Industry Excellence Honored At AX Awards Gala
Top performers among airport concessions and properties divisions, airport hospitality companies and brands were honored Wednesday night at the AX Conference Awards Gala, the culmination of the three-day Airport Experience Conference.
More than 450 North American airport concessions industry executives gathered for the festive event to laud the nominees and winners in nearly 40 categories. A pre-gala cocktail hour, sponsored by Crews Hospitality, set the stage for the celebratory event. The gala, emceed by AXN Vice President and Publisher Melissa K. Montes included a live band, courtesy of Nashville International Airport; programming sponsored by Atmosphere TV; wine sponsored by Vino Volo; and programs sponsored by Clune Construction.
The 2026 Airport Experience Awards recognized excellence in airport concessions throughout North America. The event also spotlighted AXN’s previously announced 2025 Airport Directors of the Year, and the 2026 Property Manager of the Year. There was also special recognition of Donata Russell Ross, former CEO of Concessions International, who was honored with the AX Icon award.
Full coverage of the conference and the awards will appear in the April/May issue of Airport Experience News. Below is a list of winners in each awards category.
Best Passenger Service: Rogers Xfinity and Passenger Pods
Airport With The Best Program Design: Nashville International Airport
DE&I TrailBlazer: Gary Gilliard of Albuquerque International Sunport
Airport With The Best Community Engagement Initiative – Medium/Small Airports: Ontario International Airport
Airport With The Best Community Engagement Initiative – Large Airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport
Best Lounge Experience: Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club by Airport Dimensions at San Diego International Airport
Best ACDBE Operator – Food & Beverage: Aero Service Group
Best ACDBE Operator – Retail or Services: CRS Sophisticated Solutions
Airport With The Best Overall Concessions Program – Medium/Small Airports: William P. Hobby Airport
Airport With The Best Overall Concessions Program – Large Airports: Nashville International Airport
Best Bar Experience – Medium/Small Airports: The Rustic by LaTrelle’s at William P. Hobby Airport
Best Bar Experience – Large Airports: Williams & Graham by Mission Yogurt at Denver International Airport
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Medium/Small Airports: Flavor of New Mexico by Fresquez Concessions at El Paso International Airport
Best Quick-Serve Restaurant Concept – Large Airports: Poulet Rouge by Poulet Rouge at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
Best Casual Dining Concept – Medium/Small Airports: Crawford’s Genuine by Grove Bay Crawford JV LLC at Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Best Casual Dining Concept – Large Airports: Rappahannock Oysters by SSP America at Washington Dulles International Airport
Best Local Management Team – Medium/Small Airports: Bambuza at John Wayne Airport, Orange County
Best Local Management Team – Large Airports: OHM Concession Group at Salt Lake City International Airport
Best Sustainability Initiative In Airports: Geothermal Tech in Terminal at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Medium/Small Airports: Willliam P. Hobby Airport
Airport With The Best Commercial Team – Large Airports: Denver International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Restaurant Concept – Medium/Small Airports: Oven and Shaker by SSP America at Portland International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Restaurant Concept – Large Airports: The Waterman by HMSHost at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Store – Medium/Small Airports: Hello From Portland by Brookwest Ventures LLC and WHSmith North America at Portland International Airport
Best Local-Inspired Store – Large Airports: Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop & WHSmith North America at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Best Overall Retailer – Small Operators: Cediel Concessions Management
Best Overall Retailer – Large Operators: Paradies Lagardère
Best Overall Restaurateur – Small Operators: The Grove
Best Overall Restaurateur – Large Operators: Paradies Lagardère
Airport With The Highest Regard for Customer Service – Medium/Small Airports: John Wayne Airport, Orange County
Airport With The Highest Regard for Customer Service – Large Airport: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Small Operators: LaTrelle’s
Restaurateur With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Operators: SSP America
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Small Operators: Johnston & Murphy
Retailer With The Highest Regard For Customer Service – Large Operators: Paradies Lagardère