INTERNATIONAL. Premium drinks mixer brand Fever-Tree has been named as Coffee Break Partner and health beverage company Hylux as Hydration Partner for the much-awaited Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards 2024 to be held in Ontario, California on 25-26 June.
Hosted by Ontario International Airport, the world’s only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event will bring together senior executives from airports, food & beverage concessionaires, hospitality service providers, as well as other business partners from around the world.
Fever-Tree is the world’s leading supplier of premium carbonated mixers, with distribution in over 90 countries. Its products include cocktail mixers, sodas, tonic water, ginger beer, ginger ale, colas and lemonade, and more.
As reported, the company opened Fever-Tree Bar and Café at Edinburgh Airport, a 51-seat venue featuring an eye-catching ‘tree canopy’ in June 2022.
Fever-Tree Retail Operations Director Craig Maitland said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be a sponsor of this year’s FAB + Hospitality Conference and Awards. It’s been hugely exciting for us to introduce our world-famous, number-one mixers, and our airport bar concept.”
Hylux is a vitamin water company that addresses the most prominent nutrient deficiencies in the US. It offers low-sugar ready-to-drink beverages and an expanding line of nutrition products.
The brand is made available throughout Europe and the Caribbean through partnerships with WHSmith and ARI.
Hylux CEO Lamar Letts said: “Last year was the Hylux team’s first year attending the FAB conference and our first time in Thailand. This year, we’re delighted to go from participant to sponsor and partner with FAB in Hylux’s home country, the US. We have some exciting surprises for everyone.”
FAB has attracted key industry figures to join a powerful and diverse speaker line-up at the conference. The latest confirmed speakers include Avolta Senior Vice President for F&B Commercial Bastiaan van Asten and Chief Executive Officer Northern, Central and Eastern Europe Walter Seib; as well as Conceptional Managing Partner Fred van Aken; Avolta Chief People and Culture Officer, North America Laura FitzRandolph; and JFKIAT Vice President Customer Experience & Commercial Belinda Jain.
The conference will also feature Ontario International Airport CEO Atif Elkadi and OTG Chairman of the Board of Directors Tom Fricke.
They will be joined by Travel Food Services Chief Operating Officer Gaurav Dewan; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Vice President Concessions Zenola Campbell; Lagardère Travel Retail Executive Vice President Foodservice Mélanie Guilldou; Paradies Lagardère CEO Gregg Paradies; Vantage Airport Group & Midway Partnership Vice President, Commercial Sammy Patel; and Villa Restaurant Group Director of Business Development Christopher McNamee.
Also speaking are Ontario International Airport Chief Revenue Management Officer Elisa Grey; Delaware North Senior Director, Brands and Concepts Liz Grzechowiak; Conceptional Founder and Chief Executive Officer Reoewein Niesten; tRetail Labs Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder Sossina Shenkute; Dreamfolks Services Limited Chief Business Officer Sandeep Sonawane and Pragma Chief Executive Officer Alex Avery.
The Moodie Davitt Report is also co-organising a session with the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA), which represents the interests of commercial concessionaires in North America.
Other big-name industry leaders speaking at the event are America Vice President of People Sherree Coker; Concessions International Chief Executive Officer Donata Russell Ross; Plaza Premium Group Director of Global Brand and Transformation Mei Mei Song; SSP America Chief Executive Officer Michael Svagdis; and San Diego International Airport Revenue Generation & Partnership Development Director Deanna Zachrisson.
Also appearing as guest speakers will be Areas USA Chief Executive Officer Carlos Bernal; The Design Solution Brand Development Director John Clarke; Margaritaville Caribbean Group Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ian Dear; Airport Dimensions Senior Vice President of Global Business Development Chris Gwilliam; and Bangalore International Airport Vice President Commercial Development Pravat Kumar Paikray.
More names in the list include Enjoy Repeat, Inc/Concord Collective/Fly With Breeze Chief Executive Officer Greg Plummer; Greater Toronto Airports Authority Dining Development Manager Suzanne Merrell; Qatar Duty Free Vice President Food & Beverage Grant Fleming; DreamFolks Services Limited Chairperson & Managing Director Liberatha Kallat; and Royal Schiphol Group Business Manager Food & Beverage Bram Kreté.
The event will also celebrate the achievements and efforts of the sector with the much-anticipated FAB Awards and people-focused FAB Superstars. The awards ceremony will be the glittering culmination of the event to be held during the Gala Dinner on 26 June at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center.
The complete list of finalists for the FAB Awards have been announced last week.
Click here to visit our dedicated event website. 
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report publishes the FAB Newsletter, which features highlights of openings, events and campaigns from around the world of airport and travel dining.
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