SPAIN/INTERNATIONAL. Incheon International Airport has been recognised with the top honour at the 2025 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards.
The Korean travel hub won the ultimate Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year accolade, presented today (26 June) during a memorable gala dinner at the magnificent Maritime Museum of Barcelona.
The Incheon International Airport Corporation-operated travel hub was also awarded the Asia Pacific title in the same category.
The other regional winners were Denver International Airport for the DEN Concourse Marketplace (Americas); Areas for its F&B programme at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (Europe); and two-time overall winner Qatar Duty Free for its renowned F&B offer at Hamad International Airport (Middle East & Africa).
Meanwhile, the impressive F&B offers from Beijing Daxing International, Singapore Changi and Heathrow airports achieved Highly Commended status.
It was revealed that the overall winner, Incheon International Airport Corporation, just edged it in an intensely close contest against the six other finalists named above.
One of the judges had noted: “This entry exemplifies the value of constantly keeping improving. The Incheon F&B offer has transformed and become an absolute powerhouse for the airport commercially and a highly respected and loved part of the guest experience.
“This journey has not been an easy one for the airport and so this makes it so much more impressive for what they have achieved. The scale and diversity of the offer is incredible.
“This entry shows that human touches and a curated focus on the guest and their experiences will deliver huge commercial success and that makes it a standout submission.”
These airport submissions were among a record 430 fiercely competitive entries received for the FAB Awards and FAB Superstars Awards (see our story here) categories this year, all of which recognise excellence across the travel F&B and hospitality sector.
The winners of the 23 categories were revealed at the superb gala dinner courtesy of hosts Spanish airports operator Aena, with food service provided by Areas and support from Avolta for the cocktail reception.
There were also two special judges’ awards presented. The first, the FAB Award For Daring Innovation, went to Avolta’s Hungry Club, which features the culinary genius of Michelin-starred Spanish Chef Dabiz Muñoz.
The concept has proved so successful since its debut that five locations are already open in Spain and three new ones are planned. Foreign expansion is also now on the agenda.
Bottega President Sandro Bottega was honoured with a special award for his Outstanding Contribution to the Airport F&B industry. In announcing the award, The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie described the Italian entrepreneur as a “globetrotting business genius”.
The outstanding performers this year were selected by our distinguished panel of judges, led by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie.
Other judges included Nick Inkster, a highly respected consultant who spent 25 years in senior roles with SSP; Concession Planning International Managing Partner Susan Gray; Marketplaces Project Director – Leasing Services Jonathan Doughty; Hunter Palmer – Global Retail Solutions Co-Founder Nick Goddard-Palmer; The Hayward Partnership Airport and Airline F&B and M&A Specialist Robert Shepherd; and Trippas White Group CEO Kevin Zajax.
Here is the full roll of honour (in category alphabetical order):
Airport Bar or Pub of the Year – Airport ≤20M passengers
Category Joint Winner: Shelby & Co Bar + Kitchen – SSP UK & Ireland, Birmingham Airport, UK
Category Joint Winner: Vin Room – Calgary International Airport, Canada
Americas Regional Winner: Vin Room – Calgary International Airport, Canada
Asia Pacific Regional Winner: Tickerdaze – BTA, Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan
Europe Regional Winner: Shelby & Co Bar + Kitchen – SSP UK & Ireland, Birmingham Airport, UK
Airport Bar or Pub of the Year – Airport ≥20M passengers
Winner: Lokal +48 – Lagardère Travel Retail, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Poland
Americas: UrbanCrave – SSP America, Washington Dulles International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Intervals Bar – Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong SAR
Europe: Lokal +48 – Lagardère Travel Retail, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Poland
Middle East & Africa: O’Regan’s Irish Bar & Restaurant – Dubai International Hotel, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year – Airport ≤20M passengers
Winner: The BBQ Experience – Outstanding Hospitality Management, Kansas City International Airport, USA
Americas: The BBQ Experience – Outstanding Hospitality Management, Kansas City International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Irish House – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Europe: Monty’s Diner – SSP UK & Ireland, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, UK
Middle East & Africa: Cravings Restaurant and Bar – Sunshine Retail, Bole Addis Ababa International Airport, Ethiopia
Airport Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year – Airport ≥20M passengers
Joint Winner (International Segment): Asian Street Kitchen – Emirates Leisure Retail, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Joint Winner (Domestic Segment: Luke Mangan – Airport Retail Enterprises (SSP Asia Pacific), Sydney Airport, Australia
Americas: Sunday’s Best – SSP America, Salt Lake City International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Luke Mangan – Airport Retail Enterprises (SSP Asia Pacific), Sydney Airport, Australia
