Monday, November 19, 2012 at 12:29 PM - For Immediate Release
Sacramento International Airport’s Terminal B Concessions Win North America Award of Excellence
Sacramento International Airport’s Terminal B has received the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence in the 2012 Airport Concessions contest sponsored by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). This overall award recognizes innovative and outstanding airport concessions at airports of all sizes and is given to the best of the best entrants in the concessions categories.
The award was announced last week by the ACI-NA at the 2012 Airport Concessions Conference in Denver, CO.
“ACI-NA congratulates Sacramento as this year’s overall award of excellence winner,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “Their innovative use of local retailers and restaurants creates a sense of place and ensures that customers will have an enjoyable airport experience.
In addition to the contest’s highest award, Sacramento International Airport took first place in the Best Specialty Retail –Medium Airport category and second place in the Best Food & Beverage Program – Medium Airport category.
Sacramento International Airport concessionaires also received honors. Cafeteria 15L, operated by SSP America, won second place in the Best New Food and Beverage (Full-Service Concept) category and master concessionaire HMSHost Corp. received a first place award in the category of Best Innovative Consumer Experience Concept or Practice for its B4 You Board mobile application. The app allows passengers to order meals from HMSHost restaurants and have them prepared for pickup or delivery to their gates.
B4 You Board is offered at Sacramento International Airport and three other airports nationwide.
This year’s contest received a record 180 nominations. The entries were judged by an independent panel of high-level professionals in the food and beverage, retail, architecture and mall development industries and one airport representative from the previous years’ overall winner.
The goals for the new concession program at Terminal B were to provide a mix of local, regional and national vendors, create a “sense of place” reflective of Sacramento’s role as the gateway to Northern California, and maximize sales through competition.
Familiar national brands such as Vino Volo and Brookstone join locally-based ventures such the Old Soul Coffee Company, Burgers & Brew, Dos Coyotes, Jack’s Urban Eats in the food category and Experience Sacramento and Visions of Eden in shopping. The Esquire Grill and Cafeteria 15L offer sit-down meals in airport-scaled versions of their successful streetside restaurants. Some 61% of concessions space in Terminal B is devoted to local firms.
Terminal B has strong design standards, attractive storefronts and an inviting shopping atmosphere. Its unique interior design and architecture work together to create mini “town squares” around which food and beverage are focused.
“We’re proud of the work our staff has done to earn this award,” said G. Hardy Acree, Director of Airports. “We wanted to create a terminal that would highlight the best that Sacramento has to offer to enhance the overall customer experience. Given the competition we were up against, this recognition by our peers is especially rewarding.”
The Sacramento County Department of Airports is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers more than 155 daily nonstop flights on 12 domestic and international carriers to 36 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Department of Airports is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit sacramento.aero.