Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wins Overall Griesbach Award of Excellence in ACI-NA Concessions Contest
CONTACT:
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org (202) 293-4537
Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org (202) 861-8080
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicago (November 6, 2007) - Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) today recognized Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC) as the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence winner in the 2007 Airport Concessions Contest. Twenty other airports also received recognition in this year's contest. Also, for the first time ACI-NA recognized a Concessions "Person of the Year," Susan Stiene of Vancouver International Airport, who is in her eighth year as Director, Retail & Passenger Services.
At the 2007 Concessions Conference Awards luncheon today, Richard White, Director of Properties for the Memphis-Shelby International Airport, winner of the 2006 Griesbach Award, presented the Griesbach award to SEA-TAC.
"SEA-TAC's excellent mix of national, regional, and particularly local brands in the areas of food and beverage, retail, and consumer services, has created a dynamic new experience for its passengers. The positioning of the retail and food service outlets throughout the terminal maximizes visibility and passenger movement. The design and fixtures contribute to establishing a unique Pacific Northwest sense of place. The store fronts are eye catching and the financial performance is superb," White said.
The contest received over 125 entries from airports of all sizes throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the Greisbach award, 20 other airports were recognized for their superior concessions programs in categories including:
Best Food and Beverage Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of the food service offerings included.
Small Airports
1st Place: Spokane International Airport-Rotunda
2nd Place: Dane County Regional Airport
Medium Airports
1st Place: San Antonio International Airport-Terminal 1
2nd Place: Southwest Florida International Airport
Large Airports
1st Place: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
2nd Place: Boston-Logan International Airport-Terminal A
3rd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport-Lindbergh Terminal
Best New Food and Beverage Concept in North America: Honors a single food service unit operating superior new concepts in sit-down restaurants, quick-service concepts, coffee and takeaway snacks.
1st Place: Stanford's Restaurant & Bar at Portland International Airport, operated by Restaurant's Unlimited
2nd Place (tie): Five Guys Burgers and Fries at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, operated by GVM Associates
2nd Place (tie): Waji's by Uwajimaya at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by Concourse Concessions
Honorable Mention: Obrycki's Crab House at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, operated by CRC Restaurants
Best Specialty Retail Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of its specialty retail offerings including apparel, jewelry, accessories, books, music, DVDs, toys, computer equipment, and perfume.
Small Airports
1st Place: Spokane International Airport-Rotunda
Large Airports
1st Place: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
2nd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport-Lindbergh Terminal
3rd Place: Boston-Logan International Airport-Terminal A
Best Convenience Retail Program in North America: Honors a single terminal or concourse for its mix, quality, brands, sales and build-out of its convenience retail offerings, such as newsstands, drugstores, pharmacies and convenience stores.
Small Airports
1st Place: Spokane International Airport-Rotunda
Medium Airports
1st Place: Southwest Florida International Airport
2nd Place: Houston William P. Hobby Airport-Central Terminal
Large Airports
1st Place: Detroit Metropolitan Airport-Wayne County Airport Authority-McNamara Terminal
2nd Place: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport-Terminal 1
3rd Place: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport-Lindbergh Terminal
Best New Retail Concept in North America: Honors a single retail unit including concepts such as apparel, jewelry, accessories, books, music, DVDs, toys, computer equipment, and perfume.
1st Place: Apple & Motorola Automated Retail Stores at San Francisco International Airport's International Terminal, operated by Zoom Systems
2nd Place: Harmony Pharmacy & Health Center at Newark Liberty International Airport, operated by Harmony Pharmacy & Health Center Incorporated-Terminal C
3rd Place: Second Edition Book Sellers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, operated by The Book Cellar LLC
Honorable Mention: Crocs at Orlando International Airport, operated by Crocodile Kiosk LLC
Best New Consumer Services Concept in North America: Honors a single personal services unit operating at an airport, including concepts such as spa, manicure, business center and shoe shine.
1st Place: Free Charge Power Stations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, operated by Clear Channel Airports
2nd Place: butterLondon at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, operated by butterLondon
Honorable Mention:10 Minute Manicure at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, operated by :10 Minute Manicure LLC
Best "Green" Concession Practice or Concept in North America: Honors a practice being applied or a single concession unit operating at an airport that supports the protection and sustainability of the environment.
1st Place: Your Planet at Salt Lake City International Airport, operated by Air Terminal Gifts -Terminal 2
Concession Person of the Year: Honors a professional working at an airport, concession operator, service provider or consultancy that has contributed to enhancing the North American airport industry through their time, involvement and expertise.
Susan Stiene, Director, Retail & Passenger Services, Vancouver International Airport
The awards were announced during the ACI-NA Airport Concessions Conference in Chicago, at which representatives of the entire North American airport concessions industry are in attendance. This annual conference brings together airport management and concessions professionals to examine the trends and best practices in airport retail planning, goal setting, and key operational and management issues.
Entries for this year's contest were judged by an independent panel comprised of high-level professionals from each of the various disciplines reflected in the contest (i.e. food and beverage, retail mall development, consumer groups, architecture and academic communities). In addition to the independent panel, one representative from the previous years' overall winner was also involved in the judging process.
The contest, which began in 1998, is named for Richard A. Griesbach, a long-time industry professional in airport concession programs from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Previous winners of the prestigious Griesbach Award of Excellence include:
2006- Memphis International Airport-Concourse B
2005 – Edmonton International Airport-Central Hall
2004 – LaGuardia Airport-Central Terminal Building
2003 – No winner
2002 – Philadelphia International Airport
2001 – Calgary International Airport
2000 – Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
1999 – Chicago O'Hare International Airport
1998 – Portland International Airport
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About ACI-NA:
The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. 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. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.