LAS VEGAS, May 21, 2015 – This week, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) announced the winners of the U.S. MAXI Awards, highlighting the retail real estate industry’s most innovative marketing events, programs and technologies that add value to shopping centers and companies across the United States.
MarketPlace Development, the concessions development and management company for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) which operates Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), was awarded the Gold MAXI in the “NOI Enhancement” category. The NOI Enhancement category recognizes notable properties that significantly enhanced net operating income for their centers.
MWAA hired MarketPlace Development in 2013 to lease, manage and market the two concessions programs at Washington’s Airports and redevelop 90% of the food and retail offerings within 36 months. To generate interest and educate prospective tenants about opportunities within this aggressive timeframe, MarketPlace Development implemented a series of Leasing Outreach Forums.
When asked about the program, Sidney Woods, MarketPlace Development’s Marketing Director at IAD explained, “The leasing outreach forums solved a unique challenge as we sought to attract the industry’s most experienced airport operators along with the most sought after local, regional and national brands. These forums allowed us to bring together operators and brands in an informative setting that encouraged dialogue and clearly identified varied opportunities at both airports.”
Some of the new tenants include Burberry, Michael Kors, Tumi, Bar Symon, Chef Geoff’s and Carrabba’s Italian Grill at IAD. At DCA, new concessions include Spanx, Brooks Brothers, Vineyard Vines, Ben’s Chili Bowl, &pizza, Taylor Gourmet and American Tap Room.
“It’s a privilege to be acknowledged by ICSC in such an innovative, hard-working industry as ours,” said Kimberly Baldy, MarketPlace Development’s Marketing Director at DCA. “We’re absolutely honored, and with two phases of construction completed and the third underway, we will continue to work with our program partners on delivering an exceptional food and retail concessions program for Washington, D.C.’s airports.”
The U.S. MAXI Awards showcase creative and innovative practices that paint the picture for the future of the industry. The competition was judged across the following categories: Traditional Marketing, NOI Enhancement and New Media/Emerging Technology.
ICSC honored the winners on May 17 during a ceremony at RECon 2015, the world’s largest retail real estate convention held in Las Vegas, NV.
About MarketPlace Development:
MarketPlace Development develops and manages airport retail programs across the country. A recognized industry leader for over 20 years, MarketPlace Development works in partnership with airports and airlines to enhance passenger satisfaction and maximize revenue. The Massachusetts-based company is responsible for the concessions programs at LaGuardia Airport – Terminal B, Philadelphia International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport, and has also worked with numerous airports and airlines across the country. Visit www.marketplacedevelopment.com for more information.