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NORTH AMERICA/INTERNATIONAL. The sixth annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards will kick off tonight at the traditional Opening Cocktail, this year hosted by Autogrill and HMSHost at The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

FAB 2017 is being hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport, and the event has attracted a record 210 delegates, underlining just how important food & beverage has become to the airport community.

Over the next few days, delegates can expect to hear from a variety of engaging and accomplished speakers – and celebrate the industry’s finest during the FAB Awards, with the ceremony taking place at a glittering Gala Dinner tomorrow (22 June).

Social events, such as an airport tour taking place today (21 June) and a trip to Toronto’s Distillery Historic District for a reception which coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, will offer further excitement and networking opportunities.

FAB 2017 will champion best practice, debate the major issues and try to identify how we can collectively grow the global business for all industry stakeholders.

The speaker line-up includes several of North America’s most celebrated chefs, including reality TV star, chef and restaurateur Paul Wahlberg and Toronto culinary legend Massimo Capra. Chef Lynn Crawford will also discuss her culinary vision and values, and the challenges and opportunities of the airport market.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Lagardère Travel Retail is a Bronze Partner, and additional sponsors include Booster Juice, Mango Tree, Travel Food Services and The Restaurant Group.

If you couldn’t make it to Toronto, don’t worry. We’ll keep you up to date with all the happenings on Moodie Davitt Live, including the big announcements Thursday night of the FAB winners.

Click here to read a preview of FAB 2017 in the latest edition of The Foodie Report.

INTERNATIONAL. The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report today proudly unveil the shortlist for this year’s Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The shortlist was drawn from almost 250 entries, representing all sectors of the burgeoning airport food & beverage sector (plus a special award for railway station dining).

The awards, which recognise and reward best practice in the sector, will be presented on 22 June during the Gala Dinner of FAB 2017. Besides the winners (and in some cases Highly Commendeds), regional winners will also be named in certain categories where the judges consider the respective entries to have been of appropriate quality. A number of special Judges’ Awards are also being presented.

FAB attracts a who’s who list from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators and F&B concessionaires.

“In some categories, for example casual dining and airport bar, we were overwhelmed with entries”

Preliminary judging for FAB awards took place in London recently. The main judging panel comprised Martin Moodie, Founder & Chairman, The Moodie Davitt Report & The Foodie Report; David King, Founder, King & King; Anders Barsøe, CEO of Letz Sushi; and Alan Gluck, Senior Manager, ICF.

They were joined by special judges Pete Redman, Chef Director, Bartlett Mitchell (for the ‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ culinary competition); and for #AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award, in association with Copper Dog Whisky, Calum Lawrie, Country Manager UK, Copper Dog Whisky and Andrew Torrance, Managing Director, Copper Dog Whisky. The four shortlisted candidates below will take part in a #AiroftheDog ‘shake-off’ in Toronto.

Where results are too close to call, further diligence is currently being conducted, via anonymous site visits, social media research and confidential interviews.

“We can already reveal that the FAB class of 2017 represents a continuation of the sharp upward quality momentum that we have witnessed – and championed – in recent years.”

Commenting on the shortlist, Martin Moodie said: “Judging the 2017 FAB Awards has been a phenomenally exciting but hugely challenging task.

“In some categories, for example casual dining and airport bar, we were overwhelmed with entries; while in others complex questions of definition and conceptual interpretation arose that made the evaluation both difficult and educational. The extensive shortlists in certain categories once more reflect not only the high interest level but also the consistent quality. The process is not yet complete – the judges are still undertaking further analysis in some cases to ensure FAB truly represents the cream of the crop. But we can already reveal that the FAB class of 2017 represents a continuation of the sharp upward quality momentum that we have witnessed – and championed – in recent years.”

