DreamFolks announced as partner for Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference and Awards 2024

INDIA/INTERNATIONAL. Indian airport services aggregator DreamFolks has become the latest company to lend its support to the Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference and Awards 2024 as a Silver Partner.

The conference, hosted by Ontario International Airport, will bring together senior executives from airports, food & beverage concessionaires, hospitality service providers, as well as other business partners from around the world.

Founded by Chairperson and Managing Director Liberatha Kallat, Gurugram-headquartered DreamFolks provides consumers with access to airport-related services including lounges via a technology-driven platform.

Kallat is among the strong line-up of FAB event speakers; she is part of a panel discussing ‘Enhancing the Role of Hospitality in the Customer Journey’ on day two of the conference. The session, to be moderated by Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt, also features Ontario International Airport Chief Executive Officer Atif Elkadi and Plaza Premium Group Director of Global Brands and Transformation Mei Mei Song.

Pioneering Kallat has been instrumental in driving DreamFolks from its inception to its current position as a leading player in the Indian airport services aggregation industry.

Her expertise stems from her experience with Plaza Premium Group, where she gained deep insights into the intricacies of airport services. Her extensive background in the hospitality industry includes roles with blue chip companies such as Indian Hotels Company Limited, Taj Hotels & Resorts Limited, PepsiCo and Pernod Ricard India.

Kallat foresaw the potential for expansion in the airport services market, identifying a shift towards a more tailored airport experience among travellers. This early vision, combined with an agile business model, has underpinned DreamFolks’ rise to prominence in the airport industry.

The company now serves major card networks and leading card issuers in India and has diversified to work with a wide range of clients, including airlines, online travel agencies and enterprises.

Under Kallat’s leadership, DreamFolks has built a robust network of clients and operators. A significant part of her focus has been on enhancing the company’s technology capabilities by creating a scalable, in-house platform that enables clients to offer customised services to their customers.

Kallat said: “We look forward to attending the Airport FAB & Hospitality Conference 2024. It is a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry peers from the growing F&B and hospitality sectors. We’re thrilled to highlight our distinct offerings and illustrate how they can significantly enhance the airport experience and travel journey for customers worldwide.”

Stellar speaker line-up

The latest confirmed speakers for the event include Zayed International Airport Managing Director & CEO Elena Sorlini; Areas USA Chief Executive Officer Carlos Bernal; The Design Solution Brand Development Director John Clarke; Margaritaville Caribbean Group Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ian Dear; Airport Dimensions Senior Vice President of Global Business Development Chris Gwilliam; and Bangalore International Airport Vice President Commercial Development Pravat Kumar Paikray.

Others include Enjoy Repeat, Inc/Concord Collective/Fly With Breeze Chief Executive Officer Greg Plummer; Greater Toronto Airports Authority Dining Development Manager Suzanne Merrell; Qatar Duty Free Vice President Food & Beverage Grant Fleming; and Royal Schiphol Group Business Manager Food & Beverage Bram Kreté.

John Clarke and Ian Dear will present an innovative four-way partnership model, the Bob Marley One Love restaurant at Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay. From concept to delivery, the dining venue was created by F&B operator Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Bob Marley Group (part of the Marley family business), Sangster International Airport and The Design Solution.

The latest names bolster an already powerful list of speakers that includes OTG Chairman of the Board of Directors and Interim CEO Tom Fricke; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Vice President Concessions Zenola Campbell; Lagardère Travel Retail Executive Vice President Foodservice Mélanie Guilldou; Paradies Lagardère CEO Gregg Paradies; Vantage Airport Group & Midway Partnership Vice President, Commercial Sammy Patel; and Villa Restaurant Group Director of Business Development Christopher McNamee.

Other confirmed speakers include Ontario International Airport CEO Atif Elkadi and Chief Revenue Management Officer Elisa Grey; Delaware North Senior Director, Brands and Concepts Liz Grzechowiak; Conceptional Founder and Chief Executive Officer Reoewein Niesten; tRetail Labs Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder Sossina Shenkute; and Pragma Chief Executive Officer Alex Avery.

The Moodie Davitt Report is also co-organising a session with the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA), which represents the interests of commercial concessionaires in North America. ARRA Executive Director Andrew Weddig and Paradies Lagardère Executive Vice President David Bisset are among those taking part in the panel (others to be named shortly), which will discuss the ‘new normal’ in airport concessions in the region and challenges to the business model.

In addition, former ARI CEO, daa Chief Commercial Officer and current Castlepole Director Jack MacGowan will co-moderate the programme alongside The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie and President Dermot Davitt.

Other big-name industry leaders speaking at the event are America Vice President of People Sherree Coker; Concessions International Chief Executive Officer Donata Russell Ross; SSP America Chief Executive Officer Michael Svagdis; and San Diego International Airport Revenue Generation & Partnership Development Director Deanna Zachrisson.

Keynote discussions will focus on latest F&B and hospitality consumer trends, regional and global business outlooks, emerging traveller behaviour, sustainability, and the wider role of hospitality in the customer journey.

The event will see the Opening Cocktail take place on 25 June at TopGolf Ontario, with the Gala Dinner & FAB Awards at the nearby Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, as reported.

Visit our dedicated event website here. ✈

Note: The Moodie Davitt Report publishes the FAB Newsletter, which features highlights of openings, events and campaigns from around the world of airport and travel dining.

Please email Kristyn@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe.