A vibrant Awards Gala capped the four days of programming at the 2024 Airport Experience Conference. The event attracted a broad range of airport directors and properties executives along with brand and concessionaire executives, designers, consultants and others.
The 2024 Airport Experience Awards recognized excellence in airport concessions throughout North America. The event also spotlighted AXN’s previously announced 2023 Airport Directors of the Year, and the 2024 Property Manager of the Year.
This year’s event included a special tribute to Pauline Armbrust, who founded Airport Revenue News and the Aiport Revenue Conference, which today are know under the Airport Experience name.
Full coverage of the conference and the awards will appear in a special bonus issue of Airport Experience News due out later this month. Below is a list of winners in each awards category.
The 2024 Award Winners, in order of award presentation, are:
Best Bar Experience – Large Airports Division
Winner: Green Room Lounge and Whiskey Bar by HMSHost at Nashville International Airport
Best Bar Experience – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: Memphis Made Brewing by HMSHost at Memphis International Airport
Airport With The Best Program Design
Winner: Salt Lake City International Airport
DE&I Trailblazer
Winner: Sunshine White, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Delaware North
Best Passenger Service
Winner: Directors Cut Take II at Kansas City International Airport
Best Lounge Experience
Winner: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at Boston Logan International Airport
Best ACDBE Operator
Winner: Bambuza Hospitality
Airport With The Best Overall Concessions Program – Large Airports Division
Winner: Orlando International Airport – Terminal C
Airport With The Best Overall Program – Medium/Small Airports Division Winner: Kansas City International Airport
Best Technology Initiative In Airports
Winner: Sensor Open/Closed Communication at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Best Casual Dining Concept – Large Airports Division
Winner: The Kitchen Step by Master ConcessionAir LLC at Newark Liberty International Airport
Best Casual Dining Concept – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: Brown & Loe by OHM at Kansas City International Airport
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Large Airports Division
Winner: Purebread by Coho Collective Kitchen at Vancouver International Airport
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: Chachi’s Sandwiches by 98 Food Co. at Calgary International Airport
Best Overall Retailer – Large Operators Division
Winner: Paradies Lagardère
Best Overall Retailer – Small Operators Division
Winner: NewsLink
Best Sustainability Initiative In Airports
Winner: DFW and Turn Compost
Best Overall Restaurateur – Large Operators Division
Winner: SSP America
Best Overall Restaurateur – Small Operators Division
Winner: Mission Yogurt, Inc.
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Operators Division
Winner: High Flying Foods
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Small Operators Division
Winner: LaTrelle’s
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Operators Division
Winner: Paradies Lagardère
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Small Operators Division
Winner: Be Relax
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Large Airports Division
Winner: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Airport With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Airports Division
Winner: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Airport With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: William P. Hobby Airport
Best Local Inspired Restaurant – Large Airports Division
Winner: Native by Nyesha by Jackmont Hospitality at Los Angeles International Airport
Best Local Inspired Restaurant – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: The Kansas City BBQ Experience by OHM at Kansas City International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Store – Large Airports Division
Winner: Whiskey Trailhead by WHSmith North America at Nashville International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Store – Medium/Small Airports Division
Winner: Civil Rights Trail by Hudson at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
The night concluded with celebration of four previously announced awards. AXN honored its three directors of the year – Tory Richardson, President and CEO, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority; Cindy Nichol, Director of Airports, Sacramento County Department of Airports; and Kimberly Becker, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority – as well as its property manager of the year, Penny May, Chief Commercial Officer, Denver International Airport