This year the judges asked nominees to focus on five key criteria:

1.  Innovation
2. Performance
3. Suitability for the travel channel
4. Service
5. Quality

The shortlist entries are as follows (showing operator and/or brand plus airport location)

Airport Coffee, Non-alcoholic Beverage Shop of the Year

• Argo Tea; Argo Tea, Chicago O’Hare International Terminal 2
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Costa Coffee, Dubai International Terminal 2
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Hudsons Coffee, Sydney International
• HMSHost North America; Starbucks, Los Angeles International Terminal 6
• Lagardère Travel Retail; SO! COFFEE, John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice
• Metropolitan Airports Commission; Roasting Plant, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• OTG; World Bean/World Nectar, Newark Liberty International
• SSP Frabel; Joe & the Juice, Nice Côte d’Azur
• SSP Sweden; OAK, Stockholm Arlanda
• SSP Switzerland; NZZ Café, Zürich
• TRG Concessions; Joe’s Coffee House, London Gatwick

Airport ‘Food to Go’ Offer of the Year

• Areas; Blue Window, Los Angeles International Terminal 3.
• Autogrill Group; Exki Takeaway, Brussels
• Dallas Fort Worth International; Garrett Popcorn Shops
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Giraffe Stop, Dubai International Terminal 3
• Joe & The Juice, Sydney Airport Terminal 2 Domestic
• Marqette; Marqette, Dublin Terminal 1
• OTG; Dynamic Concepts, Newark Liberty International
• Pret A Manger; London Heathrow Terminal 5
• SSP Frabel; Pret A Manger, Paris – Roissy Charles de Gaulle Terminal 3
• Travel Food Services; Food@Gate, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai

Airport Bar of the Year

• Crews; Rock & Brews Bar & Grill, Los Angeles International Terminal 1
• Dallas Fort Worth International; Bleu Mediterranean Bar
• Delaware North; Coopers Ale House, Adelaide
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International
• HMSHost International; Heineken Bar, Amsterdam Schiphol
• HMSHost North America; Blu2O; Los Angeles International
• Marqette; Dublin Terminal 1
• OTG; Tacquila, Newark Liberty International
• SSP America; Ducky’s, Tampa International
• SSP America; Union Street Gastropub, San Francisco International
• SSP America; UrbanCrave, Orlando International
• Emirates Leisure Retail; Heineken Bar; Sydney
• TRG Concessions; Nicholas Culpeper, London Gatwick

Airport Wine Bar of the Year

• Areas; Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Milano Malpensa
• Autogrill Group; Rosso Intenso, Roma Fiumicino
• Restaurant Works; CRÚ Food & Wine Bar; Dallas Fort Worth International
• OTG; Vinifera, Toronto Pearson International
• SSP America; Le Grand Comptoir, George Bush Intercontinental
• SSP Finland; Wine & View, Helsinki
• SSP Switzerland; Walter, Zürich
• Taste Inc; Vino Volo, All locations

Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year

• Areas; California Pizza Kitchen, Los Angeles International Terminal 1
• CasualFood; Goodman & Filippo, Düsseldorf
• Dan Food Service Corporation; Gachi House of Sushi, BWI Thurgood Marshall
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Bistro by Wolfgang Puck, Sydney International Terminal 1
• HMSHost International; Kebaya, Amsterdam Schiphol
• HMSHost North America; Publican Tavern, Chicago O’Hare
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; III Forks, Los Angeles International
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; Bar Symon, Pittsburgh International
• OTG; Little Purse, Newark Liberty International
• Select Service Partner Hong Kong; Yung Kee, Hong Kong International
• SSP America; Wahlburgers, Boston Logan International
• SSP America; Hard Rock Café, Tampa International
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• TRG Concessions; Wondertree, London Gatwick
• The Italian Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck/PhaseNext Hospitality; Dallas Fort Worth International

