b'CONCESSIONSSFO 65added three more employees; and in 2008, he added Freshen Up, which has a four-person staff. Another employee roves between the three operations as needed to help respond as customer traffic ebbs and flows. Uncommon Concession Management at SFO is keen on what the long-time concessions tenant brings to the table. We like the variety of services they offer, says Principal Property Manager Sam El Gord. In fact, neither he nor Davis is aware of any other concessionaire, at any airport, with such a wide variety of services. From an operator perspective, we likeSAM EL GORDsuccessful small businesses growing at the airport, adds El Gord. Doug Yakel, SFOs public information officer, definitely considers Davis one of those success stories. Promoting small business access and providing opportunities for small business owners to get a foothold in the airport environment is one of our keyDOUG YAKELstrategies, Yakel relates.Furthermore, there are 57 concessions tenants at SFO registered under the U.S. Department of Transportations Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program. Thats 42% of all concessions throughout the airport.Of the ACDBEs, 91% have minority ownership and 58% are owned by women. The BackstoryPHOTO: SFOAirport Travel Agency is a tale of determination and creativity. Davis initially came to SFO as a ticket agent for United Airlines in 1978. He had previously worked at Miami International Airport, in the TSA checkpoint near Concourse G inthe same job for United, and through the years had encountered SFOs International Terminal.countless customer service requests and situations. Often, they President and Chief Executive Officer Linardwere last-minute needs for items travelers forgot at home. In other Davis notes that the 14-employee operationcases, passengers needed a way to return car or house keys they is actually three separate units: Airportaccidentally brought with them to the airport. Sometimes, it was the Travel Services, which stores baggage andsimple but urgent need to print travel documents. unusual items alike; its affiliated business,Airport Travel Agency was founded in 1987 by Louis Asher and LMD Baggage Wrapping; and Freshen Up, aLINARD DAVIS the companys current vice president, Carol Feiner. Davis liked shower and sleeping lounge. Together, they are like a Swiss Armywhat the business was doing and joined the company in 1991. knife for passengers from around the world, and often a one-stopI was a hard-working employee that always had in mind that shop for SFO employees. As varied as the customers are, theyone day I would own this company, he remarks, adding that he have at least one thing in common: a pressing need for solutionsworked like an owner from the very beginning. and services.His mindset and work ethic paid off, and Davis purchased Not surprisingly, customers are often in a hurry. Intensely so.51% of the company in 2004. Drawing on his years of experience We are like a quarterback, figuring out how and where to passserving passengers, he gradually started adding more and more that ball to gain those yards, explains Davis. We have to be inoptions, such as baggage wrapping, courier delivery, business position to come up with a solution within about 12 seconds.center services and Freshen Up, among othersthings that I The companys current array of services and products started inknew people need, he explains.1987 with Airport Travel Services, which now has six employees.As for pricing, baggage wrapping starts at $15 for small items; In 2004, Davis founded the baggage wrapping operation, whichluggage storage costs $8 per hour or $25 per day for a small AirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2024'