“The nation's best shops and…
By Philip Newman
John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, both operated by the Port Authority, won more first prizes than any other airport system in the nation in the Airport Retail News Best Airport Concessions competition.
“The nation's best shops and restaurants do business at the Port Authority's airports,” said Robert E. Boyle, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The Port Authority-operated airports won six first prizes in the competition.
Boyle said the Port Authority’s customer service improvement program, “which complements an unprecedented $15 billion public/ private redevelopment program at our airports. These efforts are clearly paying off.”
Terminal 1 at Kennedy, operated by the partnership of Air France, Japan Airlines, KoreanAir and Lufthansa, won first place among small airport terminals for Best Overall Concessions program, Best Redevelopment Concession Program and Best Program Design.
Figs restaurant at LaGuardia won first place among small retailers for Best New Food and Beverage Concept, Best Airport Restaurant Design and Best Branded Food Operator. Figs also finished in third place for Beverage Operator with Highest Regard for Customer Service.
Terminal operators and vendors at the Port Authority airports earned 10 second place, third place and fourth place prizes. The judges awarded first prizes to numerous national firms with shops and restaurants at Kennedy, Newark and LaGuardia, including Hudson News, Laptop Lane, PA Tour Shops, Amon Airfood, Starbucks and the Paradies Shops.
Other winners:
US Airways Terminal at LaGuardia took second place among small terminals for Best Overall Concession Program and Best Concessions Program Design.
Brooks Brothers at LaGuardia won second place among large retailers for Best New Specialty Retail Concept.
MarketPlace at LaGuardia got second place among medium airport terminals for Best Redeveloped Concessions Program.
Laptop Lane at LaGuardia, which provides private work areas for business travelers, took second place among small retailers for Best Airport Retail Store Design. Laptop also has opened a new Aerzone Business Center in JFK Terminal 1.
Central Terminal at LaGuardia captured fourth place among medium airport terminals for Most Innovative Services.
Newark Airport Terminal C, operated by Continental Airlines, took fourth place among medium airport terminals for Best Overall Concessions Program and Best Concessions Program Design.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.