Airport Upscale Dining Restaurant of the Year

• Areas; Gastrohub, Madrid Barajas
• HMSHost International; Crystal Jade, Beijing Capital International
• HMSHost International; Pier Zero; Helsinki
• HMSHost North America; L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel; Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International
• OTG; Saison; Newark Liberty International
• SSP America; Lift Bar and Grill, Vancouver International
• SSP Denmark; Aamanns, Copenhagen
• SSP Finland; Fly Inn Restaurant, Helsinki
• Vancouver Airport Authority; Globe@YVR, Vancouver International

Airport Foodhall of the Year

• Marqette; Marqette, Dublin
• OTG; LGA Food Hall, LaGuardia
• Our Home; Food Empire, Incheon International
• Select Service Partner Hong Kong; East to West Food Market, Hong Kong International
• SSP America; The Eatery, Tampa International
• SSP America; Five Borough Food Hall, John F. Kennedy International
• Sydney Airport; Domestic Casual Dining Precinct, Terminal 2
• Tastes on the Fly; Napa Farms Market, San Francisco International

New Food & Beverage Concept of the Year

• Booster Juice; Booster Juice Fit & Fun Zone, Toronto Pearson International
• CasualFood; Goodman & Filippo, Düsseldorf
• Changi Airport Group; Hello Kitty Orchid Garden – A Kitty-fied Dining Experience, Singapore Changi
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The Draft House, Dubai International
• HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International
• OTG; Daily, Newark Liberty International
• SSP Hungary; Tashba Gourmet Bar, Budapest International
• SSP America; Five Borough Food Hall, John F. Kennedy International
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International

F&B Marketing & Promotions Campaign of the Year

• Autogrill Group; Bistrot Digital Communication Strategy, Multinational
• Changi Airport Group; Changi Loves Kids, Singapore Changi
• HMSHost North America; Airport Restaurant Month, Multiple locations
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; No Kid Hungry, US airports
• OTG; Truffle Week, Newark Liberty International
• Travel Food Services; Indonesian Festival at GVK Lounge, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Terminal 2

Customer Service Initiative of the Year

• Areas; Areas Increase Customer Satisfaction program, Multiple locations
• Autogrill Group; MyAutogrill, Multiple locations
• HMSHost North America; Guest Experience Team, Multiple locations
• CS 03; Incheon International Airport
• MarketPlace Development; Merchant Development Program, Reagan National and Dulles International
• OTG; Desire Program, Multiple locations

Individual Food & Beverage Offer of the Year in a Railway Station

• CasualFood; Quicker’s, Frankfurt and Hamburg stations
• HMSHost International; Bistrot Centraal, Utrecht Central Station
• JD Wetherspoon; The Booking Office, Waverley Railway Station
• Lagardère Travel Retail; L’Etoile du Nord, Paris Gare du Nord Station
• SSP UK; Gino D’Acampo – My Restaurant, London Euston Station
• Travel Food Services; Raildhaba – Vishakhapatnam (Vizag), Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Railway Station

Airport Food & Beverage Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’ of the Year

• Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen
• Emirates Leisure Retail; James Boag’s Upper Deck, Launceston
• Finavia Corporation; Helsinki Airport
• HMSHost North America; Book & Bourbon, Louisville International
• JFK International Air Terminal; Five Borough Food Hall, JFK Terminal 4
• Lagardère Travel Retail; La Plage & Pan Garni, Nice Côte d’Azur
• Stone Arch; Stone Arch at MSP, Minneapolis–St Paul International
• Travel Food Services; GVK Lounge (Domestic) by TFS Performa, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Terminal 2

#AiroftheDog Great Airport Cocktail Award 

• Doug Draper; HMSHost North America; Cocktail – Copper Clouds
• Gavin George;  OTG Apropos; Toronto Pearson International; Cocktail –  The Copperdog Carry-On
• Joe Ehlenz; SSP America; Lolo American Kitchen and Craft Bar;  Minneapolis–St Paul International; Cocktail – The Red Eye
• Dominic Hawksworth; TRG Concessions; Manchester Airport; Cocktail – Life in the Old Dog

‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ – ‘The spirit of travel’

