Walmart employess arrive in Highfill for shareholders meeting

Victor Barrera leads the Walmart employees delegation from Mexico and Central America into the lobby upon arriving at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill on Monday. For photo galleries, go to nwadg.com/photos.
Victor Barrera leads the Walmart employees delegation from Mexico and Central America into the lobby upon arriving at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill on Monday. For photo galleries, go to nwadg.com/photos.

HIGHFILL -- A delegation of Walmart employees from Mexico and Central America descended Monday on the escalator at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill clapping and singing in Spanish.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Walmart employees from Mexico and Central America arrive at the airport.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

The delegation of Wal-Mart employees from Mexico and Central America arrives at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport for shareholders week Monday. For photo galleries, go to nwadg. com/photos.

Many in the 105-member group wore sombreros, waved the Mexican flag or recorded the celebratory scene with their cell phones.

The sight is a familiar one to airport officials who have facilitated the arrival of nearly 3,000 Walmart employees from around the world for the annual shareholders meeting that will be Friday at the University of Arkansas.

"I'm looking forward to experiencing Walmart in different cultures and engaging in the company," said Jose Rivelles, a first-year employee from Mexico who is attending shareholders week for the first time. "People say it's a very hard, but incredible week. At the end of it, I'll feel like I really know about Walmart."

More than 700 Walmart employees arrived Sunday at the airport, and another 600 arrived Monday, said Gilbert Neil, public safety director for the airport. Another 1,300 employees will fly in today, he said.

"They're excited to be here, and we're just excited they come in and out of here," airport director Kelly Johnson said. "They're great."

The international employees who arrived Monday were mainly from Mexico and Canada, Walmart officials said.

"I'm excited to meet people from different countries and see what the first Walmart was like before it became what it is today," said Kunwal Malik, a Canadian employee attending shareholders week for the first time. "It's mainly about the people and having fun."

Airport operations typically run smoothly during shareholders week because Walmart employees arrive periodically leading up to Friday, Johnson said.

Most of the departing airport traffic will be concentrated over the weekend. About 1,500 shareholders will fly home on domestic flights Friday afternoon. Employees who are flying internationally will leave Saturday, Johnson said.

"It's certainly a very busy day and a half for us," she said.

Other commuters are encouraged to arrive an hour and a half before their flights because of congestion caused by Walmart travelers, Johnson said.

Shareholders week activities, which include meetings, tours and concerts, kick off today, said Alan Dranow, senior director of the Walmart Heritage Group.

Many businesses in Bentonville and throughout Northwest Arkansas will call in extra staff for the influx of visitors.

"We've been doing Walmart week for 17 years, and we're generally very busy this week when they start piling in," said Cecil Turner, owner of The Station Cafe on the downtown Bentonville square. "We're so grateful for Walmart, and we want visitors to feel comfortable here."

A visit to the Wal-Mart Museum in downtown Bentonville is a highlight for many employees, Dranow said.

"They're really at the heart of the company, and they walk away very much inspired," Dranow said. "Walmart week is about celebrating our associates and what they do for the store. Without them, we don't have anything."

Jaime Dunaway can be reached by email at [email protected].

NW News on 06/02/2015

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