AUSTRALIA. The entry deadline for the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail & Commercial Forum Awards is just three weeks away, with all submissions due by 14 June.
The awards recognise excellence and achievement across the airport commercial revenues sector in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region. They will be presented at the AAA Retail & Commercial Forum, which runs from 22-24 July in Melbourne. Nomination links appear below.
Organised by a partnership between the AAA, The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, the Forum brings together all the key players in the airport non-aeronautical revenue sector. These include airports from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, duty-free and speciality retailers, food & beverage operators, foreign exchange operators, advertising concessionaires, ground transport providers and various advisers and suppliers.
The Forum will feature seven awards in three categories and this year, the awards are sponsored by Red Rooster, one of Australia’s leading brands in the F&B space with a growing presence at airports across Australia.
The 2024 awards include:
Category 1 – Career Achievement
- Career Achievement Award – Airports
- Career Achievement Award – Concessionaires
Category 2 – Concessionaire/Airport/Supplier of the Year
- Concessionaire of the Year Award
- Airport/Landlord of the Year Award
- Supplier of the Year Award
Category 3 – Team member Recognition
- Customer-Facing Team Member Recognition Award
- Back-of-House Team Member Recognition Award
In 2023, a large number of nominations were received with seven winners announced, chosen by a panel comprising representatives of the AAA, The Moodie Davitt Report and The Mercurius Group.
The 2023 winners were:
- Career Achievement Award – Airports: Perth Airport Chief Commercial Officer Rebecca Cook
- Career Achievement Award – Concessionaires: Heinemann Australia Advisor Bob McFadyen
- Concessionaire of the Year: WHSmith
- Airport of the Year: Gold Coast Airport
- Supplier of the Year: Willow & Goose
- Team Member – Customer Facing: Colleen Stafford, Wilson Parking, Gold Coast Airport
- Team Member – Back-of-House: Kate Chessells, SSP, Hobart Airport
The Career Achievement Awards seek to recognise long-term and outstanding contributions from individuals to the airport commercial sector. One award is for airport commercial managers and the other is for concessionaires.
The second category of awards in 2024 is the Concessionaire/Airport/Supplier of the Year. These seek to recognise stakeholder feedback on organisations. Airports will be asked to nominate concessionaires and concessionaires will be asked to nominate both airports and suppliers.
The third category is the Team Member Recognition awards. These seek to recognise the key role of customer-facing and back-of-house team members who have gone above-and-beyond.
The awards will be presented at the Forum Gala Dinner on Tuesday 23 July 2024 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Forum seeks to bring together airports, concessionaires, suppliers and service providers to create unrivalled networking and business development opportunities for all parties.
Nominations close at 5pm AEST on Friday 14 June. Nomination forms appear below.
Career Achievement Awards
- Career Achievement Award – Airports
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240707515886868
- Career Achievement Award – Concessionaires
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240708359711862
Concessionaire/Airport/Supplier of the Year Awards
- Concessionaire of the Year
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240591636644865
- Airport of the Year Award
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240590717229863
- Supplier of the Year Award
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240591160606855
Team Member Awards
- Team Member Award – Customer Facing
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240708301291852
- Team Member Award – Back-of-House
Nominate here: https://form.jotform.com/240707799135869
AAA Chief Operating Officer Adrian Plumb said: “These awards highlight the achievements of key players in the commercial and retail sector of Australian airports. It is the perfect platform to celebrate individuals and organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to non-aeronautical revenue. Thank you to Red Rooster for supporting this important event.”
Craveable Brands/Red Rooster Chief Development Officer Simon Thompson said: “Airports are a perfect place for Red Rooster outlets, so we are delighted to be supporting this event. The awards recognise longevity, best practice and service – all attributes which align strongly with Red Rooster, hence our decision to sponsor these awards.”
The Mercurius Group Managing Director Ivo Favotto said: “We are delighted that Red Rooster has joined the fold of sponsors and supporters of our event. They are an important player in many airports and fulfil an important consumer need.”
The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt said: “It is great to see F&B brands like Red Rooster get involved directly in this Forum. The Forum enables brands like Red Rooster to network with both airports and F&B operators to achieve maximum benefits.” ✈
