Airport Concessions Veteran Tapped for Leadership Role
CLEVELAND, August 6, 2008 – BAA Cleveland, the newly appointed developer of retail, food and beverage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Tina LaForte as vice president of BAA Cleveland. In this role, Tina will oversee the transformation of concessions and the eventual opening of the new AIRMALL® at CLE.
“Tina has extensive experience in all aspects of airport retail development, and she understands the value proposition that the AIRMALL® delivers to both concessionaires and passengers,” said Mark Knight, president of BAA Cleveland. “She is a highly valued member of the BAA team, and we can think of no better person to pilot our newest effort in Cleveland.”
“I am excited about this new challenge and pleased to be part of this important development for both the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,” added Tina. “The new AIRMALL® at Hopkins will strategically combine branded local and national concepts to offer the highest-quality goods and services at ‘Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed.’ It’s an award-winning formula that generates the highest per-passenger spend in the industry and promises to generate a host of new concessions jobs at Hopkins.”
In February, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced that the City of Cleveland had forged a ten-year contract with BAA to develop and manage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The city anticipates that the new AIRMALL® at CLE will double retail sales figures at Hopkins over a ten-year period, double the number of concession jobs and double the current participation rate of local and minority-owned companies.
Tina LaForte has a decade of experience in a broad array of retail operations, including management, customer service, sales, merchandising and inventory. Her hands-on involvement with tenant operations has included the implementation of customer-servicebased incentive programs. She is also highly skilled at developing relationships with tenant management, lending professional support and guidance in managing operational issues, improving performance and increasing sales.
Prior to her appointment in Cleveland, Tina was general manager of BAA Maryland, Inc, operator of the AIRMALL® at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). She also served as retail operations executive of BAA Pittsburgh, operator of the highly successful AIRMALL® at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).
Tina and her husband live in Lakewood, OH.