After reviewing hundreds of submissions, the Airport Experience News team is pleased to share the finalists for its 2024 Airport Experience Awards.
AXN’s most nominated category this year was Best Local-Inspired Store, with 35 submissions. The industry also loved the Best Local-Inspired Restaurant category, with the large airport segment garnering 27 submissions and the medium/small segment getting nine submissions. Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept and Best Casual Dining Concept each garnered more than 20 nominations as well.
The finalist list is in the hands of our AX Awards Committee, comprised of 22 industry executives. Those 22 individuals will place their votes in each category, with concessions representatives voting on airport awards and airport representatives voting on concessionaire awards.
At the end of the voting period, the AX Team will tally the votes from committee members. Winners will be revealed at the 2024 Airport Experience Conference, to be held April 1-4 in Dallas.
Below are the finalists in each category:
Airport Awards:
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Large Airports
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Terminal A
- Nashville International Airport
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Medium/Small Airports
- Jacksonville International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
- San Jose Mineta International Airport
- Calgary International Airport
Airport With The Best Overall Program – Large Airports
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Orlando International Airport – Terminal C
- Nashville International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Terminal A
Airport With The Best Overall Program – Medium/Small Airports
- Edmonton International Airport
- Calgary International Airport
- Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
- Kansas City International Airport
Airport With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Airports
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Orlando International Airport
- Nashville International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Terminal A
- JFK Terminal 8
Airport With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Medium/Small Airports
- Houston Hobby
- Calgary International Airport
Airport With The Best Progam Design
- Orlando International Airport – Terminal C
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Terminal A
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Kansas City International Airport
Airport – Outstanding Woman in Leadership
- Penny May, Chief Commercial Officer, Denver International Airport
- Isabella Rhawie, Assistant Director, Concessions and Business Development, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
- Ingrid Hairston, Vice President of Properties and Business Development, Birmingham Airport Authority
- Dawn Blair, Interim Assistant Director, Business Development and Properties, Dallas Love
- Palmina Whelan, Capital Program Director, The New Terminal One at JFK
Concept and Operator Awards:
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Large Airports
- Wow Bao at Boston Logan International Airport, operated by PremAir Hospitality Group
- Ess-a-Bagel Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by MasterConcessionaire
- Chicken Guy! at Los Angeles International Airport, operated y JDDA Concession Management
- Purebread at Vancouver International Airport, operated by Coho Collective Kitchen
- Nourish by the Dirty Apron at Vancouver International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Sambazon at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, operated by HMSHost
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Medium/Small Airports
- Timber Pizza at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated by Jackmont Hospitality
- Bocce Club Pizza at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, operated by Delaware North
- Ben’s Soft Pretzels at Indianapolis International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Whataburger at San Antonio International Airport, operated by Paradies Lagardère
- Chachi’s Sandwiches at Calgary International Airport, operated by 98 Food Co.
- San Jose Mac + Cheese Kitchen at San José Mineta International Airport, operated by Elevate Gourmet Brands and Aimhigh ESG
Best Local-Inspired Store – Large Airports
- Vue New Jersey at Newark International Airport, operated by WHSmith North America
- Nashville Jam Sessions at Nashville International Airport, operated by Amy Billings and John Billings
- Whiskey Trailhead at Nashville International Airport, operated by WHSmith North America
- Wilshire & Fairfax at Los Angeles International Airport, operated by Hudson
- Legends of the North at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operated by Airport Retail Group
- Flowerette at Toronto Pearson International Airport, operated by Gardenstead
Best Local-Inspired Store – Medium/Small Airports
- Turn the Page at Kansas City International Airport, operated by WHSmith North America
- City Market at Kansas City International Airport, operated by WHSmith North America
- 18th And Vine at Kansas City International Airport, by WHSmith North America
- Civil Rights Trail at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, operated by Hudson
- Tin Lizzy’s at Will Rogers World Airport (Oklahoma City), operated by Paradies Lagardère
- Seven Hills Essentials at CVG (nom by CVG), operated by Paradies Lagardère
Best Local Inspired Restaurant – Large Airports
- Salty’s at the SEA at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by Seattle Food Partners (Concessions International)
- Native by Nyesha at Los Angeles International Airport, operated by Jackmont Hospitality
- The Cook & The Ox at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operated by Areas
- The Kitchen Step at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
