Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2024

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

Above: Daytona Beach International Airport is growing, but it continuously struggles with leakage to Orlando, which is just over an hour away.

different experience. Parking is easy access and you’re typically through security and at your gate within 10 minutes. And it’s just a serene atmosphere. We say it’s convenient, friendly, and stress free. Once the passenger tries Daytona, usually they stick to it. WARD: Are you working with the business community to really get that messaging out? FEASTER: Yes, we’re very fortunate because our county council is very supportive of the airport and the business community as well. The airport and economic development are under the same department for the county, and the county understands how important the airport is. Our team works very closely with the business community, the chamber, and especially the [Convention & Visitors Bureaus]. In our area we have three CVBs. One covers Daytona, then there is one for New Smyrna Beach just south of us, and

one for West Volusia County. In addition, right on the airport we have Embry Riddle University, which is a huge partner of ours. We also have the Daytona Speedway (off-airport). The Daytona 500 was in February, and both Delta and American added flights from different areas. WARD: Are you okay on facilities at the moment? Do you have any capital development going on? FEASTER: Our terminal is 32 years old, but luckily when they built it, it was very modern design. In 2021, we did…a facelift, and the terminal really was transformed. It is absolutely gorgeous. We wanted you to feel, when you get off the aircraft, that you are on vacation. We have a large water feature, so you hear the water, you see the natural light coming in and a lot of plants. Also, with the terminal renovation, we did a lot of projects that really focused on the customer experience. For example, we created a gorgeous art gallery. And

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AX NEWS JUNE 2024