Miami International (MIA) held its second annual Concession of the Year Awards Ceremony, which recognizes the airport’s top stores and restaurants based on customer service, merchandise and menu offerings.
The 24 nominees were judged by a three-person panel of industry professionals from Bayside Marketplace, the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, and The Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. Size categories were determined by annual gross revenue, with large-category nominees earning $5 million or more, medium-category nominees earning $2 million to $5 million and small-category nominees earning up to $2 million.
Half Moon Empanadas, Icebox Café and Johnston & Murphy won the Concessionaire of the Year awards for the small, medium and large categories respectively. 305 Pizza won as Best New Concept. Finally, the award for Overall Concession of the Year went to Half Moon Empanadas.
“The quality and diversity of our concessions are some of the most important contributors to our customer satisfaction ratings, so we are proud to recognize these exemplary restaurants and stores,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio González. “Even more gratifying is that three of the four winners this year are local small businesses.”