Europe: Falconi’s – Kuffler Group & Fraport, Frankfurt Airport, Germany
Middle East & Africa: Asian Street Kitchen – Emirates Leisure Retail, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Airport Chef of the Year
Winner: Chef Subhash Chander – Plaza Premium Group, Multiple airports
In addition, the following ten chefs have been Highly Commended in this category:
Chef Aman Dev – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Chef Aniruddha Limaye – Travel Food Services, Multiple airports, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia
Chef Dabiz Muñoz – Hungry Club (Avolta), Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain
Chef Daniel Young – Sunset Loop Bar & Grill, Denver International Airport, USA
Chef Sebastien Crouzat – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport, Qatar
Chef Daniel Lewis – Lagardère Travel Retail, King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Chef Javier Plascencia – Areas, Tijuana International Airport, Mexico
Chef John Paul – The Draft House, Emirates Leisure Retail, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Chef Kyriacos Alexiou – SSP Eastern Europe and Middle East, Larnaca and Paphos International Airports, Cyprus
Chef Vibhooti Pokharel – Asian Street Kitchen, Emirates Leisure Retail, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Airport Coffee or Tea Shop of the Year
Joint winner (Coffee Shop Segment): Peet’s At Night – SSP America, Boston Logan International Airport, USA
Joint winner (Tea Shop Segment): T9 Premium Tea – Avolta, Shanghai Pudong Airport, China
Americas: Peet’s At Night – SSP America, Boston Logan International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Premium Tea – Avolta, Shanghai Pudong Airport, China
Europe: Gateau – SSP, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden
Middle East & Africa (Joint Winner): Aida Café – SSP Eastern Europe and Middle East, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Middle East & Africa (Joint Winner): FIX – Lagardère Travel Retail, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Highly Commended: Paragon Tea Room – Avolta, Vancouver International Airport, Canada
Airport Customer/Hospitality Initiative of the Year
Winner: iCoupon – multiple airports
Highly Commended: Capital One Landing – Capital One, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, USA
Highly Commended: Plaza Premium Lounge – Plaza Premium Group, Multiple airports
Highly Commended: SSP America’s Service From The Heart – SSP America, Multiple airports
Airport Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year
Winner: Cafe Yanımda – TUM, İGA İstanbul Airport, Türkiye
Highly Commended: ‘Mothers of Pride’ – Travel Food Services, multiple airports, India
Airport Food & Beverage Digital Initiative of the Year
Winner: Club Avolta – Avolta, multiple airports
Airport Food & Beverage Marketing Campaign of the Year
Winner: Domestic Terminal Southern Retail Launch – Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australia
Americas: DEN Perks Depart Inspired – Denver International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Domestic Terminal Southern Retail Launch – Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australia
Europe: Airbräu Anniversary – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätte, Munich Airport, Germany
Middle East & Africa: Fred’s Coffee Party at Jones the Grocer – Avolta, Dubai International Airport, UAE
Highly Commended: Airbräu Anniversary – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätte, Munich Airport, Germany
Highly Commended: Incheon An-Nyung Sand – Paris Croissant, Incheon International Airport, Republic of Korea
Highly Commended: The Crossover Effect – BTA, Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan
Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Representing Sense of Place
Winner (Lounge segment): 080 International Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Winner (Restaurant segment): Central Tiffin Room – CTR VTP Hospitality Private Limited, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Americas: Oven and Shaker – SSP America, Portland International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific (Joint Winner): 080 International Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Asia Pacific (Joint Winner): Central Tiffin Room – CTR VTP Hospitality Private Limited, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Europe: Café Iruña Berria – Lagardère Travel Retail, Bilbao Airport, Spain
Middle East & Africa: Eastern Europe and Middle East, Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain
Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year
Winner: Incheon International Airport – Incheon International Airport Corporation, Republic of Korea
Americas: Denver International Airport – DEN Concourse Marketplace, Denver International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Incheon International Airport – Incheon International Airport Corporation, Republic of Korea
Europe: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport – Areas, Spain
Middle East & Africa: Hamad International Airport – Qatar Duty Free, Qatar
Highly Commended: Beijing Daxing International Airport – Beijing Capital Airport Food Management Co, China
Highly Commended: Changi Airport – Changi Airport Group, Singapore
Highly Commended: Heathrow Airport, UK
Airport Food & Beverage Opening of the Year
Winner: Le Café Cyril Lignac at Louis Vuitton – London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, UK
Americas: Food Hall – OTG Management, LaGuardia Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Joshh – Travel Food Services/Adani Airport Holdings, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2, India
Europe: Le Café Cyril Lignac at Louis Vuitton – London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, UK
