Skip to Main Content
Back to New Releases

Delaware North Travel wins big at industry awards

After a remarkably busy year in which it opened 42 new food, beverage and retail locations while also securing or extending several airport contracts, Delaware North’s travel division was rewarded with several awards at an industry conference this week. The conference—hosted by Airport Revenue News (ARN), the industry’s leading business publication— is the largest gathering of airport decision makers and hospitality executives and its awards component recognize excellence in the airport concessions segment.

travel_group_shott_final-9423465Tootsies Orchid Lounge at Nashville International Airport was named ARN’s Airport Restaurant Bar of the Year for its distinctive blend of great food and drinks set in a country-music atmosphere. Modeled after the famed bar and music venue in downtown Nashville, Tootsies has all the character of the flagship location— complete with orchid colors and portraits of country music legends— and offers travelers to the Music City a chance to take in live performances while they wait for their flight.

Two Delaware North locations were recognized with USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards, a new component of this year’s ARN Awards. Travel experts from USA Today selected finalists in a variety of categories and readers were able to choose the winners through online voting. Being selected for these awards is notable as more than 40 million travelers turn to 10Best’s recommendations each year.  

Earthbar, a health foods retail outlet and juice bar at Los Angeles International Airport, was the winner in the Best Airport Grab-and-Go Dining category. Since it opened in 2016, Earthbar has offered a fast, easy and trusted health-food store option at LAX. Travelers can expect the same high quality and nutritious products they get from Earth Bar’s 20 locations throughout Southern California.

North Loop Market at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport won in the Best Airport Newsstand/Travel Essential category. Opened in the fall of 2016, North Loop Market offers a wide array of convenience and souvenir items with a focus on showcasing the Twin Cities. The store’s aesthetic was inspired by the North Loop neighborhood in Minneapolis and its offerings include local food favorites and sports apparel from Minnesota’s beloved sports teams.

Delaware North played a highly visible role throughout ARN’s four-day conference, serving as a Diamond-level sponsor alongside Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which has been a travel division client since 1983. The airport recently selected Delaware North to operate an array of food and beverage outlets at its new 35-gate terminal opening in 2018. Another highlight of the conference was a luncheon with golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, who partnered with Delaware North to open Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Grill restaurants at the airports in Fort Lauderdale and Charleston this past year.

PHOTO CAPTION: Leaders from Delaware North's travel division accept several awards Delaware North won at this year’s ARN Awards in New Orleans.