June 12, 2024

Miami, FL – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today announced the recipients of the 2024 ACI-NA Airport Concessions Awards. The awards recognize airports, concessionaires, and industry business partners for their work in elevating the traveling public’s experience. Kansas City International Airport (MCI) won the 2024 Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence in Airport Concessions, and Jaimini Erskine of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) won the 2024 Concessions Person of the Year award.

“I am proud of the strong collaboration between the airport and concessions industries to improve the passenger experience at North American airports,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “I applaud this year’s honorees for their hard work in solidifying partnerships with local restaurants and retail providers that benefit the public, their airports, and the communities they serve. Airports and their partners will continue to identify and implement strategies that will enhance the passenger experience and facilitate our industry’s growth.”

The awards were announced during a gala dinner at the 2024 ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Miami, Florida. The conference had nearly 800 attendees representing the commercial management, business diversity, human resources, and finance sectors in the North American airport industry.

Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions: The Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions is ACI-NA’s highest honor for airport concessions. This award considers the totality of an airport’s concession program, including food service, retail, consumer services, quality, brands, sales, and build out.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is the 2024 Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions award winner. MCI’s concessions program embodies Kansas City and its rich culture. MCI intentionally integrated local concepts to highlight the city’s welcoming personality, its diverse culinary landscape, and unique brands.

 Concessions Person of the Year: This award recognizes an airport professional who has made a significant contribution to improving the North American concessions industry.

Jaimini Erskine of MWAA is the 2024 Concessions Person of the Year award winner. Erskine led MWAA to bring in $110 million of total in-terminal concession revenue at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) in 2023. Since joining MWAA in 2022, Erskine led the complete redevelopment of DCA’s and IAD’s concessions and marketing programs.

 Concept Awards:

• The 2024 Best New Food and Beverage (Full-Service Concept) award winner is Jackson Soul Food at Miami International Airport (MIA), operated by SSP America.
• The 2024 Best New Food and Beverage (Quick-Service Concept) award winner is Phoenix Magazine Café + Market at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), operated by TMG Hospitality USA.
• The 2024 Best New Local Concept award winner is Parnassus at Nashville International Airport (BNA), operated by Hudson.
• The 2024 Best New National Brand Concept award winner is Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen + Bar at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), operated by SSP America.
• The 2024 Best New News & Gift Concept award winner is 18^th & Vine at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), operated by WHSmith North America.
• The 2024 Best New Retail Concept award winner is The Salt Table + The Salt Table Spirits at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), operated by The Salt Table.
• The 2024 Best New Passenger Experience Concept (Airport Operator) award winner is Musqueam Gathering Place at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), operated by Vancouver Airport Authority.
• The 2024 Best New Passenger Experience Concept (Concessionaire) award winner is Find the Extraordinary Inside at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), operated by Clear Channel Outdoor, Airports Division.
• The 2024 Best New Non-Terminal Revenue Innovation Concept (Concessionaire) award winner is Park YYC at YYC Calgary International Airport (YYC), operated by The Calgary Airport Authority.

Best Employee Recognition Program Awards:

• The 2024 Best Airport Employee Recognition Program award winner is Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
• The 2024 Best Concessionaire Employee Recognition Program award winner is HMSHost.

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.