• Autogrill; Creative Carbohydrates
• Emirates Leisure Retail; The DSA Burger
• Tastes on the Fly ; Mariskoj Aventuro
• TRG Concessions; A Global Bowl for the Soul

Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year

• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Amsterdam Schiphol
• Changi Airport Group; Singapore Changi
• Copenhagen Airports; Copenhagen
• Dubai Airports Company; Dubai International Concourse D
• Finavia Corporation; Helsinki
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Toronto Pearson International
• JFK International Air Terminal; JFK Terminal 4
• Paradies Lagardère Travel Retail; Long Beach
• OTG; The Toronto Pearson Experience, Toronto Pearson International
• OTG; The United Experience at EWR, Newark Liberty

As reported, FAB 2017  will be accompanied by a high-class conference programme  and an eclectic social programme, courtesy of host Toronto Pearson International Airport and leading concessionaire partners. The conference agenda features contributions from leading Canadian chefs, airports from around the world, plus the industry’s leading F&B concessionaires.

On 21 June, the Welcome Evening and Opening Cocktail will be hosted by Autogrill/HMSHost at the iconic Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The event will feature menu items from HMSHost-operated restaurants at Toronto Pearson International including Twist by Roger Mooking, The Hearth by Lynn Crawford, and LEE Kitchen by Susur Lee. The evening will also feature Chef John Placko.

SSP will sponsor lunch on day one of the conference (22 June), showcasing the work of leading chefs Paul Wahlberg (Founder of Wahlburgers) and Massimo Capra (Boccone Trattoria), both of whom run signature restaurants at Toronto Pearson. They will also speak about their influences and trends in the F&B market in a special conference session preceding lunch.

A spectacular Gala Dinner on 22 June, hosted by OTG, will see the FAB Awards 2017 presented.

On the afternoon of Friday 23 June, delegates are invited to join SSP America, Toronto Pearson International Airport and The Moodie Davitt Report for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to FAB 2017. Guests will be transported to Toronto’s Historic Distillery District (departure 4.30pm) for a reception. This coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of North America’s premier jazz festivals, which begins the next day. Visitors will have the chance to explore the Distillery District’s many shops, restaurants and entertainment venues during the evening.

Registration for FAB 2017 is open at this link. Companies can register three or more people at the same time and benefit from a special -25% discount.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Lagardère Travel Retail is a Bronze Partner with additional sponsors including Booster Juice, Mango Tree, Travel Food Services and The Restaurant Group.

PICTURE GALLERY – A HISTORY OF FAB (2011-2016)

CANADA. The 2017 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards will be accompanied by a high-class social programme, courtesy of host Toronto Pearson International Airport and leading concessionaire partners. The event takes place in Toronto on 21-23 June.

On 21 June, the Welcome Evening and Opening Cocktail will be hosted by Autogrill/HMSHost at the iconic Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The event will feature menu items from HMSHost-operated restaurants at Toronto Pearson International including Twist by Roger Mooking, The Hearth by Lynn Crawford, and LEE Kitchen by Susur Lee.

SSP will sponsor lunch on day one of the conference (22 June), showcasing the work of leading chefs Paul Wahlberg (Founder of Wahlburgers) and Massimo Capra (Boccone Trattoria), both of whom run signature restaurants at Toronto Pearson. They will also speak about their influences and trends in the F&B market in a special conference session preceding lunch.

A spectacular Gala Dinner on 22 June, hosted by OTG, will see the FAB Awards 2017 presented, following a gruelling evaluation process involving four judges, special guest judges and confidential on-site checks of certain locations.

On the afternoon of Friday 23 June, delegates are invited to join SSP America, Toronto Pearson International Airport and The Moodie Davitt Report for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to FAB 2017.

Guests will be transported to Toronto’s Historic Distillery District (departure 4.30pm) for a reception. This coincides with the launch of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of North America’s premier jazz festivals, which begins the next day. Visitors will have the chance to explore the Distillery District’s many shops, restaurants and entertainment venues during the evening.

