SSP America

You don’t hear much about gardens in December, but we’ve got an exciting ‘garten’ to highlight! ✨ Appleton International Airport’s Appleton Biergarten is a warm, welcoming space that celebrates Wisconsin’s craft beer culture with an all-local, rotating lineup of award-winning brews. 🍺 Designed with natural wood, communal seating, and runway views, the Appleton Biergarten offers travelers an inviting, only-in-Appleton experience. This new taste of place is one of the many exciting openings that we celebrated this year, and we’d like to thank our partners at ATW, the incredible local breweries represented on tap, and the dedicated SSP America team that made this happen. A special shoutout for Restaurant General Manager Julie Ascher, whose 30+ years of bar leadership help bring this concept to life.

✨ Celebrating National Bartender Day! ✨ Today we’re raising a glass to Spencer Garrett of LoLo American Kitchen & Craft Bar at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). For nine years, Spencer has brought energy, hospitality, and connection to every shift. “My goal with every guest is to create an experience that makes them want to come back,” he says. “I love being active, meeting people from everywhere, and seeing them smile.” Travelers notice. Frequent guest Steve Link shared, “I always make it a point to stop by and see Spencer when I’m flying through. He remembers your name, what you do, and the last conversation you had. As a traveler, that’s incredibly comforting.” Thank you, Spencer, for helping make LoLo a welcoming place for millions of travelers and for always living up to the SSP America values of team, curiosity, ownership, and passion. Cheers to you and to all the bartenders who keep airport hospitality moving. 🥂

Earlier this month, the SSP America leadership team was on the ground at Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) - O'Hare & Midway International Airports (MDW), connecting with team members and celebrating the great work happening across the airport. A huge shout-out to Tim Wilmes, Bethanie Bean, and everyone at MDW for their commitment to operational excellence and for bringing our values of team, passion, curiosity, and ownership to life every day. Your dedication delivers the exceptional experience our guests and airport partners count on. We’re proud of the momentum at MDW and energized by the collaboration driving strong performance across the operation. Thanks to every food travel expert at MDW for being the best part of the journey!

🥒Last week, we let you know that we had a big pickle announcement on the way. 🥒 Now, we’re thrilled to welcome Jacob’s Pickles to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 (T5), bringing the beloved Upper West Side favorite to travelers for the first time. From Southern Fried Chicken & Biscuits to the signature Pickle Flight, it’s a true taste of New York at T5. A huge thank you to Jacob’s Pickles, Fraport USA, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, JFK T5, the SSP America JFK T5 team, and joint venture partners Byrd Retail Group, Kellee Communications Group Inc., and M&R Concessions for the collaboration that made this opening possible. Special thanks to those who spoke at the opening: Jacob’s Pickles Founder Jacob Hadjigeorgis; Fraport’s Chief Executive Officer Sabine Trenk and Vice President, New York Jose Cuevas; JetBlue’s Senior Manager of Onboard Experience Sven S.; JFK’s Managers of External Affairs & Community Outreach Rachelle Antoine, MSW and Akshar Patel; and SSP America’s Chief Development Officer Paul Loupakos, who said, “Jacob’s Pickles captures everything we love about New York: its sense of community, its creativity, and its comfort. At SSP America, we’re proud to partner with Jacob, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Fraport USA to bring a taste of place to travelers.” Welcome to JFK, Jacob’s Pickles!

✈️ This National Entrepreneur’s Day, we’d like to thank Craig Huse for his partnership with SSP America! ✈️ From washing dishes at 14 to leading some of Indianapolis’ most iconic dining brands, Craig, chief executive officer and co-owner of Huse Culinary, has built a legacy rooted in passion, curiosity, and teamwork—values SSP America shares. Inspired by his father, Stephen Huse, and a lifelong love of hospitality, Craig’s entrepreneurial spirit is driven by more than business success; it’s about opportunity. “I like providing opportunities for team members to take their careers to the next level,” he says. “You can lose great people if you’re not creating space for them to grow.” Huse Culinary’s partnership with SSP America has brought Indy’s beloved Harry & Izzy's and 1933 Lounge + HC Tavern by St. Elmo—a union of legendary brands 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo, The HC Tavern + Kitchen, and St. Elmo Steak House—to Indianapolis International Airport, giving travelers a true taste of Indy before takeoff. What started 17 years ago has become a model partnership, blending world-class hospitality with the fast-paced airport environment. Craig’s advice for aspiring restaurateurs? “Work in the industry before starting your own. Get experience at every level and build relationships. It’s an industry of people.” As Huse Culinary prepares to open the first Harry & Izzy’s outside Indiana next year—in Arizona—Craig continues to prove that entrepreneurship is about vision, risk-taking, and community, both in the dining room and beyond. Thank you, Craig and the entire Huse team, for 17 years of partnership!

We have kicked off the 2025 PASSION Summit, bringing together many SSP leaders, as well as business supplier partners and joint venture partners, to focus on SSP’s global strategy and the steps that will help move it forward across North America. SSP Group Chief Executive Officer Patrick Coveney and SSP America Chief Executive Officer George Mboya delivered cornerstone presentations. Patrick highlighted how delivering world-class hospitality goes hand-in-hand with creating long-lasting success. George reinforced our focus on team engagement, operational excellence, innovation, and growth. Together, they outlined practical ways our teams can translate strategy into action: strengthening performance, unlocking opportunity, and driving sustainable success across our markets.