USA/INTERNATIONAL. Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport captured the ultimate Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year accolade, retaining its title at the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards at Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Ontario last night.
That was one of nearly 300 highly competitive entries received for the award categories this year, all of which recognise excellence across the travel F&B and hospitality sector.
The winners were revealed during a hugely memorable gala dinner courtesy of hosts Ontario International Airport and to The Moodie Davitt Report’s long-time partner Avolta (and HMSHost by Avolta) for the cocktail reception.
The outstanding performers were selected by our panel of judges, which included Nick Inkster, a highly respected consultant who spent 25 years in senior roles with SSP; Ground Control CEO and former CEO & Managing Director at Emirates Leisure Retail Kevin Zajax; President & CEO of Sevly Inc Sevda Fevzi; Hunter Palmer Global Retail Solutions Co-Founder Nick Goddard-Palmer; ServiceQ CEO and Founder Jaquie Scammell; and 4QD Strategy Consulting LLC President Peter Gargiulo.
They were joined by Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray and ECE Marketplaces Project Director – Leasing Services Jonathan Doughty, plus our Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie.
Here is the full roll-call of honour for the 2024 FAB Awards:
Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year: Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Kansas City International Airport
Asia Pacific: Singapore Changi Airport
Europe: London Luton Airport
Middle East & Africa: Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Highly Commended:
Abu Dhabi Airports, Zayed International Airport
The FAB Humanitarian Award 2024: Mitti Café Founder & CEO Alina Alam and Bangalore International Airport Limited
Outstanding Contribution to the Airport Food & Beverage Industry: Walter Seib, Avolta Chief Executive Officer Northern, Central and Eastern Europe
Airport Food to Go Offer of the Year: Tiffin Express – HMSHost by Avolta, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Osmow’s, Toronto Pearson International Airport
Asia Pacific: Tiffin Express – HMSHost by Avolta, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
Europe: Bageterie Boulevard by Lagardère Travel Retail at Václav Havel Airport Prague
Middle East & Africa: Grabb’it by Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport
Highly Commended:
Sandwich Manufaktur – Allresto Flughafen, Munich Airport
SNAP – HMSHost by Avolta, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Airport Coffee or Tea Shop of the Year: Cha Hua Nong Tea House – Xi’an Airport Commercial Branch Company, Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (Tea Shop); and Veranda Café – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport (Coffee Shop)
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Bridgehead Coffee – SSP America, Ottawa International Airport
Asia Pacific: Rustica – Delaware North, Melbourne Airport
Europe (joint winners): Cakes & Bakes – BTA, Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport and Cloud Picker – SSP UK & Ireland, Dublin Airport
Middle East & Africa: Veranda Café – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport
Highly Commended: Butlers Chocolate Cafe – in partnership with SSP Emirates, Zayed International Airport
Airport Food & Beverage Marketing Campaign of the Year: ‘Seas the Day’ – SSP America
Highly Commended:
Avios – Areas, multiple airports
Sabores México – Areas, multiple airports
Airport Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year: Business Development Training Academy, Denver International Airport
Regional winner:
Asia Pacific: Travel Food Services Private Limited
Highly Commended:
Paper Planes Café – Pacific Autism Family Network, Vancouver International Airport
Airport Chef of the Year: Ömür Akkor – BTA, Istanbul Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Duane Nutter – Paradies Lagardère, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Asia Pacific: Dominic Gerard – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
Europe: Ömür Akkor – BTA, Istanbul Airport
Middle East: Rahul Khosla – Lagardère Travel Retail, multiple airports
Airport Bar or Pub of the Year: Todd English Pub & Market – Lagardère Travel Retail, Zayed International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Brewery X, Ontario International Airport
Asia Pacific (joint winners): Intervals Sky Bar & Restaurant – Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong International Airport and Otherside Brew Lounge – Delaware North, Perth Airport
Europe: BrewDog – SSP UK & Ireland, Gatwick Airport
Middle East & Africa: Todd English Pub & Market – Lagardère Travel Retail, Zayed International Airport
Highly Commended:
Bottega Prosecco Bar & Craft Beer – Avolta, Zayed International Airport
O’Regan’s Irish Bar and Restaurant – Dubai International Hotel, Dubai International Airport
Airport Restaurant Design of the Year: Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport
