Metro Retailers Flying High At Airport Concessions Awards Ceremony
By Edward Cardenas
ROMULUS (CBS Detroit) - Some of the newest retailers in Detroit Metropolitan Airport's McNamara Terminal have received national recognition at the Airports Council International-North America 2015 Airport Concessions Awards ceremony in Phoenix.
The Wall Street Journal/Starbucks travel store won first place in the "Best New News and Gift Concept" category. The Estée Lauder Beauty Boutique received a second place award in the category of Best New Retail Concept and an honorable mention in the category of Best Innovative Consumer Experience.
"We have an outstanding airport concession program here in Detroit," said Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton, in a release. "Our travelers enjoy these new award-winning retail venues and they are just a small sampling of the many fantastic brands and innovative concepts our new program offers."
Both concepts are operated by WDFG Detroit and Partners, LLC, a joint-venture of WDFG North America LLC, and Byrd Retail Group, LLC, a Michigan certified Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.
Travelers can find the Wall Street Journal/Starbucks store near Gates A20 and B8 in the McNamara Terminal. These venues utilize mobile point of sale and interactive news screens, digital menus and cooler doors.
The unique Estée Lauder Beauty Boutique, located in the central link area of the McNamara Terminal, features luxury beauty brands including Estée Lauder and M•A•C. Customers can utilize of tablet-based computer-guided skin care analysis, personalized product demonstrations and sampling and receive a mini-makeover in the open central lounge area, while receiving a mini-makeover. Additionally, curved NanoLumens display flight information and support multi-language product information.