SEATTLE, WA – 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 2026 Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Awards. San Diego International Airport (SAN), the airport with the most overall recognition across categories, received the 2026 Peggy G. Hereford Award for Overall Excellence.
“The Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Awards celebrate the people who shape how passengers experience their airports every day,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Chris Rocheleau. “With a record-breaking number of entries this year, the creativity and talent across North America’s airports are truly impressive. Congratulations to the team at San Diego International Airport and to every winner for the thoughtful work they do to keep passengers informed and welcomed.”
With nearly 500 entries in over 20 categories, this year’s awards highlight the top airports across North America and recognize the important work of their airport staff to creatively market, amplify, and communicate their airport’s customer experience capabilities and initiatives.
Since their formation in 1990, the Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Awards have recognized the quality of work, abundance of talent, and creativity within the airport industry’s marketing, communications, and customer experience fields.
2026 Award Winners
Annual Reports
This category recognizes the annual report that best projects a positive image for the airport through well-written and well-organized content, excellent design, and well-conceived overall packaging.
The 2026 winner for Annual Reports is Victoria International Airport.
Brand Identity
The winner in this category best demonstrates the visible elements of an airport’s brand that together identify and distinguish the brand in the minds of airport passengers.
The 2026 winner for Brand Identity is Philadelphia International Airport.
Digital Advertising
The winner in this category demonstrates the best in web and social media advertising that promotes the airport, including giveaways, contests, and other promotional initiatives.
The 2026 winner for Digital Advertising is San Diego International Airport.
Partnering with Carriers
The aviation industry’s ever-changing nature has created opportunities for airports and airlines to collaborate. The winner in this category best demonstrates how the airport has cooperated with airlines for the good of both entities and the community.
The 2026 winner for Partnering with Carriers is Orlando International Airport.
Print Communications
This category recognizes excellence in brochures and print advertising to highlight a specific event, industry segment, or special offer.
The 2026 winner for Print Communications is San Diego International Airport.
Promotional Items
This category recognizes successful results of using merchandise to promote the airport or a specific initiative.
The 2026 winner for Promotional Items is Cincinnati /Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Radio Advertising
The winner in this category best demonstrates the usage of radio advertising to promote a specific event, airport service, industry segment, or special offer.
The 2026 winner for Radio Advertising is Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Video and Film Production
This category recognizes the best overall production of an airport video, film, web commercial, or television commercial.
The 2026 Video and Film Production winner is San Diego International Airport.
Community Education and Outreach – Off Campus
This category honors the most effective community engagement and aviation education programs conducted outside the airport’s campus.
The 2026 winner for Community Education and Outreach – Off Campus is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Community Education and Outreach – On Campus
This category recognizes airports with the most creative and effective community outreach and aviation education programs conducted online or inside the airport.
The 2026 winner for Community Education and Outreach – On Campus is Pittsburgh International Airport.
Special Events
The winner in this category best demonstrates the completion of a unique special event to promote the airport within a community.
The 2026 winner for Special Events is Boston Logan International Airport.
Responsive Communications
The winner in this category best demonstrates successful communications surrounding any irregular or otherwise unscheduled operation or event, either internal or external.
The 2026 winner for Responsive Communications is Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Social Media Campaigns
This category recognizes campaigns that connect people through social media and allow them to be integrated in a product, service, or overall airport experience.
The 2026 winner for Social Media Campaigns is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Newsletters
The winner in this category best demonstrates how internal and/or external newsletters can educate or inform about airport initiatives.
The 2026 winner for Newsletters is Ontario International Airport.
Websites
This category recognizes outstanding websites from a design, communications, accessibility, and navigation standpoint.
The 2026 winner for Websites is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Customer Experience Through People
This category recognizes innovative initiatives and strategies that foster employee engagement, motivation and overall satisfaction to better align with your airport’s customer experience vision.
The 2026 winner for Customer Experience Through People is Orlando International Airport.
Customer Experience Technology Innovation
This category recognizes passenger-facing technological innovations inside and outside the terminal, including mobile websites, mobile apps, and other innovations with the best overall design, functionality, and clarity.
The 2026 winner for Customer Experience Technology Innovation is Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Partnering with Concessionaires or Service Providers
As airports and their business partners work to enhance the customer experience, this category recognizes excellence when airports and concessionaires/service providers work together.
The 2026 winner for Partnering with Concessionaires or Service Providers is Philadelphia International Airport.
Local Art, Canvas & Culture
This category celebrates innovative permanent installations, rotating exhibitions, and performing arts initiatives that transform terminal spaces into engaging environments for passengers.
The 2026 winner for Local Art, Canvas & Culture is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Advancements in Accessibility
This category recognizes innovations in accessibility that improve the experience for all travelers. Advancements can range from improved staff training and best practices, infrastructure and design, to assistive technologies.
The 2026 winner for Advancements in Accessibility is Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Customer Experience Programs
The winners in this category best demonstrate how new elements to current programs or new programs developed in the customer service arena have significantly enhanced the overall passenger experience at the airport. This award is presented in three categories: Large Airport, Medium Airport, and Small Airport.
The 2026 winners for Customer Experience Programs are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Large Airport), Halifax Stanfield International Airport (Medium Airport), and Asheville Regional Airport (Small Airport).
Marketing Programs
The winners in this category best demonstrate how marketing programs help define an airport’s product or service and create a strategy for communicating the message that will produce growth. This award is presented in three categories: Large Airport, Medium Airport, and Small Airport.
The 2026 winners for Overall Marketing Programs are Charlotte Douglas International Airport (Large Airport), Hollywood Burbank Airport (Medium Airport), and Rochester International Airport (Small Airport).
Public Relations Programs
The winners in this category best demonstrate how a public relations program can be a planned effort to improve the airport’s image in the public eye. This award is presented in three categories: Large Airport, Medium Airport, and Small Airport.
The 2026 winners for Public Relations Programs are Philadelphia International Airport (Large Airport), Edmonton International Airport (Medium Airport), and J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport (Small Airport).
Best in Airport Partnerships
This award recognizes the value of partnerships between airports when undertaking marketing, public relations, and customer experience initiatives. Entries should demonstrate how airport teams worked together to plan and execute initiatives within the marketing, public relations, or customer experience discipline areas.
The 2026 winners for Best in Airport Partnerships are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, San José Mineta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Oakland International Airport.
High-resolution photos from the awards ceremony can be found here.
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