Asia Pacific (joint winners): Bombay Brasserie – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru; and Jones the Grocer – SSP Asia Pacific, Changi
Europe: StrEAT – Areas, Multiple Airports
Middle East & Africa: Paper Café – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport
Airport Food Hall of the Year: Aero Plaza, Hyderabad International Airport (landside); and The Daily DXB – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport (airside)
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: The Food Court by Morpho Travel Experience, San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport
Asia Pacific: Aero Plaza, Hyderabad International Airport
Europe: Airside Food Court – SSP Finland, Helsinki Airport
Middle East & Africa: The Daily DXB – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport
Highly Commended:
Food Park by SSP Emirates, Zayed International Airport
Airport Sustainability & Environmental Initiative of the Year: ‘For the People, for the World, for the Oceans’ – Morpho Travel Experience, Juan Santamaria International Airport; and A Carbon Labelling First in Travel Location – SSP Emirates, Zayed International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: ‘For the People, for the World, for the Oceans’ – Morpho Travel Experience, San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport
Asia Pacific: TFS Airport Sustainability & Environmental Initiatives – Travel Food Services
Europe: ‘AREAS for Change’ & ‘AREAS for Change Challenge’ – Areas, Multiple Airports
Middle East & Africa: A Carbon Labelling First in Travel Location – SSP Emirates, Zayed International Airport
Airport Health-Centred Offer of the Year: 80 Acres Farms Program – Paradies Lagardère, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: 80 Acres Farms Program – Paradies Lagardère, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Europe: Natoo – Lagardère Travel Retail, Hamburg Airport
Highly Commended:
La Place – Areas
Plum Market by Avolta, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Airport Lounge Food & Beverage Offering of the Year: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club – JPMorgan Chase & Co, LaGuardia Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club – JPMorgan Chase & Co, LaGuardia Airport
Asia Pacific: Global Lounge – SSP Malaysia & ARAYA (Travel Food Services), Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Middle East & Africa: Louis Vuitton Lounge – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Highly Commended:
SKY The Lounge – Before Boarding, Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport
Airport Lounge of the Year (joint winners): Domestic 080 Domestic Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services Limited, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru; and International Louis Vuitton Lounge – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Airport Customer/Hospitality Initiative of the Year: YVR’s Season’s Eatings Campaign – Vancouver Airport Authority, Vancouver International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: YVR’s Season’s Eatings Campaign – Vancouver Airport Authority, Vancouver International Airport
Asia Pacific: Lounge Self Check-In Kiosk – Travel Food Services Private Limited, Mumbai International Airport
Europe: Hello Customer – Avolta, Brussels Airport
Middle East & Africa: Paper Café & Lego – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport
Highly Commended:
Brewery X, Ontario International Airport
iCoupon, at multiple airports
Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year: Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport
Asia Pacific: Hard Rock Café – SSP Asia Pacific, Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Europe (joint winners): Antonino – Il banco di Cannavacciuolo – Areas, Milan Malpensa Airport; and Spuntino – TRG Concessions, Heathrow Airport
Middle East & Africa: Asian Street Kitchen – Emirates Leisure Retail & MMI, Dubai International Airport
Highly Commended:
Big Rig Kitchen & Brewery – SSP America, Ottawa International Airport
Tadında Anadolu – BTA, Istanbul Airport
Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Representing Sense of Place (joint winners): Tadında Anadolu – BTA, Istanbul Airport (restaurants segment); and 080 Domestic Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services Limited, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (lounges segm
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean (joint winner): Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport; and Fat Bottom Brewery – Paradies Lagardère, Nashville International Airport
Asia Pacific: Tiffin Centre – HMSHost by Avolta, Bangalore Airport
Europe: Tadında Anadolu – BTA, Istanbul Airport
Middle East & Africa: Basta – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Airport Food & Beverage Opening of the Year: Souq Al Matar – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
Regional winners:
Americas & Caribbean: Bob Marley’s One Love Restaurant – Margaritaville Caribbean Group, Sangster International Airport
Asia Pacific: Destination Bengaluru – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
Europe: Pizza Flor – Areas
Middle East & Africa: Souq Al Matar – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport