Airports Council Announces Recipients of 2025 Airport Concessions Awards

Arlington, TX - Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today announced the recipients of the 2025 ACI-NA Excellence in Airport Concessions Awards. The awards recognize airports, concessionaires, and industry business partners for their work in elevating the passenger experience for all travelers. Fraport USA/Nashville International Airport (BNA) won the 2025 Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence in Airport Concessions, and Chris Niergarth of the Calgary International Airport (YYC) won the 2025 Concessions Person of the Year award.

"I'm thrilled to celebrate the longstanding partnership between North America's airports and concessions industries, and the important role they play in elevating the travel experience for all passengers," said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "I congratulate this year's honorees for their dedication and collaboration, not only with national brands, but also with the local restaurants and retailers that make a meaningful impact in the communities they serve. ACI-NA and our members look forward to continuing our strong partnership with concessionaires to deliver the best travel experience."

The awards were announced during a gala dinner at the 2025 ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Arlington, TX. The conference had more than 650 attendees representing the commercial management, supplier diversity, human resources, and finance sectors in the North American airport industry.

Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions: The Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions is ACI-NA's highest honor for airport concessions. This award considers the totality of an airport's concession program, including food service, retail, consumer services, quality, brands, sales, and build-out.

Fraport USA and Nashville International Airport (BNA) are the 2025 Richard A. Griesbach Award for Excellence in Airport Concessions award winners. BNA's concessions program brings the rich culture of Nashville to the airport, with a wide range of local restaurants and retail establishments. The airport has undergone rapid expansion, adding over 30 retailers and concessionaires in the last five years.

Concessions Person of the Year: This award recognizes an airport professional who has made a significant contribution to improving the North American concessions industry.

Chris Niergarth of YYC is the 2025 Concessions Person of the Year award winner. Niergarth embraced the challenge of leading efforts to transform YYC's retail offerings. His leadership resulted in 25 major renovations and 30 net-new retail and food and beverage locations. Niergarth demonstrated exceptional leadership in implementing strategies to emerge stronger after the COVID-19 pandemic, yielding major growth in YYC's annual concessions sales, from approximately $75 million in 2020 to over $225 million in 2024.

Concept Awards:

• The 2025 Best New Food and Beverage (Full-Service Concept) award winner is Oven and Shaker at Portland International Airport (PDX), operated by SSP America.
• The 2025 Best New Food and Beverage (Quick-Service Concept) award winner is ThroughGood Bistro & Bar at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), operated by Areas USA.
• The 2025 Best New Local Concept award winner is ChiBoys at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), operated by WHSmith North America.
• The 2025 Best New National Brand Concept award winner is Peet's at Night at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), operated by SSP America.
• The 2025 Best New News & Gift Concept award winner is PGA Tour Fan Shop at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), operated by Paradies Lagardère.
• The 2025 Best New Retail Concept award winner is Moose Knuckles at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), operated by Avolta.
• The 2025 Best New Passenger Experience Concept award winner is The Club SFO at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), operated by Airport Dimensions.
• The 2025 Best New Non-Terminal Revenue Innovation Concept award winner is the Strategic Partnership Program at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), operated by The Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Best Employee Recognition Program Awards:

• The 2025 Best Airport Employee Recognition Program (Large Airport) award winner is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
• The 2025 Best Airport Employee Recognition Program (Medium Airport) award winner is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
• The 2025 Best Concessionaire Employee Recognition Program (Food & Beverage Operator) award winner is Star Concessions.
• The 2025 Best Concessionaire Employee Recognition Program (Retail Operator) award winner is Paradies Lagardère.

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity, or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 435,800 jobs and contribute C$49.6 billion to Canada's GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.

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