SPAIN. Leading airports group Aena today announced the shortlisted candidates for the second edition of its Enjoy Aena Awards programme, which recognises excellence in travel retail and customer experience across its network.
The company manages over 250,000sq m of commercial space and over 1,000 outlets in Spain, and has business at 78 airports and two heliports worldwide.
Aena will confer ten awards, including seven for travel retail, to be decided by an external jury led by Toni Ruiz, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive of Mango. Awards include best design and customer service; best ESG policies; best marketing campaign; best advertising campaign; best innovation; best specialised offering aimed at travellers and best rental car operator.
Separately the jury will choose the airport with the best commercial offering in three categories.
Aena will also present an award to the best travel influencer along with an honorary prize to Spanish designer Roberto Verino.
The winners will be announced at a gala event to be held at Madrid’s Teatro Real on 29 October, hosted by TV host and journalist Susanna Griso.
Aena General Manager Commercial and Real Estate Maria José Cuenda said: “The creation of the Enjoy Aena Awards was a milestone for travel retail, as it was the first time that excellence in airport leisure had been recognised in our country. This year we wanted to make it even bigger, including all airports in the Aena network worldwide and creating more categories and activities around these awards.”
She added: “Evidence of its success is the increase in participation this year: +45% more than in the first edition. This recognition is our way of thanking the brands that allow us to offer value and well-being to a million passengers a day around the world.”
Nominated retailers, brands and airports – in alphabetical order are as follows:
Enjoy Aena Award Place To Be
With this category, Aena rewards excellence in service, commitment and customer service among its retailers and how they develop spaces across the airport network.
- Airfoods – Bottega Prosecco Bar
- Avolta – Hungry Club
- Lagardère Travel Retail – Café Iruña Berria
Enjoy Aena Award Best ESG
With this category, Aena aims to reward excellence in the application of its ESG policies.
- Avolta
- Ibersol Pansfood
- WHSmith Spain
Enjoy Aena Award Marketing Boost
With this category, Aena rewards the best online or offline marketing strategy carried out by brands in its airport network.
- Areas – Food to Fly
- Avolta – Purple Carpet de Avolta Club
- Select Service Partner – YO! Sushi
Enjoy Aena Award Best Advertising Campaign
This category rewards creativity in airport media. Aena will reward both the advertising operator and the advertising brand that has generated most visibility with its campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
- Exterior Plus – Carolina Herrera
- Exterior Plus – Estrella Galicia
- Promedios – UEFA
Enjoy Aena Award Best Innovation
This category rewards the brand or service that stands out for its most innovative business idea, model or concept, representing a change or improvement in the passenger experience at the airport.
- Areas – On Your Way
- Areas – Self
- Cafestore – Arzábal
Enjoy Aena Award Best Traveller’s Shop
Aena will reward excellence in offer and service aimed at the specific and timely needs of the traveller.
- Ale-Hop
- Enrique Tomás
- Relay
Enjoy Aena Award Best Mobility Experience
This accolade recognises the efforts of rental car companies to deliver the best experiences.
- AutoReisen
- Europcar
- Sixt
Enjoy Aena Award Best Airport
The three best airports in their category within the Aena network are recognised for their range of services and commercial offerings with this award.
Best Airport (Category one)
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Spain
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Spain
- London Luton, UK
Best Airport (Category two)
- Bilbao, Spain
- Fuerteventura, Spain
- Recife, Brazil
Best Airport (Category three)
- Asturias, Spain
- Girona, Costa Brava, Spain
- Uberlândia Tenente Coronel Aviador César Bombonato, Brazil
In addition, Aena will award a travel influencer whose content raises the profile of the airport sector.
Honorary Enjoy Aena Award: Roberto Verino
The honorary award recognises the achievements of individuals or companies outside the network and on this occasion goes to Spanish designer Roberto Verino.
A statement said: “Aena wishes to recognise his brilliant career as a designer and his commitment to the essence of national fashion, becoming one of the most influential designers globally and an ambassador for the Spain brand abroad. Throughout his career, his work has served as a reference for both local and international retailers, standing out in particular for his ability to fuse tradition and modernity in his collections, serving as an example for many generations of designers.”
Maria José Cuenda said: “Verino has committed to sustainability and ethics in fashion, making him a benchmark not only in terms of style, but also in social responsibility. This ecological awareness and his efforts to improve the design industry with sustainable practices add value to his career and strengthen his immense legacy.”
Aena will honour each of the award-winning companies and brands with a prize and the Enjoy Aena seal of quality, which can be displayed in their physical and digital spaces. ✈
