Following highly engaging workshops yesterday for the first-ever ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference, I am delighted to welcome you and more than 500 airport decision-makers to Phoenix as we kick off our first day of robust programming and educational content. We could not be more excited about all the plans in store for attendees over the next two days.
Business of Airports is your non-stop connection to the next-level of thinking for commercial and property management, finance, and human resources professionals. From strategies to recruit and retain the next generation of airport leaders, to the latest in airport food and beverage, specialty retail, and services to maximize your non-aeronautical revenue, Business of Airports is where you’ll discover the next big ideas that will shape the airport experience.
Let’s get down to business,
Kevin M. Burke
President and CEO
ACI-NA
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8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Registration
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM: Breakfast
9:15 AM – 10:45 AM: General Session 1
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: Networking Break
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Breakout Discussions
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: General Session 2
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM: General Session 3
5:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Associates/Airport CFO/Concessions Mixer
What Happened Yesterday
 Business Diversity Committee Workshop: The ACI-NA Business Diversity Committee met to discuss airports’ commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including plans to work more closely with ACI-NA’s Human Resources Committee on shared goals and commitments.
Commercial Management Workshop: The ACI-NA Commercial Management Committee Workshop took a deep dive into business development trends to stimulate new commercial activity. Results from the 2014 ACI-NA Concessions Benchmarking Survey were examined. Miss the release of the 2014 survey results? Check out our December 2014 Centerlines for full coverage.
Finance Committee Workshop: ACI-NA’s Finance Committee  Workshop explored the emergence of international new generation carriers and opportunities for North American airports. The group also discussed the importance of the locally set Passenger Facility Charge and new trends in non-aeronautical revenue.
Human Resources Committee Workshop: Organizational culture and employee engagement might start at the top, but it takes a committed workforce of leaders to get the message out to all employees. Human resources professionals shared strategies during Monday’s roundtable discussion on human capital. Communicating the organization’s mission, vision, and goals repeatedly and getting managers on board with the company culture are some tried and true practices. Others suggested that earning employees’ trust takes time, especially during executive leadership changes, and patience is a necessary part of the process. Many of the organizations expressed the need for frequent employee engagement surveys as a method for gauging the level of engagement and identifying weaknesses.
 Concessions Networking: Concession operators and small business owners bounced from table to table meeting with airports across the country at this informal meeting – a valuable opportunity to sit down face to face and discuss potential partnerships with many contacts at one location.
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To enhance your conference experience, ACI-NA introduces the ACI-NA Conferences app! Available to all registered attendees, the ACI-NA Conferences app engages attendees and gives them the latest Business of Airports information on their mobile devices and tablets. Search the participant list, connect with attendees, customize your agenda, and much more! Get the app now by searching "ACI-NA Conferences" in the App Store or Google Play.
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Just because you’re at a conference doesn’t mean the world stops. This section will feature the latest industry news so you don’t miss a beat while networking with old friends and new connections. This section is also for our friends following along at home!
Security to tighten for airport
workers: Airport workers will be subject to extra security screening under
rules prompted by the December 2014 arrest of a baggage handler in Atlanta on
gun smuggling charges, federal authorities said Monday. Reuters. Read
more >>
TSA to face changes, challenges
implementing employee-screening directives: The Department of Homeland
Security said Monday that it will require airports and airlines to tighten the
screening of nearly one million workers nationwide who have access to airport
facilities without being screened every time they enter secure areas such as
baggage sorting rooms, airplane parking areas and maintenance hangars. The Wall
Street Journal. Read
more >>
San Jose airport raises
fenceline in response to security breaches: Mineta San Jose International
Airport is beefing up security in light of the recent breaches. The airport is
raising the height of the perimeter fence from 6 feet to 10 feet. ABC7 News. Read
more >>
Security confiscates handgun at
Pittsburgh International Airport: A .40-caliber handgun was found Sunday in
the carry-on luggage of a Nebraska man at the security checkpoint at Pittsburgh
International Airport. Pittsburg Post-Gazette. Read
more >>
Air-traffic control union chief:
Privatization possible, but funding crucial: The union chief for
air-traffic controllers said Monday he would negotiate with lawmakers and the
aviation industry over whether to turn the system over to a private company, as
it is in Canada, rather than insisting it remain a government function. USA Today. Read
more >>
Pilots Fault Allegiant on Safety
as Talks Stall: For the last decade, Allegiant Air has built a thriving
business buying secondhand jets and connecting small cities to leisure
destinations like Las Vegas and Honolulu. The New York Times. Read
more >>
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Learn → Get valuable insights and ideas on every dimension of airport management.
Network → Share notes with your peers and meet new colleagues and vendors.
Strategize → Develop new strategies for moving your airport forward.
Advance → Sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, take your career to the next level.
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Save the Date! The 2016 ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference will be held April 4 – 6, 2016, in Orlando, FL.
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 Be sure to tweet comments and photos during Business of Airports. Mention @airportscouncil and use the hashtag #airports and you may be the lucky recipient of a great giveaway!
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What's Happening Today
Keynote with Kaplan Mobray: Kaplan Mobray is one of the world’s most dynamic and inspirational business speakers and best-selling author of "The 10Ks of Personal Branding." His presentations have been described as a life-changing event. Through his insightful curriculum and groundbreaking approach to personal branding and leadership development, Mobray teaches organizations how to develop inspired leaders, increase employee engagement and productivity, and unify diverse workforces for greater teamwork and company growth.
Breakouts: Three breakout discussions will be featured on Tuesday, including discussions on building brands, the state of the airline industry, and personal devices in the workplace.
Ride-Booking Apps: The emergence of ride-booking and ride-sharing apps have revolutionized ground transportation. How is your airport keeping up?
Labor and Wage Trends: Wage laws and labor agreements are changing. This session will explore the impact of new trends on airports.
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Centerlines will be at the Business of Airports too! Be sure to grab the latest issue and tweet a photo of where you take it throughout the convention hall and resort. Don't forget to use the hashtags #airports and #Centerlines. The most interesting photo will be reprinted in a future issue of Centerlines!
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From the Lounge:
Q&A with Michael Mullaney, EVP, Business Strategy & Development, Hudson Group
Q: Hudson Group’s recent study shows that millennial travel is up. What does that mean for airports?
A: Aviation is a constant sea of change. For airport directors and leaders, the challenge is staying in touch with how the industry changes and evolves and staying ahead of trends to proactively serve the wants and needs of the consumer.
Q: So what’s the next big thing for retail?
A: It’s always going to depend on the individual airport. Airports are like snowflakes. From far away, they all look the same, but up close, they are all very different. One of the biggest things within retail is that print is not dead.
Here are a few trends to look out for, according to Mullaney:
- Grab and go food options, which exploded once airlines cut out food.
- Branded specialty retail and local retail tailored to the customer and based on whether the demographic and the volume of passengers support it.
- Electronics.
Q: Why does Business of Airports conference make sense?
A: I’m really excited about the convergence of finance, commercial and HR. The Business of Airports conference brings these three circles together. There are a lot of overlaps, and when these areas are separated you don’t get the cross-pollination or ah-ha moments. The conference is only going to get stronger from here.
ACI-NA caught up with a few Members about their plans for Business of Airports. Here's what they said:
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Why did you decide to attend Business of Airports? "I want to get up to speed with what is going on in the concessions world, network and be able to put faces with names." Ana Sotorrio, C.M. President Aviation Strategies and Trade Solutions, Inc.
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What’s your impression of the Business of Airports conference so far? "The meetings this morning were terrific – some of the best attendance ever at committee meetings. The overall attendance also looks extremely promising. It’s a great start to a new beginning at Business of Airports." David N. Edwards, Jr., A.A.E. President/CEO Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District
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Why did you decide to attend Business of Airports? "We wanted to give this conference a try and see if it is a good audience for us. We expect to have some good meetings, and learn about trends at airports and upcoming opportunities for us." Stefanie Rakes Channel Manager Yum! Brands Express
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Conference Highlights
