Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2023

L ATES T BUZ Z

“We’re incorporating much more from a number of different craft breweries, as well as craft spirits that are here in Spokane by a company called Dry Fly Distilling ,” says Krauter. “We’ve done well getting some of their products into the current environment, and there’s hope that we can have a much more local experience as opposed to a lot of national brands.” Creating a passenger experience reflective of Spokane’s vibrant culinary, outdoor and cultural offerings is just the

tip of the economic growth TREX can bring the airport, the team adds, noting that the first phase of the project alone has created over 1,000 jobs and will make $293 million in total economic impact. The TREX C Concourse project has also been funded without using taxpayer money — instead supported by a variety of grants and $11 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Terminals Program grant awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration. “The game changer for us was the bipartisan infrastructure law,” says Krauter. “Our ability to receive funds from the program allowed us to move forward in confidence that we could achieve these projects and not find ourselves in a highly leveraged situation financially.” The careful planning has paid off, allowing for speedy progress on TREX’s next phase — the creation of the airport’s new Central Hall and consolidated screening area. “We’re not even in the planning process anymore. We’re already in design,” says Krauter. He believes that creating a more st reaml ined, ef f icient , and most importantly, well-outfitted Spokane experience will continue to attract business and leisure travelers to the airport. “We’re all dealing with a rise in ‘bleisure’ travel, and are trying to understand how our service development can maximize this trend,” says Krauter. “Spokane in particular, has some very significant advantages for these travelers, particularly those that are looking for that life-changing, ‘outdoor playground’ experience. We have the chance to attract more conferences, and I think that the capacity we’re adding is going to allow us to continue to do that.” Krauter notes that Spokane locals will also win out, as the TREX build will allow for additional outbound flights to popular vacation spots like Hawaii, Palm Springs, and Mexico. “We see it as a symbiotic opportunity for both in- and outbound travel,” adds Krauter. And as Spokane gears up for its next phase of expansion, Krauter and the GEG team already see the impact that TREX has made on the quickly growing hub. “We’ve been involved in this planning process for so long,” he says, “and it’s exciting to finally see the steel, bricks, and mortar piece of it happen.”

Below: Plans aren’t yet set for concessions in the new facility, but airport officials are targeting an elevated experience that includes some of Spokane’s prominent restaurant and bar offerings. Bottom: The financial burden for GEG’s Concourse C expansion (ticketing hall pictured) was eased substantially by the $11 million the airport received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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