Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2025

The 2025 Airport Experience Awards recognize excellence in airport concessions throughout North America. The awards process started in September 2024, when industry stakeholders submitted hundreds of nominations spotlighting some of the most dynamic and successful concepts, operators and teams in the industry. The AX Team culled the nominations to a list of finalists in each category, Then, the AX Awards Committee – comprised of 12 airport representatives and 12 concessions/brand representatives – cast their votes to designate a winner in each category, and those winners with celebrated during the AX Awards Gala. The event also spotlighted AXN’s previously announced 2024 Airport Directors of the Year, and the 2025 Property Manager of the Year. There was also special recognition of Pat Banducci, senior business advisor and former chief commercial officer, SSP America, whose longtime service in the industry was acknowledged with the Industry Impact Award. Below is a list of winners in each awards category, in the order in which they were announced. Best Bar Experience – Medium/Small Airports: Big Rig Kitchen & Brewery by SSP America at Ottawa International Airport Best Bar Experience – Large Airports: Embarque Whiskey Grill by Bambuza Hospitality at Seattle Tacoma International Airport Airport With The Best Program Design: Los Angeles International Terminal 3 DE&I TrailBlazer Andrea Albo of Denver International Airport

Best Passenger Service Gameway Best Lounge Experience The Club SFO by Airport Dimensions at San Francisco International Airport Best ACDBE Operator – Food & Beverage: Phase Next Hospitality Best ACDBE Operator – Retail or Services: Amy Billings Airport With The Best Overall Concessions Program: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Above: Pat Banducci, senior business advisor and former chief commercial officer for SSP America, was honored with the AX Industry Impact Award due to his 30-plus years of service in the industry. Banducci (center) is flanked by Pat Murray of SSP America (left) and Melissa K. Montes of AXN (right). Above: The Bambuza Hospitality team took home the award for Best Bar Experience at a large airport for the company’s Embarque Whiskey Grill at SEA. Pictured are Katherine Lam (front center), flanked by Erik Ward (left) and Daniel Nguyen (right), with Melissa K. Montes behind.

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AX NEWS MAY 2025