Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2026

Below: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Director Chad Makovsky accepted the award for Director of the Year, Large Airports division. It was presented by George Mboya, CEO of SSP America. AXN’s Melissa K. Montes looks on.

Above: LaTrelle’s was named Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service, Small Operators. The company also won for Best Bar Experience with their concept, The Rustic, at William P. Hobby Airport.

BEST LOCAL MANAGEMENT TEAM – LARGE AIRPORTS: OHM Concession Group at Salt Lake City International Airport

BEST OVERALL RETAILER – LARGE OPERATORS: Paradies Lagardère BEST OVERALL RESTAURATEUR – SMALL OPERATORS: The Grove BEST OVERALL RESTAURATEUR – LARGE OPERATORS: Paradies Lagardère

BEST SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE IN AIRPORTS: Geothermal Tech in Terminal at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

AIRPORT WITH THE BEST COMMERCIAL TEAM – MEDIUM/SMALL AIRPORTS: Willliam P. Hobby Airport

AIRPORT WITH THE BEST COMMERCIAL TEAM – LARGE AIRPORTS: Denver International Airport

AIRPORT WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – MEDIUM/SMALL AIRPORTS: John Wayne Airport, Orange County

BEST LOCAL-INSPIRED RESTAURANT CONCEPT – MEDIUM/SMALL AIRPORTS: Oven and Shaker by SSP America at Portland International Airport BEST LOCAL-INSPIRED RESTAURANT CONCEPT – LARGE AIRPORTS: The Waterman by HMSHost at Charlotte Douglas International Airport BEST LOCAL-INSPIRED STORE – MEDIUM/SMALL AIRPORTS: Hello From Portland by Brookwest Ventures LLC and WHSmith North America at Portland International Airport

AIRPORT WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – LARGE AIRPORT: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

RESTAURATEUR WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – SMALL OPERATORS: LaTrelle’s RESTAURATEUR WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – LARGE OPERATORS: SSP America RETAILER WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – SMALL OPERATORS: Johnston & Murphy RETAILER WITH THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE – LARGE OPERATORS: Paradies Lagardère

BEST LOCAL-INSPIRED STORE – LARGE AIRPORTS: Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop & WHSmith North America at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

BEST OVERALL RETAILER – SMALL OPERATORS: Cediel Concessions Management

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AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2026