Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2026

LAUDING EXCELLENCE Annual AX Awards Gala Honors Top Performers In Airport Concessions

Above: Deanna Zachrisson accepted the AXN Property Manager of the Year award for her role in building the concession program at the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport. Zachrisson is now with Pasley Group.

Top performers among airport concessions and properties divisions, airport hospitality companies and brands were honored at the AX Conference Awards Gala, the culmination of the three-day Airport Experience Conference held in late February at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville. The conference attracted more than 1,250 attendees, while the Awards Gala itself drew more that 450 North American airport concessions industry executives who gathered for the festive event to laud the nominees and winners in nearly 40 categories.

BY AIRPORT EXPERIENCE NEWS

A pre-gala cocktail hour, sponsored by Crews Hospitality , set the stage for the celebratory event. The gala, emceed by AXN Vice President and Publisher Melissa K. Montes, included a live band, courtesy of Nashville International Airport ; programming sponsored by Atmosphere TV ; wine sponsored by Vino Volo ; and the Gala event program guide sponsored by Clune Construction . The 2026 Airport Experience Awards recognized excellence in airport concessions throughout North America. The awards process started in September 2025, 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. Those winners were announced and celebrated during the AX Awards Gala. The event also spotlighted AXN’s previously announced 2025 Airport Directors of the Year and the 2026 Property Manager of the Year. There was also special recognition of Donata Russell Ross, former CEO of Concessions International , who was honored with the AX Icon award.

Below: Leigh Allan of Paradies Lagardère Dining Division, Melissa K. Montes, and Larissa Dubose of Vino Volo, lead a toast to kick off the Gala celebration.

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AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2026