SPAIN. A growing list of notable names has been confirmed for the dynamic speaker programme at the upcoming Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards 2025, taking place on 25-26 June in Barcelona.
Hosted by Spanish airports operator Aena, the only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event will gather senior executives from airports, food & beverage concessionaires and hospitality service providers, as well as other business partners from around the world.
Owned and organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, the highly anticipated annual event will culminate in the FAB Awards Ceremony during the Gala Dinner on 26 June, with the FAB Superstars winners unveiled earlier during the conference.
Adding dazzle to the already stellar speaker line-up is Mélanie Guilldou, who was appointed CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Saudi Arabia in October last year.
Guilldou’s leadership was instrumental to Lagardère Travel Retail’s growth, with her role in expanding operations from retail to dining, launching flagship locations and securing strategic partnerships.
From 2016 to 2024, she built and scaled the Foodservice division into the company’s fastest-growing business unit, expanding it across 25 countries.
Strategic force – Lagardère Travel Retail Saudi Arabia CEO Mélanie Guilldou (left) and Lagardère Travel Retail Deputy CEO Frédéric Chevalier bolster the already impressive line-up of conference speakers
Under her leadership, the division developed a portfolio of 200+ proprietary, partner and bespoke brands through strategic alliances. By 2024, it generated €1.7 billion (US$1.9 billion) in revenue, accounting for 23% of the company’s total sales, with 1,600 restaurants in 30 countries.
She also led the company’s CSR strategy from 2021 to 2023, and contributed to the development of Lagardère Travel Retail’s global CSR initiative, PEPS (Planet, Ethics, People, Social).
Joining her is Lagardère Travel Retail Deputy CEO Frédéric Chevalier, who has played a key role in steering the company’s Transformation Plan that started during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and is recognised for his focus on operations and development.
Appointed Deputy CEO last year, Chevalier built his leadership through successive roles as Chief Business Officer in 2014 and Chief Operating Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 2017 to 2024.
His career began in private equity and management consulting before joining the company in 2006, with rapid promotion to EVP for Strategy, Innovation and Sustainable Development by 2008.
SSP Global Head of Design and Store Formats Jo Pennycuick will also bring her wealth of industry expertise to the programme.
She took on the role of Global Head of Design and Store Formats at SSP in August 2023, after spending 25 years leading Redesign Group in New Zealand, where she mainly consulted for SSP internationally.
The roster grows with the addition of (from left) SSP Global Head of Design and Store Formats Jo Pennycuick; Fraport AG Key Account Manager Airport Retailing Mark Hallstein; and Travel Food Services Executive Director Varun Kapur
Since joining the company, she has been responsible for the design and construction of SSP’s units, collaborating with local teams from across different markets.
Pennycuick also serves as Co-Deputy Chair of the Women of Influence network and provides mentorship to SSP’s design company in India.
The conference will also feature Mark Hallstein, Fraport AG Key Account Manager Airport Retailing, who has been instrumental in developing the retail and dining offer at Frankfurt Airport since 2000, following an earlier stint at Nestlé Deutschland.
Hallstein oversees commercial operations at Fraport, managing over 150 properties and 20 partners generating €200 million (US$227 million) annually.
He is in charge of the company’s retail strategy and development projects, including Terminal 3, and supports international consulting. His focus includes lease negotiations, sector mix and enhancing the passenger experience through high-yield F&B concepts and strong team leadership.
Hallstein’s strategic leadership drives value across Fraport’s retail expansion through lease negotiations, sector mix strategies and high-yield food & beverage concepts.
Joining the speaker line-up is Varun Kapur, Executive Director of Travel Food Services, who brings over a decade of hands-on experience in leading the company’s strategy and operations.
Kapur continues to guide TFS’s growth, with operations spanning over 300 F&B outlets across Indian and Malaysian airports, and more than 30 lounges at major travel hubs, making it a key player in India’s airport hospitality sector.
Click on the cover to view highlights from the last Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards, which took place in Ontario, California on 25-26 June
Registration for the Airport FAB + Hospitality Conference & Awards remains open via the official portal.
An Early Bird delegate pass is available for US$1,500 until 30 April, after which the standard registration fee is US$1,700.
As part of our commitment to industry engagement, airport delegates are eligible for an attractive -50% discount on both the Early Bird and regular registration fees.
Non-airport delegates can benefit from a -20% group discount when three or more delegates from the same company register together. Email Events@MoodieDavittReport.com for a discount code.
For general enquiries on FAB, please contact Vincci Chung, Associate Director, Events at Vincci@moodiedavittreport.com. 
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 for your complimentary subscription.
