Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2025

OPPORTUNITIES GALORE Airport Execs Shared Upcoming Concessions Plans In Packed Session Room

BY SALLY KRAL

Airport terminal construction and renovation is booming, and with the new activity comes a range of opportunities for concessionaires. The 2025 Airport Experience Conference welcomed representatives from a dozen U.S. airports to discuss their upcoming opportunities in concessions and other revenue-generating areas. John Gallo, deputy chief officer of commercial development for Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) kicked off the presentations with a discussion of the airport’s Journey with AUS expansion and development program, which launched in 2021. “This will put forth Austin as a regional hub for the next 20 to 30 years,” Gallo said. “It’s a multi-faceted expansion program that includes a midfield taxiway project that will move two taxiways to the south end of our airport, which will allow concourse B to be constructed and

built. A lot of infrastructure projects have to go along with that, including a tunnel that will connect the current Barbara Jordan Terminal to a future 26-gate concourse.” The program also includes three optimization projects in the current terminal that are now underway and the construction of a new arrivals and departure hall. AUS will launch an RFP in late spring/early summer for around 2,000 square feet of retail space in the West Gate expansion, looking for a central market convenience concept. The airport will release an RFP for the new arrivals and departure hall in mid-to late 2026 that will be seeking gourmet coffee bistros, cafes, convenience retail and automated retail. And then the new 26-gate concourse will include concession opportunities for specialty retail, sit-down restaurants, grab and go, vending and more. Bryant Francis, director of port control

at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) took to the stage to share as much as he could about the airport’s upcoming infrastructure project. “It’s a plan that we’re just a few weeks shy of being able to unveil in greater detail, but we will be doing that later this spring,” he said. “We are going to be making major upgrades to the entire guest experience, from the curb to the gate, and we’re very excited about that… It’s going to take us a number of years to implement, because we are going to be essentially renovating and building new space in our existing terminal footprint.” The project is slated to get going in 2026, with an end date yet to be determined but Francis said it will likely take nine to-ten years of construction. The current concessions program covers 56,000 square feet, including 29 food and beverage locations, 10 news and gift locations, 10 specialty retail locations and 30 automated vending locations, and CLE will release an RFP for this existing space in late spring. Branden Sowers, senior director of concessions at Denver International Airport (DEN), shared the four pillars to keep in mind when responding to RFPs from DEN. “This include empowering our people, growing our infrastructure, maintaining what we have and expanding our global connections,” Sowers said. “We also have our guiding principles: sustainability, equity, diversity and inclusion, operating excellence, and enhancing the customer experience.” He discussed the airport’s Great Hall project, slated for completion in December 2027. There are eight RFPs coming out this fall

Left: With 12 airport representatives sharing their concessions plans, the Airport Opportunities session was packed with AX Conference attendees eager to explore options for growth.

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AX NEWS MAY 2025