AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD ROUND-UP
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11 December
ITALY. Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has shared details of its first Plaza Premium First Lounge in Europe, soon to open at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport.
The launch marks a major milestone in PPG’s European expansion.
Located in Terminal 1, International Departures, the 700sq m lounge accommodates 115 guests.
A design featuring travertine stone, oak wood and bronze accents pays tribute to local artistry and sustainable design.
Artwork and decorative elements feature curated photography and abstract pieces linked to Italian craftsmanship and travel culture.
The space features the Aero Bar (pictured below) with a resident mixologist, and The Primo Dining Room is an exclusive space featuring an à la carte menu.
A note from PPG said, “The new elevated lounge concept represents a transformative evolution in Plaza Premium Group’s mission to redefine travel and provide discerning travellers with the ultimate blend of personalised hospitality, bespoke dining offerings, curated cocktails, wines & spirits, luxurious spaces and immersive cultural experiences.”
Aeroporti di Roma CEO Marco Troncone commented, “The opening of the new Plaza Premium First Lounge in Europe at our airport reflects Aeroporti di Roma’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the passenger experience, as recognised by our 5-Star Skytrax rating.
“Hosting the debut of this premium concept in Europe confirms Fiumicino’s role as a gateway capable of attracting leading global operators.
“It also strengthens Rome’s positioning as a strategic hub in the global travel network, where service excellence, comfort and local identity come together to offer a high-quality and increasingly personalised airport experience.”
7 December
NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA. Qantas is preparing to open the doors to its Auckland International Lounge in time for the peak holiday season, as the airline expands its trans-Tasman network.
The footprint of the new lounge is +60% larger than the previous space, providing capacity for more than 370 customers across dedicated zones for dining, relaxation and work.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said, “The new Auckland lounge celebrates the best of New Zealand and has been thoughtfully designed for how our customers want to use the space, whether that’s working, relaxing over a meal, or freshening up during transit.”
For the first time across the Qantas global lounge network, Platinum One and Platinum Frequent Flyers will have access to a dedicated à la carte dining area offering a seasonal menu, created by Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service Neil Perry.
The menu features dishes such as crumbed local fish and chips served up alongside popular Qantas favourites, including salt and pepper squid and signature pavlova.
New Zealand produce and local wine will feature in a dining area offering a buffet, gelato station and a cocktail bar serving up premium beverages and barista-made coffee.
The lounge design brings the outside in, with living green walls throughout, travertine tiles and terrazzo tabletops.
Bespoke furniture features seating upholstered in premium New Zealand wool and leather, and a four-metre artwork by artist Gabrielle Penfold (see above) captures the iconic North Head, Devonport.
Designer David Caon said the Auckland International Lounge celebrates the natural landscape of New Zealand while staying true to Qantas’ design across its lounges throughout the world.
The Qantas Auckland International Lounge will officially open on 17 December.
5 December
USA. Hyde Park Hospitality (HPH)-operated Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club has been inagurated at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The venture is a partnership between HPH, Airport Dimensions and JP Morgan Chase.
Open to Chase card members, the food & beverage offer features dining options from acclaimed restaurant group Momofuku.
A note from HPH said: “We’re proud to bring a new level of comfort and hospitality to travellers visiting Las Vegas and be the travellers’ first taste of their destination – not just the place they pass through to reach it.”
HPH now operates 22 lounges across its US airport estate. ✈
Read the June Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the July Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the August Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the September Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the October Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the November Airport Hospitality World column here.
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The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce Airport Hospitality World, the latest edition to its wide-ranging, market-leading travel retail and airport non-aeronautical revenues publishing and event portfolio. Airport Hospitality World covers all forms of airport lounges across international and domestic terminals, including various definitions as follows:
Plus other hospitality-related platforms:
Excitingly, the long-established Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards will embrace Airport Hospitality World from the 2026 edition – the event’s 15th anniversary. The event will take on an extended form, featuring an exhibition and the ultimate one-stop airport hospitality and food & beverage conference and awards platform. |
