Qatar Duty Free joins as Lunch Sponsor for Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference and Awards

QATAR/USA. The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce that Qatar Duty Free has lent its support as Lunch Sponsor for The Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards in Ontario, California on 25-26 June.

The conference, hosted by Ontario International Airport, will bring together leading figures from the burgeoning airport F&B sector, as well as hospitality service providers worldwide.

The only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event is owned and organised by The Moodie Davitt Report.

Qatar Duty Free’s continued diversification and strengthening of F&B offers was well recognised with an unprecedented 17 award wins at last year’s Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference & Awards, including the highly coveted Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year.

Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Thabet Musleh said: “Qatar Duty Free is proud to be at the forefront of the F&B industry, constantly motivated to redefine the airport dining experience. Our commitment to delivering a sense of place through our culinary experiences sets us apart.

“We look forward to showcasing our offerings and connecting with industry leaders at this prestigious conference that brings together experts from all aspects of airport F&B, lounges and hospitality services, providing a platform to communicate new and innovative ideas that can help shape the future of the industry.”

Star-studded speaker line-up

The conference programme will focus on the 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 speaker line-up includes the most influential figures in the F&B and travel retail sectors such as 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 top industry figures 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.

The line-up also includes 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.

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 will also share their views and insights on the latest trends and innovations in the airport FAB and hospitality sectors.

The event will also celebrate the achievements and efforts of the sector with the much-anticipated FAB Awards and people-focused FAB Superstars. The awards ceremony will be the glittering culmination of the event to be held during the Gala Dinner on 26 June at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center.

The first short-listed entries for the FAB Awards and FAB Superstars were announced earlier this month.

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.

Click here to visit our dedicated event website.

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.