In other FAB news, the updated conference agenda is available at this link. The programme will feature contributions from leading Canadian chefs, airports from around the world, plus the industry’s leading F&B concessionaires.

The short-list for the annual FAB Awards, which recognise excellence in travel F&B, will be revealed in coming days.

Registration for FAB 2017 is open at this link. Companies can register three or more people at the same time and benefit from a special -25% discount.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Lagardère Travel Retail is a Bronze Partner with additional sponsors including Booster Juice, Mango Tree, Travel Food Services and The Restaurant Group.

CANADA/INTERNATIONAL. Visitors to the sixth Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference, which will run in Toronto on 21-23 June, will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The FAB Airport Tour will provide FAB 2017 guests with a chance to gain an in-depth look at this year’s event host.

FAB 2017 itself is wholly organised by The Moodie Davitt Report. FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators and F&B concessionaires to network with industry peers, share insights and celebrate best practice in this burgeoning sector.

The airport tour will commence at 12:15pm on 21 June, from the FAB 2017 official venue The Ritz Carlton hotel, with delegates driven by bus to Toronto Pearson. For guests already at the airport, the tour will commence from 1pm from The FAB 2017 Welcome Desk located in Lounge 15 of Terminal 1 pre-security.

Luggage storage facilities will be made available to all FAB delegates joining the tour directly at the airport, and transport will be provided back to The Ritz Carlton once the tour has concluded.

Delegates who opt to take the tour should ensure they take their passports for security purposes.

On the afternoon of Friday 23 June, following the conclusion of this year’s FAB, a further Foodie event will be offered to all delegates. Additional details will follow shortly.

Deadline for all awards entries extended to Friday 31 March

Every year FAB hosts awards to celebrate the best in travel-related dining around the world, and this year they feature several new and exciting categories that put the emphasis firmly on people, product, creativity and innovation.

Due to popular demand, the deadline for entries has been extended to Friday 31 March.

Nominations for the 16 categories can be made here. They are:

• Airport Coffee, Non-alcoholic Beverage Shop of the Year
• Airport ‘Food to Go’ Offer of the Year
• Airport Bar of the Year
• Airport Wine Bar of the Year
• Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
• Airport Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
• Airport Food Hall of the Year
• F&B Marketing & Promotional Campaign of the Year
• Individual F&B Offer of the Year in a Railway Station
• Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Reflecting Sense of Place
• Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year
• #AiroftheDog – The Great Airport Cocktail Award
• ‘La spirito de vojaĝado’ Award (‘The spirit of travel’)
• New Food & Beverage Concept of the Year
• Customer Service Initiative of the Year
• Food & Beverage Disruptor of the Year

Heavyweight speaker line-up

A heavyweight line-up of speakers is in place for this year’s FAB Conference.

Speakers for FAB 2017 include:

• Several of North America’s most celebrated chefs, among them Paul Wahlberg (founder of Wahlburgers) and Massimo Capra (Boccone Trattoria). Another renowned name from Canada’s vibrant culinary scene will be revealed shortly.
• Greater Toronto Airport Authority President & Chief Executive Officer Howard Eng
• Greater Toronto Airport Authority Vice President of Customer and Terminal Services Scott Collier
• Copenhagen Airports Director of Airport Sales Lise Ryevad
• London Gatwick Head of Retail Rachel Bulford
• AIRMALL USA President & CEO Ben Zandi
• Areas President Pedro Fontana
• OTG CEO Rick Blatstein
• HMS Host President Steve Johnson
• SSP America CEO Michael Svagdis
• New York JFK T4 (JFKIAT) VP Concession Management Ed Midgley
• Paradies Lagardère CEO Gregg Paradies
• Westfield Airports Vice President Leasing Iris Messina
• Vancouver Airport Authority Director, Commercial Services Sue Stiene
• Emirates Leisure Retail Chief Operating Officer Kevin Zajax
• Smart Design President & CEO Nick Baker
• J.D. Power Director Airport Practice Michael Taylor
• San Francisco International Airport Director Revenue Development & Management Cheryl Nashir
• GRAB CEO Mark Bergsrud
• HMSHost Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer Sarah Naqvi
• Kallpod CEO Gabriel Weisz
• Culinary Tourism Alliance President Rebecca MacKenzie
• Marqette General Manager Michael Thornton
• EMCAT – Airport F&B Alliance Managing Director Lars Crone
• Lite Bites Foods Director Rohit Aggalwar

