Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2024

Seven Industry CEOs Share Insights And Challenges In Roundtable Discussion

BY CAROL WARD

Editor’s Note: In the midst of the 2024 Airport Experience Conference, behind closed doors, seven CEOs from leading airport concessions companies joined AXN’s Carol Ward and Melissa K. Montes for a roundtable discussion. The conversation centered on the key challenges operators are facing amidst high labor demands, skyrocketing construction costs and other operational issues weighing heavily on profit and loss statements, but also included assessments of new technologies and new approaches that could enhance the traveler experience. Participating in the conversation were Carlos Bernal, CEO of Areas USA ; Tom Fricke, former interim CEO of OTG ; Steve Johnson, president and CEO of Avolta in North America; Toby Keir, CEO of WH Smith North America ; Gregg Paradies, president and CEO of Paradies Lagardère; Scott Socha, group president for Parks and Resorts, Travel and Australia at Delaware North ; and Michael Svagdis, CEO of SSP America . The following is an edited version of the conversation.

Above: From left to right: Gregg Paradies of Paradies Lagardère, Toby Keir of WH Smith North America, Scott Socha of Delaware North Travel, Melissa K. Montes of Airport Experience News, Carlos Bernal of Areas USA, Steve Johnson of Avolta, Tom Fricke of OTG, and Michael Svagdis of SSP America.

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AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2024