Walmart associates are already flooding Northwest Arkansas for Friday’s annual shareholders' meeting. Thousands from around the world land at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) and they bring lots of excitement.
A group from Mexico could be heard chanting from the gate and they continued their Walmart chorus coming down the airport’s escalators.
"We want everyone to have fun and to enjoy with us," Maria Isabel Juan said.
Shareholders and associates received a warm welcome at XNA. It's Maria Isabel Juan’s second time in Northwest Arkansas and said she loves attending the Walmart shareholders’ meeting.
"It's a really interesting experience. It's wow wonderful. We get to know people from all over the world," Juan said.
Canada was also represented at XNA. For many this is their first time attending the annual meeting.
"Very excited, very honored, the fact that I'm allowed the opportunity to come down here," Lisa Slagmolen said.
At the airport they picked up their suitcases and already started snapping photos.
"I'm a recruiter in Canada, so being able to go through this experience and take that back to Canada and share with my candidates and fellow associates, it's going to very inspirational," Slagmolen said.
Buses wait for them to transport them to the University of Arkansas where they will be staying. Soon they will come across people from every continent who speak different languages and the group from Mexico said they're ready.
"We bring our chant, we bring our Mexican hats and we all come very united,” Sandra Garcia said.
Stay with 5NEWS for continuing coverage on the Walmart Shareholders' meeting. The Walmart shareholders will be staying in our region until this weekend.