Other speakers will be added to the programme in coming days.

Travel restaurateurs OTG, SSP, Areas, Autogrill and HMSHost are Platinum Partners of this year’s FAB Conference. Other sponsors include Travel Food Services, The Restaurant Group and Lagardère Travel Retail.

The event is being held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Toronto. Click here for hotel and conference registration (the full conference programme will be loaded this week).

INTERNATIONAL. Leading travel retail and food & beverage services provider Areas has been named as a Platinum Sponsor of the sixth Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards, which take place in Toronto on 21-23 June.

FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports and F&B concessionaires to network with industry peers, share insights and celebrate best practice in this fast-growing sector.

Areas Brand & Business Development Director Spain and Portugal Mireia Marti said: “We’re delighted to once again be Platinum Sponsors of the FAB Conference & Awards, a key event for our industry. It is a great opportunity to meet all our food & beverage colleagues from all over the world to share the best ideas of this riveting sector.

“For Areas it is a big pleasure to have the chance to show all the exciting projects we’ve been developing this last year. We’re constantly innovating and improving our food & beverage offer to meet the high expectations of our customers.”

The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report, and hosted this year by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Nominations for the annual FAB 2017 awards, a cornerstone of the event, are now open. The judging criteria are available at http://airportfab.events/ along with hotel and conference registration, which has now opened.

This year the awards feature a line-up of 16 categories, including several new and exciting awards that put the emphasis firmly on people, product, creativity and innovation.

 

CANADA. Leading travel food concessionaire SSP has been named as a Platinum Partner of the sixth annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards, which take place in Toronto on 21-23 June.

SSP will also support lunch on day one of the conference and will showcase the work of leading chefs Paul Wahlberg (founder of Wahlburgers) and Massimo Capra (Boccone Trattoria), both of whom are stars of the restaurant line-up at Toronto Pearson Airport.

FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports and F&B concessionaires to network with their industry colleagues, share best practice and insights in this fast-growing sector.

The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report, and hosted this year by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

SSP CEO Kate Swann said: “The FAB Conference and Awards are a highlight of the year for our sector. We’re excited to see the event land in North America for the first time – an important growth region for us and a hotbed of innovation for the sector more widely.

“We’re pleased to be able to showcase the talents of SSP’s partner chefs Massimo Capra and Paul Wahlberg.”

Nominations for the annual FAB 2017 awards, a cornerstone of the event, are now open. The judging criteria are available at http://airportfab.events/ along with hotel and conference registration, which has now opened.

This year the awards feature a line-up of 16 categories, including several new and exciting awards that put the emphasis firmly on people, product, creativity and innovation.

CANADA. Leading travel services group Autogrill and its food & beverage division HMSHost have been named as Platinum Sponsors of the sixth annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference and Awards, which take place in Toronto on 21-23 June. Autogrill and HMSHost will also sponsor the Opening Cocktail at the event.

FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports and F&B concessionaires to network with their industry colleagues, share best practice and insights in this fast-growing sector. The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

HMSHost President and CEO Steve Johnson said: “We are very excited to welcome the FAB Conference and Awards to Toronto this year, and to introduce some of North America’s airport food & beverage trends and offerings to conference attendees, in addition to the innovative initiatives the industry is doing around the globe.

