More high-profile speakers revealed for the Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference & Awards in Ontario

USA. Ten more executives have joined a star-studded and diverse speaker line-up for the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards to be held in Ontario, California on 25-26 June.

Organised and owned by The Moodie Davitt Report, the only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event will bring together leading figures from the thriving airport F&B sector, as well as hospitality service providers worldwide.

The latest confirmed speakers include 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; DreamFolks Services Limited Chairperson & Managing Director Liberatha Kallat; 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, including OTG Chairman of the Board of Directors and Interim CEO Tom Fricke, and Ontario International Airport CEO Atif Elkadi.

They will be joined by 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.

As previously announced, other confirmed speakers include Ontario International Airport 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; Dreamfolks Services Limited Chief Business Officer Sandeep Sonawane 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; Plaza Premium Group Director of Global Brand and Transformation Mei Mei Song; 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. ✈

The world’s only event dedicated solely to the airport food & beverage and hospitality sectors makes a welcome return to the US in June. Please contact The Moodie Davitt Report Associate Director, Events Vincci Chung at Vincci@MoodieDavittReport.com for details. You can visit the event website here.