Kansas City, Mo.; April 9, 2024: – In its first year of operation, the locally inspired concession program at the New Terminal at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) won top honors at the prestigious Airport Experience News (AXN) 2024 Airport Excellence Awards, including Best Overall Program in its size category.
MCI won awards in the Medium/Small Airports division for the following:
- Best Overall Program
- Best Local Inspired Restaurant, The Kansas City BBQ Experience
- Best Casual Dining Concept, Brown & Loe
- Best Passenger Service, Directors Cut Take II
AXN’s Airport Experience Awards recognize excellence in airport concessions in one of the largest gatherings of airport commercial executives and concession operators in North America. Awards are voted on by a committee of industry executives.
“Our goal of building an exceptional new airport terminal included offering world-class food and experiences to travelers,” said Melissa Cooper, Kansas City Director of Aviation. “These awards showcase the work that Vantage Airport Group and our many local businesses have done to deliver award-winning Kansas City-inspired concession program.”
“We are absolutely delighted to be selected as the winners of not just one but four prestigious awards,” said Sammy Patel, Vice President, Commercial, Vantage Airport Group. “Together with the Kansas City Aviation Department, Outstanding Hospitality Management, and WH Smith North America, we have created a program focused on passengers and service excellence. These awards are a true testament to our bold approach creating a locally focused, Kansas City-inspired concession program that is transformative in so many ways.”
The Best Overall Program award is given to an airport that excels in providing an array of options in its food, retail, and services program that satisfies the needs and tastes of a range of travelers. The Best Casual Dining Concept, awarded to Brown & Loe, operated by Outstanding Hospitality Management Concessions Group (OHM) recognizes a casual dining concept providing a high-quality, exceptional experience. The Made for KC BBQ Experience, an immersive eating and shopping experience also operated by OHM and featuring authentic, made-in-KC BBQ dishes, rubs, and sauces, won the Best Local-Inspired Restaurant award. Finally, Director’s Cut Take II, a barbershop offering a pre-flight pampering experience with a full bar, earned the Best Passenger Service prize.
The full list of AXN airport winners is available on AXN’s website.