“We look forward to sharing best practices, connecting with our airport partners and making new contacts, all in the spirit of continuing to enhance the traveller experience in the airports in which we do business together. HMSHost and Autogrill look forward to welcoming you to this year’s conference opening reception.”

The Opening Cocktail is traditionally among the big highlights of the FAB programme. At last year’s welcome event in Geneva, Autogrill and HMSHost entertained guests at the exceptional Le Chef restaurant at Geneva Airport – and the companies pledge to provide another memorable evening in Toronto on 21 June. We’ll bring you further details soon.

Hotel and registration details will be revealed in coming days, as will FAB Award categories, entry procedures and the deadline for submissions.

CANADA. Leading travel restaurateur and master concessionaire OTG has been named as a Platinum Partner for the 2017 Airport Food & Beverage Conference and Awards, which take place in Toronto on 21-23 June. Fast-growing OTG will also sponsor the Gala Dinner at the event on the night of 22 June, when the prestigious FAB Awards will be announced.

The event is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report. It is hosted this year by Toronto Pearson International Airport.

 OTG CEO Rick Blatstein said: “True thought leaders, The Moodie Davitt Report stands as one of the travel industry’s most prominent and important voices. We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring a taste of our Toronto Pearson Experience to the 2017 FAB Awards.” 

The Foodie Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “OTG is among the industry’s great innovators of recent years. It has reimagined airport terminals to chime with the cities and regions they serve, introducing locally sourced dining options that deliver Sense of Place, and integrated new technology with leading-edge design. We are honoured to partner with Rick Blatstein and his team for FAB 2017.”

 FAB, which is dedicated to travel-related food & beverage, attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators and F&B concessionaires to network with their industry colleagues, share best practice and insights in this fast-growing sector. 

Hotel and registration details will be revealed soon, as will FAB Award categories, entry procedures and the deadline for submissions.

CANADA/INTERNATIONAL. The Moodie Davitt Report and sister title The Foodie Report are delighted to announce that the 2017 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards will take place in Toronto on 21-23 June.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, will host the acclaimed event for the first time in North America.

Following the success of FAB 2016 in Geneva, FAB 2014 in Copenhagen, FAB 2013 in Dubai, FAB 2012 in Amsterdam and the inaugural FAB at Manchester Airport in 2011, the sixth FAB promises to be an extraordinary celebration of the best in travel dining.

As in past years, the event will feature a two-day conference and glittering awards ceremony that champions best practices across the global industry. The FAB Awards 2017 will, for the first time, include regional winners as well as the global accolades.

FAB attracts senior representatives from the world’s leading airports, railway station operators, food and beverage concessionaires and brands to network with industry peers, share insights and celebrate best practices in this burgeoning, ever-changing sector.

Hotel and registration details will be revealed soon, as will FAB Award categories (currently under review with input from the industry), entry procedures and the deadline for entries.

“Toronto Pearson is honoured to be the first airport outside of Europe selected to host the FAB Conference & Awards,” said Greater Toronto Airports Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Howard Eng. “Over the past few years, our team has worked hard to transform the passenger experience at Toronto Pearson by putting a premium on our food & beverage offerings, among other things.

“Given Toronto’s growing status as a global dining destination, we have been fortunate to partner with some of the city’s top chefs so that visitors to our airport can experience the tastes of Toronto – even if it’s just for a layover. We look forward to welcoming our peers from around the world in June 2017 and are committed to hosting the best FAB Conference & Awards yet.”

The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie said: “We are delighted to announce that FAB will be hosted in one of the world’s great foodie capitals, Toronto.

“Toronto Pearson is one of the world’s most progressive and commercially minded airports. It places a relentless premium on the consumer experience, which finds particular expression in quality food and beverage, with a diverse and exciting blend of local, regional and international brands.

“We can promise delegates a hugely memorable experience in this eclectic Canadian city. The 2017 edition of FAB is set be one of the very best yet.”