the space, that educates them as to what makes Porter different.”

Porter brought in U.K.-born, U.S.-based progressive house sensation Marsh, who sells out clubs and festivals. They got the word out through social media that the successful DJ and producer was coming to town, and that his fan base was invited to come. Registration reached its limit within minutes.

Roughly an hour into the night, the company slid back some doors to reveal a private party Marsh was hosting with his fans. Instantly, the corporate gathering collided with an electro dance party in a way that was unexpectedly exciting. Marsh worked his music magic while flight attendants waved airport safety wands in the air and swayed in rhythm to the music’s beats. The audience was both a mix of young people and of social media influencers, some of whom wore aviator outfits.

DJ/producer Marsh at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd danced to electro house music at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd danced to electro house music at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
The crowd danced to electro house music at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

At the party, sections of the venue were transformed into rooms one might find in an urban loft, including a walk-in closet, living room and office. The main mingling area felt like a rooftop terrace with its glass ceiling and hanging outdoor string lights.

The seating areas were configured solely in pairs because, just like on Porter flights, there are no middle seats to cramp the passengers’ style.

Guests were encouraged to don captain hats and neckerchiefs made readily available before stepping into a fun photo booth that resembled the cover of the airline’s inflight magazine, re:porter. There was also a conspicuous map displaying all the destinations Porter currently serves from Ottawa, along with its future destinations.

Included on the map was the new direct service between Ottawa and St. John’s, N.L. It just began Thursday.

Attendees included Porter Airlines founder Bob Deluce, Ottawa Tourism CEO Michael Crockatt and Ottawa International Airport Authority president and CEO Mark Laroche.

Images of Mr. Porter were displayed throughout the venue. There were framed photos on desks and shelves, and hanging from walls, of the animated mascot visiting Porter destination cities. When the airline first launched in 2006, it created the mascot as a way of differentiating itself in the market. It specifically chose the raccoon because it’s so emblematic of urban life in Toronto, and renowned for its cheeky personality.

Mr. Porter’s House Party, hosted by Porter Airlines, featured a giant map indicating all the destinations the airline flies to. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This pillow cushion at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held  Thursday, June 6, 2024, was a cute reminder that Porter Airlines doesn’t stick passengers in cramped middle seats on its flights. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Brad Cicero, director of communications and public affairs at Porter Airlines, communications specialist Declan Payne and Robyn van Teunenbroek, senior manager of communications and team engagement with Porter Airlines, in the magazine cover photo booth at Mr. Porter’s House Party held at Zibi House on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Mr. Porter’s House Party featured food, including an assortment of cheeses, that are served on its flight. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Key to the party experience were the culinary dishes offered that night. Porter is particularly proud of the fresh food it serves on its flights. “I would argue that it is to a level that you will not find in economy on any other carrier that I know of,” said Jackson.

All of its passengers have access to the same menu, whether they’re flying with the perks available on PorterReserve or with an à-la-carte experience with PorterClassic.  “Everyone can have the same food onboard,” said Jackson. “That’s really core to the brand, because the brand believes in treating everyone with the same level of quality service. Everyone gets free beer and wine on board, everyone gets free snacks on board.”

The Mr. Porter House Party marked the third time the airline company has hosted such a celebration in a major city, having thrown similar parties in Vancouver and Toronto last year.  “I love watching social media because that’s where you really see the power of it,” said Jackson, referring to the staggering 1.7 million social media impressions from the Toronto bash. It involved a crowd of 650 people, many of whom were social media influencers.

 

 

From left, Kevin Jackson, president of Porter Airlines, and Porter Airlines founder Bob Deluce at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held at Zibi House on Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by the Canadian airline. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Amy Hatoum from Porter Airlines welcomed guests to Mr. Porter’s House Party in the same way a flight attendant would welcome passengers boarding a plane. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Ottawa International Airport Authority president and CEO Mark Laroche and Marie-Hélène Lajoie in conversation with Richard van Bruygom at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Porter Airlines transformed part of Zibi House into an urban loft-like setting, complete with a living room, for its Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ottawa Tourism president and CEO Michael Crockatt, Ottawa Tourism business events manager Lizzie Low and Ottawa Tourism director of public affairs, Jérôme Miousse, at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines. Photo by Caroline Phillips

When Porter began, its first destination was Ottawa. Prior to the pandemic, it had as many as 19 departures a day to the nation’s capital, with some flights timed every 45 minutes.

While COVID upended business travel, the airline is back to eight flights a day from the Billy Bishop island airport with another four from Pearson International.

Porter is in the process of growing its fleet of up to 100 new E195-E2 jets, manufactured by Embraer. The aircrafts are allowing the airline to fly to more non-stop destinations across North America. As part of its growth plan, one of the markets that Porter is aggressively expanding into is Ottawa.

Porter serves 16 non-stop destinations out of Ottawa. It’s expecting to fly two million people this year, compared to three-quarters of a million last year. 

“It’s significant growth,” said Jackson. “We’re the largest carrier in Ottawa this summer by the number of seats and the number of departures, and we’re continuing to grow.”

On top of that, Porter just opened a brand new aircraft hangar at the Ottawa airport and is growing its team from about 200 members in Ottawa to about 400 by the end of the year,  said Jackson.

Porter is making a significant investment in Ottawa, Jackson emphasized. “Our intent is to become Ottawa’s hometown airline.”

Jackson indicated that Porter is drawn to the Ottawa market due to its business sector and its demand for leisure travel. Porter already offers direct service from Ottawa to several destinations across North America, including Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in Florida. It’s looking to add more direct flights from Ottawa to Florida destinations, as well as to California, Las Vegas and the Caribbean. In Ottawa, many people have been accustomed to travelling via Toronto or Montreal to reach various destinations, said Jackson. “We are now introducing non-stop services that were previously unavailable in this market.”

From left, Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public affairs at Ottawa International Airport Authority, with her friend Mary Taggart and her sister-in-law Korey Kealey at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Former Porter Airlines employee Lori Wagner, now director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont Château Laurier, and Brad Cicero, director of communications and public affairs at Porter Airlines, at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by the airline. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Devon McCarthy, partner at Sussex Strategy, Geoff Hall from the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, and Maple Leaf Strategies principal Alik Angaladian at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Tahera Mufti, director of communications for the Office of Mayor Sutcliffe, with her colleague, Rachel Kerbel at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Guy Georgeson, creator of the web series Coolest Thing I’ve Ever Made, and @yowcitystyle influencer Katie Hession with Dr. Ardelle Piper and Trent Abbott at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ottawa Business Events senior event manager Brittney Meagher and Alex Walsh, communications manager at MD Financial Management, at Mr. Porter’s House Party, held Thursday, June 6, 2024, to immerse residents of Ottawa and Gatineau in the onboard services offered by Porter Airlines Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Rosemary Thompson, v
DJ/producer Marsh at Mr. Porter’s House Party hosted by Porter Airlines on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Zibi House, located in the new mixed-use waterfront community that’s being built in Gatineau and Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

caroline@obj.ca

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