On Wednesday, March 8, the Houston City Council approved the contract finalizing Areas’ win which will enhance the world-class guest experience at Hobby Airport, the first and only 5-Star airport in North America. Areas will invest approximately $19 million to revitalize 19,000 square feet of food and beverage space, representing half of the airport’s total concessions space.
“The new concessions package brings together an all-star list of fantastic dining concepts that includes well-known Houston restaurants and national brands,” said Jim Szczesniak, Chief Operating Officer for Houston Airports. “Houston Airports is relentless in our quest to make our passengers happy. I am confident these new concessions will elevate the already incredible experience guests of Hobby Airport have come to expect from the first and only 5-Star airport in North America.”
“We are excited to partner with the City of Houston to bring a distinctive program that complements the city’s culinary virtues and ethnic diversity,” says Carlos Bernal, CEO of Areas. “Travelers to William P. Hobby Airport will be delighted by an exceptional lineup of concepts, which represent the essence of the city’s greatness.”
This latest Houston win is a significant addition to Areas’ US portfolio and advances the company’s aggressive growth strategy while increasing its prominence in the airport travel hospitality space.
Areas brings four experienced joint venture partners to the operations, a powerful group of local operators who together exceed the airport’s minority participation requirement. The partners include Alliance Hospitality Group, Multiplex Inc., Creative Concourse Concessions, and Cediel Management Concessions.
The Areas program is designed to appeal to the palates and demands of HOU’s dynamic travelers with a thoughtful balance of local, national, trending, and traditional concepts ensuring a wide range of appeal. Some of the brands being introduced include Throughgood Coffee Bistro & Bar, Starbucks, Yard House, SpindleTap Brewery, Killen’s Barbecue, and The Spot.
Miami, FL March 8, 2023
About Areas
Areas SAU is an international leader in food and beverage and travel retail. With a presence in 10 countries, the company manages over 1,900 restaurants and stores in Europe and America. With a team of 23,000 people and locations in major transport hubs around the world (airports, train stations, travel plazas on highways), as well as leisure parks, Areas provides hospitality services to more than 350 million guests every year. Founded in 1968 in Barcelona, Areas is committed to offering exceptional services to travelers. Since then, Areas has become a global benchmark operator in the industry, with a deep knowledge of travelers’ needs and the widest range of restaurant concepts in the industry.
Areas’ US subsidiary operates over 130 restaurants and retail stores in nine major airports and 13 travel plazas in three states. In the US, Areas operates restaurants and retail stores in these airports: Los Angeles International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, Miami International, Chicago O’Hare International, Newark Liberty International, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Orlando International, Detroit Metro Airport, and Indianapolis International. Areas USA also operates travel plazas along the turnpikes in Florida, Maryland, and West Virginia.
Media contact:
Pauline Armbrust
VP of Marketing and Communications
Email: Pauline.Armbrust@Areas.com
Mobile: 305-798-3081