- Office Tavern at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Villa Restaurant Group
- Mauka Market at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu), operated by HMSHost
Best Local Inspired Restaurant – Medium/Small Airports
- The Farmer’s Market Featuring Indiana Grown at Indianapolis International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Osteria at Will Rogers World Airport (Oklahoma City), operated by Paradies Lagardère
- Calavera at Oakland International Airport, operated by High Flying Foods
- Jim Stump’s Taproom + Kitchen at San Jose Mineta International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Soiree Steak & Seafood Jazz Club at Kansas City International Airport, operated by Concessions Solution Group
- The Kansas City BBQ Experience at Kansas City International Airport, operated by OHM
Best Casual Dining Concept – large airports
- 9th & Pike Artisan Kitchen at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by Bambuza Hospitality
- Chicken + Beer at Los Angeles International Airport, operated by Jackmont Hospitality
- Bluestone Lane at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Villa Restaurant Group
- Summer House Santa Monica at Orlando International Airport, operated by Delaware North and JV partners Superior Hospitality, Sweet Mango Hospitality
- Sunday Supper at LaGuardia, operated by OTG
- The Kitchen Step at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
Best Casual Dining Concept – Medium/Small Airports
- Brown & Loe at Kansas City International Airport, operated by OHM
- Tap & Pour at Edmonton International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Jim Stump’s Taproom at San Jose International Airport, operated by SSP America
- PF Chang’s at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
Best Bar Experience – Large Airports
- Brewtop Social at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by Seattle Food Partners (Concessions International)
- Tennessee Rickhouse at Nashville International Airport, operated by Newslink
- Town Bar at Newark International Airport, operated by Villa Restaurant Group
- Green Room Lounge and Whiskey Bar at Nashville International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Orlando Brewing at Orlando International Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
- Wine Bar George at Orlando International Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
Best Bar Experience – Medium/Small Airports
- Oakland Draft House at Oakland International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Memphis Made Brewing at Memphis International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Beercode at San Antonio International Airport, operated by Paradies Lagardère
- Codo Agave Social House at Calgary International Airport, operated by Delta Hotels
- Braxton Brewing Company at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, operated by Braxton Brewing Company
- Grapes & Grains at Kansas City International Airport, operated by OHM
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service –- Large Operators
- Hudson
- Paradies Lagardère
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service –- Small Operators
- Chanel
- Newslink
- Johnston & Murphy
- Be Relax
Best Overall Retailer –- Large Operators
- Hudson
- WHSmith North America
- Paradies Lagardère
Best Overall Retailer –- Small Operators
- Star Concessions
- NewsLink
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Operators
- Paradies Lagardère
- OTG
- High Flying Foods
- SSP America
- Tastes On the Fly
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Small Operators
- Mission Yogurt Inc
- LaTrelle’s
- PremAir Hospitality Group
Best Overall Restaurateur –- Large Operators
- Paradies Lagardère
- HMSHost
- OTG
- Areas USA
- High Flying Foods
- SSP America
Best Overall Restaurateur –- Small Operators
- Mission Yogurt
- LaTrelle’s
- Jackmont Hospitality
- PremAir Hospitality Group
- OHM Concession Group
Best ACDBE Operator
- Mission Yogurt
- Bambuza Hospitality
- Dirty Soles Footwear Group
- Gameway
- PhaseNext Hospitality
- Love From USA Group
Outstanding Woman in Leadership – Operator
- Kathleen Schafer, Vice President, Mission Yogurt
- Amy Latimer, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Delaware North
- Nikki Tinsley Harland, Chief Operating Officer, Paradies Lagardere
- Edie Ames, Chief Executive Officer, Tastes on the Fly
- Amanda Busby, Chief Operating Officer, SSP America
- Patricia Chinader, CEO, Love From USA Group
Best Passenger Experience
- The Chiroport at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Gameway at Los Angeles International Airport
- Directors Cut Take II at Kansas City International Airport
- Be Relax
Best Lounge Experience
- AMEX Centurion Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- AMEX Centurion Lounge at Denver International Airport
- Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at Boston Logan International Airport
Other Awards Categories:
Best Technology Initiative In Airports
- Sensor Open/Closed Communication at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Amazon One at Combination Decanted and Hudson Nonstop
- Signapse at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Atmosphere TV at various airports
- Drink Command Self Pour at Kansas City International Airport
Best Sustainability Initiative In Airports
- DFW and Turn Compost
- SSP Certified Green @ JFK T4
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Food Bank Initiative
- Paradies Lagardere CSR Strategy
- Crews Green Concession Certification at Dulles
- NaSah’s Nurture Nature’s “Save a Million Gallons” Initiative
DE&I Trailblazer
- Tamela Lee, VP of Business Diversity and Development, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Sunshine White, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Delaware North
- Carol McElheney, Regional VP Operations, Hudson
