USA. Sacramento International, Baltimore Washington International and Newark Liberty International were among the airports to unveil upcoming concessions opportunities on the first day of the Airport Experience Conference. The event is taking place at the Gaylord Rockies and Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.
At Sacramento International, Senior Economic Development Specialist Jennifer Simkins detailed a food & beverage tender to be released this summer. It covers 11 units, of which ten are in Terminal B, in 18,065sq ft of space.
These include four fast casual units, two coffee opportunities, one full service bar/restaurant and one full service/fast casual concession post-security in Terminal B. A fast casual and a quick service unit will be available pre-security. An additional coffee shop pre-security in Terminal A will be tendered.
The RFP is expected in July, with proposals due in November and the contract award in March 2021.
Baltimore Washington International Airport Director, Aeronautical & Non-Aeronautical Revenue Jaimini Erskine noted that the current developer contract at the airport expires on 31 March 2022. Fraport manages all retail and F&B there.
An RFP is expected by winter of this year, which will include 180,000sq ft of concessions space. Approximately 80% of the current programme will be part of the new RFP, Erskine said.
Munich Airport Group’s Elisabeth Sailor, who is VP Commercial Development and Concessions Management at Newark Liberty International’s Terminal One, discussed the upcoming F&B and retail opportunities at the New Jersey airport. A tender will be released this month, with 80,000sq ft of concessions space available at the domestic-only terminal (60% F&B and 40% retail).
A partial opening of the concessions programme will take place in autumn 2021, Sailor said, with a full opening in autumn 2022. “We want the terminal to welcome people to New Jersey,” she said. “We are working with the Port Authority in showcasing the New Jersey way.”
Tampa International Airport Vice President of Concessions Laurie Noyes updated delegates on the progress of the airport’s master plan. A new Airside D for both domestic and international passengers will be added in the third phase, to meet growing traffic. Construction will begin in 2022, with opening in 2024. A major redevelopment of the concessions programme at Tampa International was completed last year.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Vice President Concessions Zenola Campbell explained a shift in direction for the concessions programme at the Texan hub. Changing airline flight structures have led to decreased dwell times in domestic terminals, so the focus has moved from casual dining to grab and go. The airport is encouraging concessionaires to blur the lines between retail and F&B and is also focusing on providing unique or memorable passenger amenities.
In terms of contracts, some 59% of locations will expire within five years, which will redefine the concessions programme, Campbell said.
Dual operator model in Oakland
Oakland International Airport also revealed details of an RFP for retail and duty free concession opportunities, to be launched at the end of April. The current contract with World Duty Free Group/Hudson expires on 31 May 2021. The airport will move to a two-operator model and offer a contract term of 10+ years. The awards are expected to be made in July 2020.
Positive disruptors
Earlier in the day four innovative new concepts featured in the conference’s Business Pitch Showcase. Yo-Kai Express is an autonomous restaurant that makes fresh ramen and has debuted at San Francisco International Airport.
Clean Juice is an organic food retail franchise concept, while Eat Fit Go offers healthy foods from space-saving unstaffed fridges and via microwaves. Both are seeking to enter the airport space.
The fourth and final featured company was Pathwater, which offers purified water in a refillable and reusable aluminium bottle. It too already has a contract with San Francisco International in the wake of the airport’s decision to ban single-use plastics.
The opening two sessions on the morning of the conference’s first day featured three breakout slots on different subjects. Among the highlights was a panel discussing the opportunities and different approaches of operating in small or medium airports. It featured moderator Deanna Zachrisson, Airport Business Development Manager at Santa Barbara Airport, and speakers Atif Elkadi, Deputy CEO at Ontario International Airport; Kurt Schwager, Vice President at Jacobsen Daniels; and Jeff Switzer, President at Tailwind Concessions.
Schwager walked attendees through the process of getting into the airport business, from conducting the right research to finding the right partners, and from engaging fully in the RFP process to telling a memorable story on ‘gameday’ – the interview with the airport operator.
“It’s not easy to break into the airport business but it can be rewarding,” he concluded. “You need to have the right approach, partners and plan. But delivering an exceptional customer experience makes it all worthwhile.”
Switzer noted that there was rarely room for multiple operators in regional airports, so one of the greatest challenges is to “be all things to all people”. For new operators, he advised, “the most important thing is to have a collaborative relationship with the airport”.
From the airport perspective, Elkadi said the main goal should be to “maximise variety within a very limited footprint”. Pop-up spaces can offer differentiation, he said, while all stakeholders must work as a team to maximise results. “Regardless of size, the aim should always be to give the customer a memorable moment or experience,” he said.
The Airport Experience Conference continues until 4 March.
NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes FAB, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The FAB Newsletter is published every two weeks and The FAB eZine every month.
Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.
The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2020 will be held in Istanbul in September. Istanbul Airport will host the event, which will be a celebration not only of the best in international airport dining but also of Turkish cuisine and culture. FAB 2020 will be supported strongly by Tum & Ictur, the concessionaire managing 34,000sq m of food & beverage space at Istanbul Airport.
NOTE (2): The Moodie Davitt Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching commercial proposals and for publishing the results. If you wish to promote an Expression of Interest, Request for Proposals or full tender process for any sector of airport revenues, simply e-mail Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com.
We have a variety of options that will ensure you reach the widest, most high-quality concessionaire/retailer/operator base in the industry – globally and immediately.
Similarly The Moodie Davitt Report is the only international business intelligence service and industry media to cover all airport consumer services, revenue-generating and otherwise. We embrace all airport non-aeronautical revenues, including duty free and other retail, food & beverage, property, passenger lounges, hotels, car parking, hospital and other medical facilities, the Internet, advertising and related revenue streams.
Please send relevant material, including images, to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com for instant, quality global coverage.
