Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2025

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

Above: The California ScienCenter offers an immersive video experience, offering a relaxing respite from the airport terminal bustle.

Above: Mi Casa is one of a handful of restaurants operated by SSP America under a contract signed in 2023. Left: Hudson, which holds the retail contract at ONT, recently updated its stores.

WARD: Are there other passenger amenities on your radar – things you don’t currently have but you think could enhance the passenger experience? ELKADI: We see an opportunity to partner with more local companies to bring an even greater sense of place to our terminals, and with our focus on strategic planning and creative partnerships, [we can offer] new dining options tailored to [traveler] needs. We have a very unique partnership with the California Science Center. We created a space featuring a very large video wall. They created a 30-minute video from their very large aquarium. It’s a great sensory experience. It’s very relaxing. very calming, and those are the kinds of things that we’re constantly looking at doing to make a difference. WARD: Is the museum a revenue generator ELKADI: No. Right now it’s just open to the public. It was one of those things where it was potentially going to be a revenue generator. We opened and were just amazed at the level of foot traffic it received and how people started complimenting [the offering]. We’ve kept it that way for now, and we’ll see how we can continue to evolve.

Cantina, while Einstein Bros, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway and Chick-fil-A are individual operators. Another great success story has been our unique partnership with Brewery X. It’s one of Southern California’s largest locally owned breweries, and it started as an advertising collaboration that evolved into a true business partnership. This is a 50-50 partnership. We paid for 50% of the capital they paid for the other 50%. We got the brewery built and now we share the revenue with the brewery.

WARD: Would you consider that model for other concession spaces as well? ELKADI: Our board has been very committed to letting us be innovative. For the right opportunity, we would absolutely consider it. Brewery X has been a great partner and it’s been a great journey with them. WARD: Who operates your retail concessions? ELKADI: We re-signed with Avolta and the Hudson brand. They have remodeled all of their retail stores at the airport They’re great partners and we’re very happy with them.

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AX NEWS FEBRUARY 2025