Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2025

Flagship and Admirals Club lounges in Terminal A-West – bringing the airport’s total number of lounges to 12, according to Kate Sullivan, PHL’s chief commercial officer. “For a bustling airport like PHL, being able to activate new spaces that attract business partners and passengers allows us to maximize our terminal real estate and improve our guests’ experience,” Sullivan says. “Also, for our airport, which exists in a region where passengers may choose from flying into or out of a few different airports, being able to provide truly special lounges may play a role in what airport regional passengers select.” Song points out that the shift to such strong demand for airport lounges today is due to several factors. “It’s partly due to changes in the airport business model, where non-aeronautical revenue has become a critical source of income – with many routes and airports available, becoming a key global or transit hub requires exceptional airport hospitality, and lounges play an instrumental role in

this,” he says. “And then it’s also because passenger expectations have evolved so much and they’re more experience-driven than ever. At PPG, we’ve evolved as well, offering more features that cater to different types of travelers beyond just dining and free Wi-Fi. Some of our lounges feature art exhibitions, in-lounge bars, massage services and more to meet the different needs and demands of passengers.” Concessionaire Concerns While Andrew Weddig, executive director of the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA), notes that there isn’t any independent hard data available on whether lounges directly impact concessions Right, Below: Airport Dimensions currently operates 84 airport lounges across the globe (The Club at San Francisco International Airport shown) and the company has seen steady year-over year growth thanks to growing demand among passengers and airports.