Middle East & Africa: Infin’eat – Lagardère Travel Retail, King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Highly Commended: Hungry Club – Avolta, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain
Highly Commended: Marché Bistro – Lagardère Travel Retail, Hamburg Airport, Germany
Airport Food Hall of the Year – Airport ≤20M passengers
Winner: Food Court – Aeropuertos Uruguay, Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay
Americas: Food Court – Aeropuertos Uruguay, Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay
Asia Pacific: Gox Village (MOPA Landside) – Travel Food Services, Manohar International Airport, India
Europe: Aðalstræti – Lagardère Travel Retail, Keflavik Airport, Iceland
Airport Food Hall of the Year – Airport ≥20M passengers
Winner: Food Hall Satellit – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätten, Munich Airport, Germany
Americas: DEN Food Hall – Marczyk Fine Foods, ChoLon Modern Asian, and Teatulia Tea & Coffee, Denver International Airport, USA
Europe: Food Hall Satellit – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätten, Munich Airport, Germany
Middle East & Africa: Food Garden – SSP Eastern Europe and Middle East, King Khalid International Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Airport Food to Go Offer of the Year
Winner: Aïda – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätten, Munich Airport, Germany
Americas: R.J. Grunts – SSP America, Chicago Midway International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: Mishta Cart – Travel Food Services, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, India
Europe: Aïda – Allresto Flughafen München Hotel & Gaststätten, Munich Airport, Germany
Middle East & Africa: SSP Eastern Europe and Middle East, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Airport Health-Centred Offer of the Year
Winner: Flax & Kale – Areas, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain
Americas: Natoo – Lagardère Travel Retail, Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Chile
Asia Pacific: FRESH – Avolta, Gold Coast Airport, Australia
Europe: Flax & Kale – Areas, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain
Highly Commended: Fruitality – The Wright Group, Dublin Airport, Ireland
Airport Instagrammable Location of the Year
Winner: Kitchen by Open House – Avolta, Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1, Malaysia
Airport Lounge Food & Beverage Offer of the Year
Winner: Plaza Premium First Hong Kong – Infinity Room – Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong SAR
Americas: Sky The Lounge – Before Boarding, Las Américas International Airport, Dominican Republic
Asia Pacific: Plaza Premium First Hong Kong – Infinity Room – Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong SAR
Europe: TRU Hospitality Services & Retail Group – İGA İstanbul Airport, Türkiye
Middle East & Africa: Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport, Qatar
Highly Commended: 080 International Lounge, Terminal 2 – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Airport Lounge of the Year
Winner: 080 International Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru Terminal 2, India
Americas (Joint Winner): Delta One Lounge – Delta Air Lines, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, USA
Americas (Joint Winner): SKY The Lounge – Before Boarding, Las Américas International Airport, Dominican Republic
Asia Pacific: 080 International Lounge – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru Terminal 2, India
Middle East & Africa: Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport, Qatar
Airport Lounge Opening of the Year
Joint Winner: 080 Lounge by TFSL – Phase 2 – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Joint Winner: Capital One Lounge – Capital One, Harry Reid International Airport, USA
Americas: Capital One Lounge – Capital One, Harry Reid International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific: 080 Lounge by TFSL – Phase 2 – Travel Food Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India
Europe: Skala Lounge – SSP Eastern Europe and Middle East, Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus
Highly Commended: Plaza Premium Group’s Dual Concept Lounge – Plaza Premium Group & Vancouver Airport Authority, Vancouver International Airport, Canada
Airport Restaurant Design of the Year
Winner: Soleil Brasserie – OTG Management, LaGuardia International Airport, USA
Americas: Soleil Brasserie – OTG Management, LaGuardia International Airport, USA
Asia Pacific (Joint Winner): Qila – Bengaluru Airport Services, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru Terminal 2, India
Asia Pacific (Joint Winner): The Independent – Airport Retail Enterprises (SSP) Brisbane Airport, Australia
Europe: Sanfords American Diner & Loft Bar – TRG Concessions, Luton Airport, UK
Middle East & Africa: Eric Kayser – SSP Eastern Europe & Middle East, King Khalid International Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Airport Sustainability & Environmental Initiative of the Year
Winner: Sustainable Unit Design and Build – SSP Group, multiple airports, UK
Americas: Waste Wars – Vancouver Airport Authority, Vancouver International Airport, Canada
Asia Pacific: Chefs for Good – Travel Food Services, Indian and other Asian airports
Europe: Sustainable Unit Design and Build – SSP Group, multiple airports, UK
Middle East & Africa: Sustainability – Driving Impact – SSP Eastern Europe & Middle East, Zayed International Airport, UAE
FAB Award For Daring Innovation
Winner: Hungry Club by Dabiz Muñoz – Avolta, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Spain
Outstanding Contribution in the Airport Food & Beverage Industry
Sandro Bottega. ✈
