BAA to Establish Award-Winning AIRMALL® at CLE, with “Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed,” International Brands, and High-Quality Local Concepts
CLEVELAND, February 6, 2008 – BAA USA, the nation’s leader in airport retail development and operator of the award-winning AIRMALLs® at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), has been chosen to become the master developer of airport retail, food and beverage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland; and Ricky D. Smith, Sr., Director of the Department of Port Control, made the official announcement on Wednesday, February 6 in Cleveland.
“We are elated to officially partner with the City of Cleveland to transform the concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” noted Mark Knight, President of BAA USA. “We look forward to working with both the city and the Cleveland Airport System to make the airport a source of pride for a region that is already proud of its history and is poised to redefine itself in the coming years.”
The City of Cleveland awarded the ten-year contract to BAA USA following a year-long selection process conducted by the Department of Port Control. BAA was chosen among a total of three respondents.
As the master developer of airport concessions at CLE, BAA USA will establish an AIRMALL®, which has become the gold standard of airport concessions over the past two decades and boasts the highest per-passenger spend in the nation. The BAA model is based on four primary tenets:
- A strategic mix of high-quality national and international brands that people recognize and trust; and high-quality regional/local brands that inject local flavor, provide opportunity to regional business owners, and connect the airport to the larger community.
- A belief that competition breeds better results for airport merchants and airline passengers alike.
- A value proposition that means something to the consumer: “Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed.”
- An absolute dedication to customer service.
In line with this philosophy, the development of the AIRMALL® will generate a host of opportunities for local restaurants, retail establishments, entrepreneurs and other unique concepts. The new AIRMALL® also expects to double the amount of airport concessions jobs available to Cleveland-area residents.
“Cleveland Hopkins International Airport represents the gateway to our city for visitors from around the globe, and we look forward to the transformation of the retail concessions program,” noted Mayor Jackson. “We also encourage local businesses and residents to take advantage of the opportunities that will take shape at the airport.”
“We chose BAA USA because we believe they have the experience and the vision to create retail concessions at CLE that will consistently offer quality goods and services to the airline passenger,” added Smith. “This is something that the discerning traveler has come to expect.”
The addition of the AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport adds to an expanding portfolio for BAA USA, which was founded in 1991 with the development of the AIRMALL® at Pittsburgh International Airport. BAA USA will officially assume control of retail operations at CLE on April 1, 2008.
“In the coming months, we look forward to working with the Department of Port Control so that we can share our vision for the new AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with the public,” added Knight. “We are certain that the airline passenger will share our excitement when they visualize the dramatic changes that are about to take place.”
For more information about BAA USA, visit www.baausa.com or www.airmall.com.