HMSHost Corp. and joint venture partner Chelsea’s Sandwiches of Texas Inc. have announced the award of a new 10-year food and beverage concessions contract at San Antonio International (SAT). HMSHost was also awarded a 10-year newsstand contract at the airport with joint venture partner The Houston 8 LLC.
Rosario’s Mexican Café© y Cantina is slated to open this year in the new Terminal B. A local landmark, the eatery offers menu favorites such as Rosario’s famous shrimp nachos, Pollo a la Maria, Angelica’s Ceviche Fino, margaritas and more.
“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with HMSHost, whose understanding of our travelers’ preferences is evidenced by the outstanding local dining and newsstand brands they’re bringing to our new Terminal,” says Frank Miller, aviation director of the San Antonio Aviation Department.
HMSHost has also combined Starbucks with R Sala Bebida Botana Bar, another local favorite. Starbucks will offer pastries, bagels, sandwiches, salads and coffee; R Sala will feature small-plate offerings representative of local cuisine, including chorizo-stuffed empanadas, served with Poblano sour cream, Alambres mini beef and chicken skewers drizzled with chimichuri salsa and braised BBQ brisket served on a grilled French bun.
“HMSHost and our ACDBE partners, Chelsea’s Sandwiches of Texas and The Houston 8 LLC, appreciate the opportunity to showcase the city of San Antonio’s best local offerings as part of San Antonio International Airport’s new concessions program,” says Anthony Alessi, vice president of business development for HMSHost. “With such a variety of bold and unique flavors, we have the opportunity to make the traveler’s day better when they’re visiting this exciting city.”
On the retail front, San Antonio Express-News and Texas Monthly News will later arrive at Terminal 1 and Terminal B. Six newsstand locations, created in partnership with the local newspaper and one of the state’s top magazine, will offer newspapers, magazines, sundries, snacks and water.
In other SAT news…
The airport has launched marketing and customer service outreach on Facebook and Twitter as a way to better connect with local and out-of-town travelers.
Updates will include information about what is going on at the airport, including concessions specials and discounts, weather updates, contests, flight delay and cancelation information, expansion and construction news, and other instant updates important to the airport and passengers.
“It is not just about weather, fares and airport events,” says Rich Johnson, public relations manager for the San Antonio Airport System. “It is a way for us to interact with our customers. We can be in better contact with our users, especially since most people can now use the various apps on their mobile devices and we also have free Wi-Fi throughout the airport property. It is a way to take the information on our Web site and abbreviate it.”
On Facebook, visitors can search for “San Antonio International Airport”; on Twitter, SAT can be followed at twitter.com/saairport.
