People of the Year

Recently the airport company has extended its strategies to boost non-aeronautical business growth, allied to consumer research to better understand the audience. Initiatives include designing of flexible outlets, implementing promotional offers to lift spend, expanding to-go and date-delivery options, creating loyalty programmes that link back to airline miles and offering added value experiences within the F&B outlets.

Ontario International Airport also embraced its role as host of the annual Airport Food & Beverage + Hospitality Conference and Awards in June with remarkable professionalism, warmth and energy.

And there is much more to come in terms of ambition and growth. As Elkadi said as we signed off a memorable FAB+ 2024, “Even after this conference is done, this is not the last that you have heard of Ontario International Airport.” The gateway to California’s Inner Empire is in good hands.

Kenneth Guldbjerg and his outstanding commercial team – supported and driven by the visionary leadership of BIAL CEO Hari Marar – have mirrored that multi-pronged philosophy in the commercial offer across retail, food & beverage and (perhaps most of all) the terminal’s extraordinary lounges. Terminal 2 is an experiential wonder as much as an architectural and design one. It offers a marvellous fusion of Indian and international; of big brands and independent ones; of super-premium to ultra-accessible. Truly an airport wonder of the world.

But Kenneth Guldbjerg makes our 2024 list for other reasons too. He has shown immense courage in battling serious illness over recent years, staring it down and refusing to be bowed. He is an inspiration to us, his colleagues and the whole travel retail industry.

Besides his leadership of one of Vietnam’s most powerful companies, IPPG (a co-host of The Trinity Forum in Ho Chi Minh City in November), Nguyen is also Chairman of Southern Airports Services Joint Stock Company (SASCO) and of Cam Ranh International Airport Company. He also stands out for his philanthropic and wider Corporate Social Responsibility contributions to Vietnamese society.

A truly deserving recipient of the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Airport Commercial Revenues Sector at The Trinity Forum, Johnathan Hanh Nguyen is a clear choice as one of our People of the Year.

“He has stood out for his advocacy of his own category but also of the wider business, and his influence in the evolving Trinity debate over the years has been immense.”

All of these traits – alongside his quiet, well-articulated wisdom – make him a worthy candidate for this year’s list.

After rising through the ranks at ELR in Launceston, Brodie is now fine-tuning his coffee skills and further developing his talents behind the bar. His achievements have even landed him in the national spotlight, with the media showcasing his story as a shining example of the incredible potential of the Down Syndrome community.

Brodie Leslie represents not just an inspiration to other individuals but also to the company, which has streamlined its onboarding and training processes to create more opportunities in the community. In that way, Brodie is opening the door for others to follow.

She spoke eloquently about the progressive thinking that informs the airport group’s consumer strategy at The Trinity Forum in Ho Chi Minh City (5-6 November) and at the superbly engaging Malaysia Airports Concessionaires Conference and Concessionaires Awards in Kuala Lumpur (17 November).

Innovation and sustainability will co-create a resilient and sustainable future, she noted, especially as travel shopping has shifted from casual browsing to more intentional spending.

Cultural innovation is also key to showcasing Malaysia’s identity globally, she affirmed, outlining plans to create immersive retail spaces that reflect the country’s heritage.

This vision neatly aligns with the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026, presenting opportunities for the integration of local elements into airport stores.

Watch out for more innovation in the presentation of retail, plus an even more acute emphasis on Malaysia’s heritage, as she and her team inject further theatre, newness and cultural character across the airport estate.

First launched in 2014 aboard the Viking Group’s Cinderella ship, the format has since expanded to international airports, hotels and leisure destinations globally. Locations include Rome Fiumicino, Dubai, Venice, Istanbul, London Stansted, Birmingham, Prague, Abu Dhabi (the new concept there is one of the great airport food & beverage offers in our view), Budapest, Bologna and Milan Malpensa airports. In a signal of its popularity, the concept has also extended beyond travel to hospitality venues from the UK to Oman.

As Sandro himself put it when announcing the opening of the most recent Bottega Prosecco Bar at Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Airport with Lagardère Travel Retail in November: “We want to strengthen our presence in the world of aperitifs and gourmet breaks by creating an educational experience on ‘Made in Italy’ food and wine culture.”

That ‘Made in Italy’ slogan neatly sums up Bottega’s appeal, one enhanced by balancing tradition and innovation throughout its journey. We are proud to salute that journey by recognising Sandro Bottega, ‘Mr Prosecco’, the effusive, hard-working, pioneer who continues to drive the company’s fortunes with a remarkable, seemingly unstoppable energy.

That he has done so through periods of extreme turbulence for the association and the industry, and achieved so much while retaining the respect of his peers over many years, is a tribute to his diplomacy, commitment and professionalism.

Having played a pivotal role in the association’s modernisation and growth and the evolution of its highly regarded exhibitions, conferences, research services and charitable activities, Juul-Mortensen can step away from his TFWA responsibilities – Philippe Margueritte was named President on 13 December – with immense pride after a four-decade journey.

Zenola Campbell is also a great advocate of sisterhood, promoting the role of women as well as minorities not just in aviation but in senior roles in the airport commercial world.

Spealing at FAB+ 2024 in June, she said: “I would love to have more diversity of thought and more women who could make decisions at the top. We haven’t done a good enough job in this as an industry. I see more people who look like me, or from different backgrounds, but I’d like to see more of this.

“For the industry to keep up with the next generation, we must have people that they can relate to in our teams. And that is also about ensuring we are an attractive industry to work in.” It’s a vital view that goes to the heart of how we remain relevant as a sector.

As a youthful veteran, Zenola is far from finished yet. As Dallas Fort Worth International Airport embarks on a US$3 billion investment in the future, she is now overseeing concessions projects for the next generation, including 184 locations that are coming up for tender in the years to 2030. With Zenola’s input, expect a multi-layered, diverse and highly relevant offer to result.

At the helm of the travel retailer through a momentous 12 months, as he has been for the past 13 years, is Chairman & CEO Dag Rasmussen.

An astute, erudite and progressive voice, Rasmussen has been one of travel retail’s most influential individuals amid a period of profound sectoral change.

As we noted in a compelling recent interview (click here) Rasmussen, more than any other, has both championed and driven the convergence of airport commercial sectors – notably retail and food & beverage, both underpinned by a strong travel essentials business. So much so that Rasmussen sees this development as the “industry standard”.

He also carries strong views on how the industry should carry itself, both in its internal conversations and to the world outside.

In the same interview, he says: “My message is stop downplaying this industry and stop complaining about things. Just act and keep in mind the fundamentals. Travel retail and dining is the best segment in retail – maybe alongside ecommerce – because of the passenger profile, the amount of dwell time and the consumer mindset after security. We have to make this industry evolve.”

That means taking responsibility for its future – right across the industry Trinity – and making the case for improved, win-win agreements that allow all parties to succeed, he says. With thought leaders such as Dag Rasmussen, our sector should be well placed to seize the opportunities that the travel market presents.

Each issue – and others from air passenger rights to transport security – requires deep knowledge, the ability to manage relationships both within and beyond the sector, patience, commitment and resilience.

The travel retail sector should be grateful that Julie Lassaigne embodies these qualities and brings them to bear in the defence and service of our sector on a daily basis.