Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2026

CONCEPT AWARDS

Best Local-Inspired Restaurant – Medium/Small Airports • 1933 Lounge + HC Tavern by St. Elmo; Huse Culinary and SSP America at Indianapolis International Airport • The Rustic by LaTrelle’s at William P. Hobby Airport • Kardea Brown’s Southern Kitchen by Delaware North at Charleston International Airport • Oven and Shaker by SSP America at Portland International Airport • OEB Kitchen & Bar by ECG Ventures II Ltd at Edmonton International Airport • Mattison’s City Grille by POEB Kitchen & Bar, ECG Ventures II Ltd. at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Best Local-Inspired Store – Large Airports • Jeteri Market by Paradies Lagardere at George Bush Intercontinental Airport • Corktown Place by Paradies Lagardère at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport • Weller Book Works & WHSmith North America at Salt Lake City International Airport • Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop & WH Smith North America at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport • Tentree by Avolta at Vancouver International Airport • Natchie by Nadia Ackerman at John F. Kennedy International Airport Best Local-Inspired Store – Medium/Small Airports • Little Main St. @ OAK by Hudson at Oakland International Airport • Oakland Supply Co. by WHSmith at Oakland International Airport • East Coasters by Hudson at Halifax Stanfield International Airport • Hello From Portland by Brookwest Ventures LLC and WH Smith North America at Portland International Airport • Banff Collective by WHSmith North America at Calgary International Airport Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept - Large Airports • Maria Empanada by Mission Yogurt at Denver International Airport • Shake Shack by HMSHost at Boston Logan International Airport • Starbucks by OTG Management at Denver International Airport • The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf by Bambuza Hospitality Group at Salt Lake City International Airport • Zeke’s Coffee by Master ConcessionAir at Washington Reagan International Airport • Half Moon Empanadas by Half Moon Empanadas at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport • Smoothie King by OdehMickens DFW Concessions at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport • Poulet Rouge by Poulet Rouge at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept - Medium/Small Airports • Stack & Press by SSP America at Calgary International Airport • Flavor of New Mexico by Fresquez Concessions at El Paso International Airport • Wheels Up Burgers & BBQ by ECG Ventures II at Edmonton International Airport • BurgerFi by HMSHost at Jacksonville International Airport • Bad Egg Breakfast Shack by SSP America at Calgary International Airport

Best Bar Experience - Large Airports • Williams & Graham by Mission Yogurt at Denver International Airport • Sammy Hagar’s Beach Bar by HMSHost at Charlotte Douglas International Airport • The Line Sports Grille by OTG at George Bush Intercontinental Airport • Gatsby by Jackmont Hospitality at Dulles International Airport • Peet’s at Night by SSP America at Boston Logan International Airport • Kona’s by Pacific Cocktail Haven by Paradies Lagardère at San Francisco International Airport Best Bar Experience - Medium/Small Airports • Throughgood Bistro & Bar by Areas USA at William P. Hobby Airport • The Rustic by LaTrelle’s at William P. Hobby Airport • Teller Bar by Fresquez at Albuquerque International Sunport • Ashley Cooper Provisions by Delaware North at Charleston International Airport • Denali Spirits by HMSHost at Anchorage International Airport • Atlas Brewworks by Master ConcessionAir at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Best Casual Dining Concept - Large Airports • ChoLon Modern Asian by Mission Yogurt at Denver International Airport • OMB Biergarten by HMSHost at Charlotte Douglas International Airport • Sunset Loop Bar & Grill by OTG at Denver International Airport • Sunday’s Best by SSP America at Salt Lake City International Airport • Ben’s Chili Bowl by MSK at Washington Dulles International Airport • Rappahannock Oysters by Jackmont Hospitality at Washington Dulles International Airport Best Casual Dining Concept - Medium/Small Airports • Crawford’s Genuine by Grove Bay Crawford JV LLC at Raleigh Durham International Airport • OEB Kitchen & Bar by ECG Ventures II Ltd. at Edmonton International Airport • Trio by Paradies Lagardère at Palm Springs International Airport • Fort Myers Brewing Company by HMSHost at Southwest Florida International Airport • Chili’s Grill & Bar by Master ConcessionAir at Key West International Airport • Bengals Bar & Kitchen by SSP America at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport Best Local-Inspired Restaurant – Large Airports • The Waterman by HMSHost at Charlotte Douglas International Airport • Zaro’s Family Bakery by Villa Restaurant Group at John F. Kennedy International Airport • Perry’s by Paradies Lagardère at San Francisco International Airport • Jacob’s Pickles by SSP America at John F. Kennedy International Airport • Elixr Coffee by Jackmont Hospitality at Philadelphia International Airport • La Fabrique de Bagel by Mohammed Chahrour at Montreal Montréal Trudeau International Airport • The Annie by SSP America at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

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AX NEWS FEBRAURY 2026