FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2019
SCOTTSDALE – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) last night announced Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) as the winner of the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence in the 2019 ACI-NA Airport Concessions Awards. The 2019 ACI-NA Concessions Person of the Year was awarded to Jessica Dixon of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
“ACI-NA’s Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence recognizes the most remarkable, innovative work in airport concessions as North American airports strive to improve the passenger experience,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Terminal 1 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is a prime example of this work. I applaud their efforts and extend my congratulations to both MSP and the rest of the ACI-NA Airport Concessions Awards winners.”
Last year was a record-breaking year for concession revenue at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Over the course of three years, the airport completely revamped the shops and restaurants at Terminal 1. This large project includes 35 new shops and 45 new restaurants. MSP made each decision thoughtfully – defining the terminal’s design with a mantra of “pleasing disruption with bold, show-stopping storefronts.” Since the renovations, MSP has enjoyed a 27 percent increase in retail sales growth.
Jessica Dixon of John Wayne Airport was recognized as the 2019 ACI-NA Concessions Person of the Year. As a Real Property Agent for the Business Development Division at John Wayne Airport, Dixon has increased concession revenues by 40 percent. Her role in planning, development, and public outreach for John Wayne Airport’s Concession Program has led to the most progressive concession redevelopment program in the airport’s history.
“Jessica’s outstanding customer service, innovative ideas and commitment to excellence have contributed to John Wayne Airport’s success as a top rated airport for customer experience and satisfaction,” said Burke. “ACI-NA is proud to recognize her exemplary work.”
The awards were announced during a gala dinner at the 2019 ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. More than 600 commercial management, business diversity, human resource and finance representatives from the North American airport industry attended the conference.
This year’s contest received more than 180 nominations from airports of all sizes throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the Griesbach Award and Concessions Person of the Year, 41 other awards were presented in the following categories:
Best “Green” Concessions Concept or Practice
1st Place: HMSHost Food Donation Program (Operated by HMSHost)
2nd Place: Loaves and Fishes Food Donation (Operated by MSP Airport Community)
3rd Place: #NoStraws – The Last Straw (Operated by HMSHost)
Best Innovative Consumer Experience Concept or Practice
1st Place: Gameway, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Operated by Gameway)
2nd Place: Eat Well. Travel Further. (Operated by HMSHost)
3rd Place: Reis & Irvy’s FroYo Vending Machine, Indianapolis International Airport (Szostak FroYo Franchising, LLC)
Best Passenger Services Concept
1st Place: The Club (Operated by Airport Lounge Development)
2nd Place: Meet & Greet – Airport Concierge Service (Operated by Airport Butler)
Best New Consumer Service Concept
1st Place: U.S. Careways, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Operated by Paradies Lagardère)
2nd Place: Meet & Greet – Airport Concierge Service (Operated by Airport Butler)
Best New Food and Beverage (Full-Service Concept)
1st Place: 1300 on Fillmore, San Francisco International Airport (Operated by SSP America)
2nd Place: Whisky River, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (Operated by HMSHost)
3rd Place: R&R Seafood Bar, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (Operated by CRC Restaurants, Inc.)
Best New Food and Beverage (Quick-Service Concept)
1st Place: Limon Rotisserie, San Francisco International Airport (Operated by Paradies Lagardère)
2nd Place: Food Truck Alley, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Operated by Midfield Concessions)
3rd Place: MumFresh, San Francisco International Airport (Operated by SSP America)
Best New Local Concept
1st Place: Kenny & Zuke’s Delicatessen and Market, Portland International Airport (Operated by SSP America)
2nd Place: McNally Jackson Books, LaGuardia Airport (Operated by Hudson Group)
3rd Place: Palmetto Distillery, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (Operated by Palmetto Distillery/Hudson Group)
Best New National Brand Concept
1st Place: Starbucks, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Operated by HMS Host)
2nd Place: MAC Lips, O’Hare International Airport (Operated by Hudson Group)
3rd Place: Bánh Shop, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Operated by SSP America)
Best New News & Gift Concept
1st Place: Ink by Hudson, Tucson International Airport (Operated by Hudson Group)
Best New Retail Concept
1st Place: Frivolous, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Operated by Delaware North)
2nd Place: The Shoppes at Bayshore, Tampa International Airport (Operated by NewsLink)
3rd Place: Tyler’s Austin Warehouse, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Operated by Delaware North)
Best Food & Beverage Program – Large Airport
1st Place: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal C
2nd Place: Tampa International Airport
3rd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Best Food & Beverage Program – Medium Airport
1st Place: Dallas Love Field Airport
2nd Place: Edmonton International Airport
Best Food & Beverage Program – Small Airport
1st Place: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
2nd Place: Tulsa International Airport
Best Airport Concessions Transformation Program – Large Airport
1st Place: Los Angeles International Airport, Terminal 1
Best Airport Concessions Transformation Program – Small Airport
1st Place: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Best Retail Program – Large Airport
1st Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
2nd Place: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Terminal D
3rd Place: Tampa International Airport
Best Retail Program – Medium Airport
1st Place: Edmonton International Airport
2nd Place: Dallas Love Field Airport
Best Retail Program – Small Airport
1st Place: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
2019 Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
2019 Concessions Person of the Year
Jessica Dixon, John Wayne Airport
