There’s something that’s goin’ round, that’s shutting our borders down
It’s a bad time for our sick and our old
CNN’s nightly lullaby, tells of hundreds more that’ve died
I shut off the TV and think all alone, how long can this go on? – Jeff Orson, Pray
Welcome to In Crisis – Travel Retail Voices, our podcast series in which we speak to industry executives around the world to see how they and their businesses are coping with the COVID-19 crisis.
This time we speak to George Casey, Chair & CEO of Vantage Airport Group, and a Board Director of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the vehicle through which Vantage has led the development of New York LaGuardia Airport Terminal B.
The terminal opened to passengers on Saturday 13 June as part of a US$5.1 billion dollar transformation, the biggest public-private partnership in US aviation history.
The 850,000sq ft complex spans four levels, with one of these home to a commercial district with 21 shops and restaurants featuring New York names alongside global brands.
The Arrivals & Departures Hall aims to bring the “vibrant New York spirit” to the airport experience through architectural and design finishes inspired by New York’s neighbourhoods, and a collection of public art installations commissioned for the terminal.
[Click on the icon to listen to George Casey talk to Dermot Davitt]
The completion of that project came against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, with LaGuardia Gateway Partners layering a range of health & hygiene measures over its impressive architecture, facilities, operations and commercial services.
George talks about the new terminal, the commercial approach, Sense of Place, technology and about the evolution of airport partnerships.
*We will bring you a detailed feature on New York LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, and its commercial offer, in the June edition of The Moodie Davitt Magazine, out this week.
Previously on In Crisis – Travel Retail Voices
June 12: for1314| a1dil | c3hristoph | d4enz
June 10: Vincent McDermott, TR Partners
June 10: Julián Díaz, Dufry
[Click on the icons above or below for video and audio interviews of the Julián Díaz interview]
June 6: Paula Short, Beauty BLVD
June 2: Ray Hernan, Aer Rianta International
May 30: Roger Jackson, The SEVA Group
May 22: Garry Maxwell, GMAX Travel Retail
May 22: Caroline SouthCaroline South Associates (Part 2)
May 22: Caroline South, Caroline South Associates (Part 1)
May 20: Frederik Westelinck, Blue Storks
May 14: Christine Keeling, Long Haul Spa
May 12: Kevin Chiang, Ever Rich Duty Free
May 2: Robbie Gill, The Design Solution
May 2: Michael Ripfl, Umdasch, The Store Makers
April 29: Heidi van Roon, Spark Business Services Group
April 25: Rüdiger Behn, Waldemar Behn
April 23: James Prescott, Harding Retail
April 22: Eugene Barry, Dubai Airports
April 21: Lal Arakulath, Kreol Group
April 21: Scott Collier, Toronto Pearson International Airport
April 20: Lisa Bauer, Starboard Cruise Services
April 17: Dan Cappell, Ontario International Airport
April 13: Gautom Menon, Wild Tiger Beverages
April 13: Sarah Branquinho, Duty Free World Council
April 10: Sinead el Sibai, Dubai Duty Free
April 7: Jonathan Holland of Jonathan Holland & Associates, Singapore.
April 7: Rob Wigington, Executive Director at the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association, US.
April 7: José Luis Donagaray and Inés Sisto Patron, ASUTIL
April 5: Stewart Dryburgh, Nestlé International Travel Retail,
April 4: Pier Giuseppe Torresani, Masi; and Steve Corrigan, long-time duty free drinks executive
April 2: Founder of Duty Free Global, Barry Geoghegan
April 1: Vice President of Miami-based Essence Corp, Patricia Bona.
29 March: William Grant & Sons President Asia Pacific Doug Bagley
29 March: PMA Canada National Director – Duty Free Jeff Orson
27 March: Paul & Shark Global Travel Retail Director Catherine Bonelli
26 March: King Power Traveler President Rakhita Jayawardena
25 March: Public health expert Dr. David Heymann
24 March: King Power Group (Hong Kong) Group Chief Executive Officer Sunil Tuli
22 March: The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie
21 March: China Duty Free Group President Charles Chen
20 March: Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin
