Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2025

JULY/AUGUST 2025

Dear Readers,

JULY/AUGUST 2025 / V23 N264

Welcome to the July/August issue of Airport Experience News. It’s been great seeing some of you at various industry conferences this summer, connecting with longtime friends and meeting new professionals in the airport industry. As we close out the summer conference “season,” the AX Team is already focusing on the 2026 Airport Experience Conference. In mid-June, the AX Team met at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, the site of our 2026 event. There we began laying the groundwork for the 22 nd annual conference! We welcome input from our industry partners and look forward to working with you in the coming months as the AX Conference agenda and events are finalized. On to this issue. While AXN covers airport F&B trends in virtually every issue, each year we designate one issue for expanded coverage of the sector. This is that issue! The great news is that airport bars and restaurants are flourishing, with a broad range of new openings and unique concepts adding vibrancy in a high-demand period. Check out our coverage of the shifting dynamics between airport F&B and common-use lounges. The astonishing growth of lounges in recent years has negatively impacted airport bars and restaurants, many industry professionals say. Now, the two “sides” are seeking closer collaboration so they can co-exist and thrive in the future. This issue also contains a spotlight on the sports celebrity-based restaurants that have strong appeal, especially in an athlete’s home city; a look at the latest in pouring rights in airports and a round-up of some of the many healthy brands looking to make inroads in airports.

THE EVOLVING LOUNGE – CONCESSIONS DYNAMIC

HEALTHY F&B BRANDS MAKE HEADWAY

ATHLETES LEND STAR POWER TO AIRPORT F&B

POURING RIGHTS EVOLUTION

Happy Reading,

Carol Ward Editor-in-Chief

Airport Experience News carol@airportxnews.com

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AX NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2025