Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

LATEST BUZZ

outposts of The Annie Café and Bar , a fresh take on Texas-influenced American cuisine by award-winning Executive Chef Robert Del Grande aims to provide Houstonians “with a well-rounded, approachable menu in a vibrant, sophisticated atmosphere;” along with Cedar Creek Bar & Grill from local restaurateur Gary Mosley’s, an eatery bringing “a bit of Hill Country to the city;” and The Kitchen, a chef-driven, global cuisine contemporary eatery with made to-order meals. The lineup also includes the well-known Einstein Bros. Bagels and Chili’s Grill and Bar as well as a new location of Urban Crave, SSP America’s proprietary brand bringing “street eats” to the airport. “We want to use some of the signature restaurants that we have in the community [in the new terminal],” says Szczesniak, “because locals always enjoy their familiar watering holes.” He adds that they also hope to lure travelers back to the popular connecting hub with new, top-notch local fare. “If you happen to be connecting that day and you eat at a good restaurant, you’ll want to come back to Houston, which has one of the best food scenes in the entire nation,” says Szczesniak. “We’re going to give you a little taste of it to get you hooked.” Below: An Oculus is part of the International Central Processor under construction at IAH. Once completed, the Oculus will feature 2,000 feet of digital display visible to passengers on two levels.

Right: A central landmark of the IAH project is a 380 foot feature wall designed to reduce unwanted afternoon sun exposure as well as to project ever-changing, localized displays.

Local retail will also have a prominent place at the new IAH terminal, as Paradies Lagardère plans to operate both the Houston Supply Co and Jetero Market , an artisan boutique named after the group of Houston businessmen who bought the airport land in 1957. “Knowing the IAH traveler as well as we do, we selected a unique yet very engaging range of concepts that would be welcomed and recognized but that also showcased the heart of Houston,” says David Bisset, executive vice president and chief development officer at Paradies Lagardère. “As such, Jetero Market’s interior showcases murals from one of the city’s premier artists, Jim Koehn, while the product lineup highlights items from Houston area and Texas artisans, including Frankie Jean, Exit 82 Art, Paris Texas Apparel Co., The Jewelry Junkie and so much more.”

“As always, our goal is to promote the culture, personality, and excitement of the city and the local businesses that are the backbone of the region,” Bisset says. Paradies Lagardère will also operate several travel-wellness spaces in Terminal D, including spa brand Be Relax and Houston-based Nap Bar rest suites. HAS Developments Looking ahead, the Houston Airport System will soon be home to additional upgraded facilities and new amenities. United Airlines is set to break ground on a $2.55 billion redevelopment for Terminal B in partnership with the Houston Airports system. That project is expected to complete in 2026. At William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), a $470 million, seven-gate expansion is in the works in partnership with Southwest Airlines . Szczesniak believes that the Houston Airport System’s investments — particularly in supporting the international travel experience — will be economically beneficial to the airport and city at large. “International travelers like to spend more,” notes Szczesniak, adding that “our most recent economic development study for the airport showed that for each dollar you invest in the airport, it returns about 1.9 times. With our investment, a 1.9 return is pretty good for us.” The system’s many improvements to Mickey Leland International Terminal are sure to bring a more “breathtaking experience,” for passengers, adds Szczesniak — but more than anything, he notes, they look forward to providing international travelers with a memorable moment passing through Houston. “We’re going to be up there with the best airports in the world.”

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AX NEWS LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023