Airport Experience News is pleased to share the finalists for its 2023 Airport Experience Awards.
Over the past two months, the AX Team accepted nominations in 31 different awards categories. There were hundreds of nominations in total, with select categories garnering more than 20 submissions. Other categories had only a few nominees. For each, the AX Team narrowed down the nominations to up to six finalists.
Last week, the finalist nominations were shared with AXN’s Awards Committee, comprised of 22 prominent industry members. 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 2023 Airport Experience Conference, to be held February 26-March 1 in Denver.
Below are the finalists in each category:
Airport Awards:
Airport With the Best Commercial Management Team – Large
- Nashville International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
- San Diego International Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
Airport With the Best Commercial Management Team – Medium/Small
- Jacksonville International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
Airport With the Best Overall Program – Large
- Boston Logan International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- LaGuardia Airport
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
Airport With the Best Overall Program – Medium/Small
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
Airport With the Best Program Design – Large
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- LaGuardia Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
Airport With the Best Program Design – Medium/Small
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- Edmonton International Airport
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport
Airport With the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Large
- Nashville International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Orlando International Airport
Airport With the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Medium/Small
- Houston Hobby Airport
- Indianapolis International Airport
Outstanding Woman in Leadership – Airport
- Daphne Shelton, Director Concessions Development, Edmonton Airports
- Kimberly Becker, President/CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
- Penny May, Chief Commercial Officer, Denver International Airport
- Zenola Campbell, Vice President, Concessions, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Concept and Operator Awards:
Best Bar Experience – Large Airports
- Harpoon at Boston Logan International Airport, operated by Newslink
- Independence Prime at Philadelphia International Airport, operated by OTG Management
- Tennessee Brew Works at Nashville International Airport, operated by Delaware North
- Vyne Washington Tasting Room at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Wolfgang Puck Bar & Bites at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated by Master ConcessionAir
Best Bar Experience – Medium/Small Airports
- The Canadian Brewhouse at Edmonton International Airport, operated by ECG Ventures Ltd
- Cure at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Sun King Brewery at Indianapolis International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Trader Vic’s at San Jose International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Vino Volo at Oklahoma City International Airport, operated by Paradies Lagardère
Best Casual Dining Concept
- Ballard Brew Hall at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Pig Star at Nashville International Airport, operated by Delaware North
- Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Mountain Vista at Colorado Springs Airport, operated by SSP America
Best Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR)
- Settebello Pizzaria at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operated by The Grove, Inc.
- Southern Grounds at Jacksonville International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Wow Bao at Boston Logan International Airport, operated by PremAir (Newslink Group)
- Betcha Burger Bar at Los Angeles International Airport, operated by Concord Collective Partners
- Poppy’s Bagels at multiple locations, operated by OTG Management
Best Local Inspired Restaurant – Large Airports
- The Blue Door Pub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operated by Areas USA
- Bubby’s at LaGuardia Airport, operated by OTG Management
- LouLou Market & Bar at Seattle Tacoma International Airport, operated by SSP America
- Mercantile Dining & Provisions at Denver International Airport, operated by Tastes on the Fly
- Ole Red at Nashville International Airport, operated by Ryman Hospitality
Best Local-Inspired Restaurant – Medium/Small Airports
- Emeril’s Table at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, operated by HMSHost
- Oaklandish at Oakland International Airport, operated by High Flying Foods
- Smoke Shack at San Antonio International Airport, operated by Paradies Lagardère
- The High Porch Post at Eastern Iowa Airport, operated by SSP America
- The Canadian Brewhouse at Edmonton International Airport, operated by ECG Ventures Ltd.
Best Local-Inspired Store
- 49 Mile Market at San Francisco International Airport, operated by Hudson
- Hip & Humble at Salt Lake City International Airport, operated by Paradies Lagardère
- Hjem + Home at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, operated by Delaware North
- The Opry Shop at Nashville International Airport, operated by Ryman Hospitality
- Filson at Seattle Tacoma International Airport, operated by Seattle Air Ventures JV (Hudson)
Best Lounge Experience
- Capital One Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- The American Express/Centurion Lounge at Denver International Airport
- The Landmark Lounge at Toronto Pearson International Airport
- The Club (Airport Dimensions) at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
Best Passenger Service
- Gameway
- Minute Suites
- SkySquad
- NaSah Nurture + Nature
Best ACDBE Operator
- Aero Service Group
- Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen
- Concord Collective Partners
- Crews Hospitality, LLC
- Gameway
- Innovative Retail Group
Best Overall Restaurateur – Large Companies
- Areas USA
- Delaware North
- SSP America
- Paradies Lagardère
- Tastes on the Fly
- HMSHost
Best Overall Restaurateur – Medium/Small Companies
- Aero Service
- Crews
- High Flying Foods
- Outstanding Hospitality Management Concession Group
- Star Concessions
Best Overall Retailer – Large Companies
- Paradies Lagardère
- Hudson
- Marshall Retail Group
Best Overall Retailer – Medium/Small Companies
- DIA Retail Fashion, LLC / SkyMarket
- Newslink Group
- Johnston & Murphy
Restaurateur with the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Large Companies
- Delaware North
- Paradies Lagardère
- SSP America
- Tastes on the Fly
- HMSHost
Restaurateur with the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Medium/Small Companies
- Banmore Group
- High Flying Foods
- Mission Yogurt
- Star Concessions
Retailer with the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Large Companies
- Paradies Lagardère
Retailers with the Highest Regard for Customer Service – Medium/Small Companies
- Be Relax
- NewsLink
- Skyport
- Johnston & Murphy
Outstanding Woman in Leadership – Operator
- Heather Barry, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, SSP America
- Maritza Haller, Vice President of Culture, High Flying Foods
- LeMonica Hakeem, Founder and CEO, Conekt Hospitality
- Juanita Britton, President, BZB International
- Nikki Tinsley Harland, Chief Operating Officer, Paradies Lagardère
Other Awards Categories:
Best Sustainability Initiative
- Cooking Oil To BioFuel at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Waste Reduction Efforts at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
- Food Redistribution by Marketplace PHL and Philadelphia International Airport
- Green Restaurant Association Certification at JFK T4 by SSP America
Best Technology Initiative
- Flo XGen used by OTG Management
- Solink used by Paradies Lagardère
- Order at Table/Virtual Kiosk used by SSP America
- Amazon Just Walk Out/Amazon One used by Hudson
DE&I Trailblazer
- Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director, Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas)
- Carlos Bernal, CEO, Areas USA
- Andrea Albo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Denver International Airport
Dannielle Ball, Human Resources Partner for HMSHost, Toronto Pearson International Airport
