Several food and retail concepts launched over the past year at Newark Liberty International Airport’s renovated Terminal A are in the running for prestigious industry awards.
Announcing finalists for the 2024 Airport Experience Awards, trade publication Airport Experience News nominated three concepts developed by Morristown-based Villa Restaurant Group:
- Best Casual Dining Concept – Australian café Bluestone Lane
- Best Bar Experience – Town Bar
- Best Local Inspired Restaurant – popular North Jersey restaurant The Office Tavern Grill
Florida-headquartered hospitality company MasterConcessionAir picked up two nominations:
- Best Quick Service Restaurant Concept – Essa-a-Bagel
- Best Local Inspired Restaurant and Best Casual Dining Concept – The Kitchen Step, a modern American bistro from Jersey City
Additionally, leading global travel retailer WH Smith North America’s Vue New Jersey newsstand is shortlisted for Best Local Inspired Store.
Honor roll
The awards are designed to recognize and honor the most effective and innovative airports, operators and brands for their positive impact on the industry throughout the previous year. Winners will be revealed at the 2024 Airport Experience Conference in April.
According to Airport Experience News, an awards committee comprised of 22 industry executives is currently reviewing the finalists.
Following its $2.7 billion overhaul, Newark Airport’s new terminal has been recognized with several honors since opening in January 2023. Most recently, that includes winning a 2023 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prix Versailles Special Prize for its exterior.
Now fully operational, the state-of-the-art, 1 million-square-foot terminal consists of 33 gates serviced by American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, JetBlue and United Airlines with dining and retail options from 60 regional, national and global brands.
During its first year, Terminal A accommodated more than 15 million passengers — 1 million more than initial projections from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.