WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, will host the 2024 ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition September 7- 10, in Grand Rapids, MI. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) will host this year’s event with Airport Dimensions, Boingo Wireless, HMSHost, Hudson, HNTB, Lyft, Parsons, Ricondo, and SSP America serving as executive level sponsors.
“The 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition offers unparalleled opportunities for professional development, learning, and networking across the North American airport industry,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Our industry has continued to focus on resiliency and the future with intense concentration on infrastructure, sustainability, diversity, equity, inclusion, economic development, workforce development, technology, and innovation. We look forward to advancing these priorities in the days ahead with more than 2,000 delegates from across the airport industry.”
“Gerald R. Ford International Airport is at the heart of significant developments, and we are eager to showcase our commitment to innovation and excellence as we welcome attendees to Grand Rapids, Michigan,” said Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson. “Our airport is undergoing transformative enhancements with more than $600 million in investments to modernize our facilities, optimize operational efficiencies, and deliver an exceptional guest experience. We’re thrilled to serve as the host airport for this dynamic conference, which will be a hub for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration. This is a unique opportunity to engage with industry peers, connect with esteemed vendors, and explore the latest advancements in the aviation sector.”
2024 conference programming, “Advancing Progress,” will focus on emerging trends and opportunities that will drive the future of the airport industry. This year’s event will feature a keynote address from Michael Smerconish, nationally-syndicated Sirius XM Radio talk show host, CNN host, and best-selling author. Sheryl Connelly, leading futurist and global consumer trends expert, legendary Chief Futurist at Ford Motor Company from 1996-2023, will deliver the conference’s closing keynote.
The 2024 ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition will feature a sold-out trade show floor with more than 170 exhibitors. Attendees will gain access to more than 270 booths showcasing the latest products and innovations enhancing the airport experience. A live show floor plan is available here.
A full agenda and more conference details for 2024 ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition can be found on the ACI-NA website. Credentialed members of the media are welcome to cover the event and should contact Scott Elmore for additional information.
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About ACI-NA
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.
About Gerald R. Ford International Airport
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the second busiest airport in Michigan, serving business and leisure travelers with nonstop and connecting flights on seven airlines. The Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. For more information, visit www.flyford.org or follow the airport on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram @FlyGRFord.
Airport Dimensions
Airport Dimensions are global specialists in designing, building, and operating shared-use lounges and airport experiences. We’re committed to meeting the needs of global travelers by remaining at the forefront of innovation and unlocking new revenue opportunities for airports. Our guaranteed access to Collinson Group’s customers, plus our experience working with over 40 airports and multiple airline partners powers the delivery of award-winning experiences to millions of travelers.
We believe in making the airport experience better for travelers and more profitable for airports by focusing on three dimensions. The physical dimension; designing exceptional spaces and delivering standout service. The digital dimension; streamlining lounge access and enhancing guests’ experience. And the data dimension; smart data collection leading to insight-driven decisions.
Parsons
Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the global infrastructure and national security markets, with capabilities across cyber and intelligence, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. With 80 years of experience, we have planned, designed, constructed, managed, enhanced, and sustained over 450 airports in 40 countries. We deliver complex projects for airports of all sizes, from regional to international hubs, and offer innovative solutions for airfield and terminal improvements, landside and airside infrastructure, environmental remediation, and digital transformation. Our capabilities include full lifecycle capital project delivery services such as strategic advisory, feasibility studies, planning, design, construction, program and construction management, EPC, special systems, PFAS remediation, cybersecurity, and operational readiness and airport transfer. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn more about how we’re making an impact in aviation.
Hudson
Hudson is part of Avolta, a leading global travel experience player that operates food and beverage, travel convenience, specialty retail, and duty-free stores in travel venues. Hudson operates over 1,000 retail stores in nearly 90 airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist destinations across North America, including national, local, and our own proprietary concepts.
HMSHost
HMSHost is part of Avolta, a leading global travel experience player that operates food and beverage, travel convenience, specialty retail, and duty-free stores in travel venues. HMSHost operates over 1,000 dining venues in nearly 80 airports across North America, including local, regional, and national brands, partnerships with award-winning chefs, and our own proprietary concepts.
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With 110 years of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex, technical, financial and operational challenges. We partner with airports to manage, design and plan critical programs and projects. Leveraging our industry-leading expertise, along with imaginative and innovative thinking, we are helping shape the future of air travel while enhancing the traveler experience. To learn more about HNTB’s aviation expertise, visit hntb.com/aviation.
HNTB’s signature aviation work includes:
- Providing full-service program management support for the redevelopment program at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- Serving as the lead design firm for the Airside D international terminal at Tampa International Airport.
- Lead designer, architect and engineer for the A-West Concourse expansion at Denver International Airport.
Boingo Wireless
Digital transformation at airports is complex. Simplify it with Boingo Wireless. Boingo is the largest operator of airport distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi and private networks in the U.S. The company designs, builds and manages converged, secure neutral host public and private networks at major airports around the world, reaching over 1 billion travelers annually. Its product portfolio includes cellular DAS and small cells, private 5G, Wi-Fi, macro towers and Passpoint. Learn more by downloading Boingo’s eBook for airport executives at boingo.com/airport5G.
SSP America
SSP America is a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage concessions in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges, and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations, and other leisure locations. We operate in approximately 180 airports and 300 rail stations in 36 countries around the world and operate more than 550 international, national, and local brands across our 2,700 units. The SSP America team is driven by a shared vision to bring authentic restaurant experiences to every airport in North America. Our employees have a passion for exceptional food served by people who believe in heartfelt hospitality. Our airport partners trust SSP America to deliver a world-class portfolio of brands with broad passenger appeal and lasting commercial viability. Our brand heroes trust us to bring a taste of place to their hometown airport.
Ricondo
Ricondo & Associates, Inc., and Airports Council International-North America are pleased to announce the formation of a Strategic Partnership to advocate airport business planning best practices and improvements to airport financial operations and long-term financial viability. Since its inception in 1989, Ricondo has been dedicated to solving the challenging problems facing the airport and airline industries. The consulting services offered by Ricondo range from broad problem-solving consulting to specialized technical analyses in the following areas: Airfield Analysis and Planning Airport Business and Financial Services Airspace Analysis and Planning Concessions Planning Environmental Services Forecasting General Advisory Services Land Use and Development Planning Landside Planning Management Support Services Noise Analyses Operations Research Regulatory Assistance Strategic Planning Sustainability Services Terminal and Facilities Planning
Lyft
Lyft is one of the largest transportation networks in North America, bringing together rideshare, bikes, and scooters all in one app. We are customer-obsessed and driven by our purpose: getting riders out into the world so they can live their lives together, and providing drivers a way to work that gives them control over their time and money.
