The Arrivals Gate

What is Experiential Hospitality with Isaac French?

This is the audio version of my weekly newsletter, Experiential Hospitality, where I share stories and insights to help you craft unforgettable spaces and experiences through design & hospitality.

The arrivals gate.

A few evenings ago, I found
myself stepping off a plane again.

I was returning home from another
country, so I had to go through customs.

It had been a while since I'd flown
internationally, and I'd forgotten

this part, but as I made my way
through the lines and checks past

baggage claims and TSAA final door
appeared at the end of the corridor.

With glowing letters, exit here.

As I and a few fellow weary travelers
approached the door automatically

opened, ushering us to freedom.

The pickup area on both sides
of the partitioned walkway stood

lines of people, hundreds of them.

A worn out looking man just ahead
of me, suddenly threw open his arms.

Almost instantly, two little
girls collided into them.

Without missing a stride, he scooped
them up and carried them on somehow

managing to wheel his luggage along too.

Then I saw her a wide smile,
stretching across her face,

standing a little ways beyond them.

Seconds later, all four were
enveloped in a family sized embrace.

I caught myself staring and smiling.

A big, healthy smile, and that's
when all the other stressful

thoughts stopped swirling in my mind.

I was lost in the moment, fully present.

My own ride was about 30 minutes
away, so I decided to stick around

right there at the end of that
line and just soak it all in.

I didn't wanna lose that feeling of being
present time and again, it happened.

Each human, very different in
age, background language, and

look yet very much the same in
expression, heart joy and relief.

What an ordinary, profound half hour.

It occurred to me that there were
very few contexts today where

you'll find that kind of universal
joy, not loud or flashy, but real.

A while later, when my friend
arrived, I stepped outside and

found the same thing happening.

At the sides of cars and all along
the curb, hugs, laughter, even tears.

It was beautiful.

The thought flickered through my mind.

This must be a little bit what
heaven's going to feel like

with every opening of the door.

New faces streamed through, tired
and worn out from the journey.

Searching expectantly for
that one familiar face.

Human belonging is one of the most sacred
things, and we're all searching for it.

Family, friends, places we know and
love just to be in the present moment.

No distractions, no
fretting about the past.

No anxiety about the future.

Knowing where are right, where we're
supposed to be with the people we love.

We are all on a journey home.

Don't forget to savor those
glimpses along the way.

All those little moments pointing
to the big one, the eternal one.

Beauty is everywhere.

If we can only open our eyes to see it.