USA. The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce leading US airport hospitality industry player OTG Concessions Management as Lunch Sponsor for The Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards 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.
New York-headquartered OTG operates more than 350 F&B and retail concessions at North American airports.
As reported, OTG Chairman of the Board of Directors Tom Fricke is among the headline speakers for this year’s event.
Fricke said: “With more than 350 locations across 11 airports in North America, OTG combines world-class hospitality, award-winning cuisine, innovative design and state-of-the-art technology to deliver a superior guest experience.
“The FAB Hospitality Conference & Awards delivers a superior experience and we look forward to participating in this dynamic industry event.”
OTG F&B concessions at Toronto Pearson International (above) and George Bush Intercontinental (below) airports are pictured
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; 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.
Click on the cover to access the relaunched FAB eZine, which features highlights of FAB+ 2023 in Bangkok
The latest names bolster an already powerful list of speakers, including, as mentioned, 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.
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; 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.
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.
