SAIPAN. Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) has been exploring new concepts relating to the proposed expansion of the west hall concourse concession area at the Saipan International Airport after receiving two major proposals.
CPA executive director Carlos Salas has concluded talks with executives from the Hong Kong-based Asian division of LSG (the Lufthansa catering subsidiary) regarding the proposal submitted by LSG Guam-Saipan late last year. The airport authority had called for a more diverse menu – to include fast food as well as Asian noodle concepts – to cater to its changing tourist traffic. Also part of the project is refurbishment of the present concession located at the east hall concourse.
LSG Sky Chef earlier projected that the Northern Mariana Islands’ tourism industry will post a significant growth of +20% in 2004 after the global setbacks of last year.
The new food concession area, Sky Garden, is expected to be completed this year. According to the LSG forecast, there is an expected +80% increase in revenues once the area is fully operational compared to 2003, when food & beverage revenues in the space were just under US$1 million. Duty free operator DFS is the other major concessionaire of the CPA.
