ACI North America reveals 2012 Airport Concessions award winners : Moodie Davitt Report

US. Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) has revealed the award winners of its 2012 Airport Concessions Contest.

The awards were announced at a ceremony on 13 November during the 2012 ACI-NA Airport Concessions Conference in Denver, which was attended by more than 380 representatives of the North American airport concessions industry.

This year’s contest received a record-breaking 180 nominations from airports of all sizes throughout the US and Canada.

Sacramento International Airport took home the top award – the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence.

The airport was commended for incorporating local, regional and national brands in its concessions programme, and for placing a strong emphasis on Sense of Place in its F&B and retail offer.

Sacramento International Airport accepts the ultimate accolade of the night, The Griesbach Award

“Now in our fifteenth year of holding the Richard A. Griesbach Excellence in Airport Concessions Contest, ACI-NA congratulates Sacramento as this year’s overall award of excellence winner,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato.

“These award-winning entries help promote the innovative spirit within the airport concessions industry as well as showcase the unique products and services that airports are providing throughout North America.”

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Vice President of Concessions Zenola Campbell took home the Person of the Year award.

Campbell is responsible for developing one of the largest airport concession programmes in North America. Her coordination and leadership have taken the concession programme at DFW from US$206 million in Gross Receipts in 2006, to US$267 million in 2011, a +30% increase during a challenging business climate.

ACI-NA commended Campbell’s commitment to health through nutrition and exercise. Under Campbell’s leadership DFW has achieved a top-tier programme for the airport industry, ACI-NA said, and she continues to build on that success.

Working towards her goal to make DFW “The Healthiest Airport in North America”, she has partnered with the American Heart Association to promote healthy options at concession locations throughout the airport, as well as a new walking path and yoga studio in Terminal D.

“We are proud to honour Zenola Campbell as this year’s ACI-NA Concessions Person of the Year,” said Principato. “Zenola’s tenacity and creative approach to concessions management and customer service at DFW serve as an inspiration to her colleagues.”

ACI-NA said that under the continuing financial stress that airports experience, these awards help to demonstrate the importance of airport concessions.

In addition to the Griesbach award, 38 other awards were presented in the following categories:

Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence

Sacramento International Airport, Terminal B

Concessions Person of the Year

Zenola Campbell, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Vice President of Concessions

HMSHost CEO Thomas Fricke (centre) accepts first place for Best New Food and Beverage Concept – Full Service for The Columbia Restaurant Café at Tampa International Airport

Best New Food and Beverage (Full-Service Concept)

1st Place: Columbia Restaurant Café, Tampa International Airport (operated by HMSHost)

2nd Place: Cafeteria 15L, Sacramento International Airport (operated by SSP America)

3rd Place: Mill Street Brewery Pub, Toronto Pearson International Airport (operated by SSP America)

Honorable Mention: Javi’s, John Wayne Airport (operated by HMSHost)

Best New Food and Beverage (Quick Service Concept)

1st Place: Napa Farms Market, San Francisco International Airport (operated by Tastes on the Fly)

2nd Place: Mediterranean Bistro, Newark Liberty International Airport (operated by Midfield Concession Enterprises, Inc.)

3rd Place: Barista, Chicago Midway International Airport (operated by MAC One Midway, LLC)

Innovative Use of Non-Traditional Retail Space

HMSHost (Special Recognition)

Cigar City Brewing, Tampa International Airport

Beaudevin Wine Bar, Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Bubbles Wine Bar, Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Tortas Frontera By Rick Bayless, Chicago O’Hare International Airport

First Flight, Tampa International Airport

Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi, Chicago O’hare International Airport

First place in the Best Green Concessions Practice award went to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport

Best “Green” Concessions Practice or Concept

1st Place: Organics Waste Recycling Program, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (operated by Metropolitan Airports Commission, HMSHost and ABM Janitorial)

2nd Place: The O’Hare Urban Garden, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (operated by
HMSHost)

3rd Place: Sustainable Food Policy, San Francisco International Airport

Best New Retail Concept

1st Place: Mars M&M’s, John F. Kennedy International Airport (operated by Duty Free Americas)

2nd Place: Michael Kors, John F. Kennedy International Airport (operated by Hudson Group)

3rd Place: Swarovski, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (operated by Buckaroo Joint Venture)

Honorable Mention: Kennedy Space Center Retail Store, Orlando International Airport (operated by Delaware North Companies)

Best New Consumer Service Concept

1st Place: Paradise 4 Paws, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (operated by Paradise 4 Paws)

2nd Place: Minute Suites, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (operated by Minute Suites)

3rd Place: Automatic Apparel, Boston Logan International Airport (operated by Robot Retail, LLC)

Michael Levine of Tastes on the Fly accepts first place for Best New Food and Beverage Concept – Quick Service for Napa Farms Market at San Francisco International Airport

Best Innovative Consumer Experience Concept or Practice

1st Place: B4 YOU BOARD Mobile App (HMSHost)

2nd Place: International Shoppes-Virtual Wall Shop, Boston Logan International Airport (International Shoppes)

3rd Place: Comfortable Service Program, San Francisco International Airport

Honorable Mention: JetBlue’s “Live from T5” Concert Series, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JetBlue Airways)

Best Food & Beverage Program – Large Airport

1st Place: San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 2

2nd Place: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Terminal E

3rd Place: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D

Best Food & Beverage Program – Medium Airport

1st Place: John Wayne Airport

2nd Place: Sacramento International Airport, Terminal B