The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) board has approved and awarded 11 concessions contracts to welcome 65 new shops, restaurants, convenience kiosks and bars to Tampa International Airport in Florida, USA.
HMSHost has operated as the sole concessionaire for Tampa International Airport since the opening of the terminal in 1971. However, the concessionaire’s contract expires this summer and the HCAA has made contracts available to multiple concessions operators, creating a greater variety of concepts among the airport’s shops and restaurants.
The six food and beverage contracts were awarded to Host International, SSP America, TPA Hospitality Partners and HBF Tampa Partners. The five retail and duty-free contracts were awarded to Paradies-TPA, NewsLink of Tampa, Stellar Partners, HG Tampa and WDGF North America.
A top priority for the Concessions Redevelopment Program was to bring local flavor and a sense of place to the airport. Therefore more than 40% of the food and beverage part of the program will be dedicated to local concepts and brands. Airside C, Tampa International Airport’s busiest airside, will consist almost entirely of local retail, food and beverage concepts.
These local concepts include the Tampa Life/Dali store, featuring merchandise and gifts from local museums, and RumFish Grill, which will partner with the Florida Aquarium to maintain a large aquarium filled with indigenous species.
It also includes popular local business such as: Ducky’s; Burger 21; Ulele; Louis Pappas; Bavaro’s Pizza; the Columbia Restaurant; Four Green Fields; Bella’s; New York, New York Pizza; and Cigar City Brewing. Passengers will also be able to enjoy grab-and-go foods from local suppliers including Alessi Bakery, Sono Café and Buddy Brew Coffee.
Alongside developing local businesses, the new program will introduce several new and innovative concepts to Tampa International including the first Hard Rock Café in a North American airport; the Home Shopping Network’s Travelsmith store; and a Starbucks Evening cafe, which will sell a selection of beers, wines, flatbreads and salads.
The restaurant areas will also be fitted with touch-screen tablets for quick, convenient ordering and check-out. It is estimated that the new concessions will be worth approximately US$1.3bn in gross sales over the next 10 years.
Joe Lopano, CEO at Tampa International, said, “I’m extremely proud of the Tampa International Airport staff and HCAA board members who worked so hard to bring this incredible program to life. I have no doubt that the final results will be amazing and that all who visit Tampa International Airport from around the world will agree.”