Significant upgrade to airport dining convenience for travelers
WASHINGTON D.C. (February 25, 2019) – The in-airport dining experience is getting a major technology lift, in sync with how today’s travelers count on mobile devices to organize nearly every component of their journey. Global restaurateur HMSHost, in a new partnership with Airport Sherpa will provide app-based, on-demand mobile ordering and food delivery to travelers in North American airports where HMSHost restaurants can be found. The Airport Sherpa app allows travelers to order food of all types from anywhere inside the airport, even across terminals, and have it delivered right to their gate or lounge.
“Airport Sherpa is a powerful technology and service solution that brings great convenience to the traveler journey by showing dining info and options in the palm of their hand, followed by delivery to their exact location,” said HMSHost Vice President of Innovation Jim Schmitz. “We are excited to implement Airport Sherpa as we are constantly looking for ways to enhance the dining experience for our busy, tech savvy guests. Partnering with Airport Sherpa is a great way to elevate the guest experience for travelers choosing HMSHost.”
Airport Sherpa was the first in-airport delivery mobile application, and since launching at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, it has delivered thousands of orders to passengers and airport employees. Airport Sherpa offers a unique experience that enables travelers to discover airport dining and retail locations that meet their tastes and desires. With seamless ordering and on-demand delivery services, Airport Sherpa brings everything the airport has to offer directly to the user. Best of all, the entire experience is personalized and based on each traveler’s itinerary, including flight time, gate location and flight connections. The app even adjusts automatically when a user’s flight is delayed or a gate change occurs. Travelers simply click to find and purchase items for delivery to their gate. It’s a frictionless experience that users now expect.
“We live by the mantra that the traveler experience is paramount, so we built this technology to revolve around the needs of our users. For example, if a traveler is looking for foods to suit a specific diet, great local cuisine or a gift for someone special, and there is nothing appealing within the vicinity of the gate, Airport Sherpa is their guide to the airports' hidden treasures,” said Patrick DellaValle, Co-Founder, Airport Sherpa. “We are extremely excited to bring this technology to HMSHost customers. Integrating HMSHost restaurants with the Airport Sherpa app is a great way to bring the personalized ordering and delivery service to a broad segment of travelers.”
Integration with HMSHost operations will initially expand the Airport Sherpa service within BWI Marshall where Airport Sherpa is already available and will quickly introduce the technology with strategic airport partners throughout the United States. Apple and Android users can download Airport Sherpa for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit www.airportsherpa.io.
HMSHost Leading the Industry
HMSHost is recognized by the industry as the top provider of travel dining with awards such as 2018 Best Overall Food & Beverage Operator (for the eleventh consecutive year) by Airport Revenue News. USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards recognized HMSHost’s Summer House Santa Monica at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as Best Airport Bar / Restaurant Atmosphere. HMSHost is a leader in sustainability practices which include plans to eliminate conventional plastic straw use by 2020. The company also creates original award-winning events like Airport Restaurant Month, Channel Your Inner Chef live culinary contest, and the Adrian Awards Gold winning campaigns, #HMSHostLove and Eat Well. Travel Further.
About HMSHost
Global restaurateur HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining for travel venues. HMSHost operates in more than 120 airports around the globe and at more than 100 travel plazas in North America. The company has annual sales of nearly $3.3 billion and employs more than 41,000 associates worldwide. HMSHost is a part of Autogrill Group, the world’s leading provider of food & beverage services for people on the move. With sales of €4.6 billion in 2017, the group operates in 31 countries and employs over 58,000 people. It manages approximately 4,000 stores in about 1,000 locations worldwide. Visit HMSHost.com for more information and connect with HMSHost on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Airport Sherpa
Airport Sherpa is first inside the airport mobile ordering and delivery platform. The company is based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Through its app, Airport Sherpa provides end-to-end ordering platform for food and retail for delivery anywhere within the airport or for convenient pickup on the way to the departure gate. Travelers can access retailers and restaurants across terminals and have the order delivered right to their gate. Retailers and restaurants gain the ability to reach all travelers, especially those in other terminals. Airport Sherpa is transforming the airport commerce experience. To learn more visit www.airportsherpa.io or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. @AirportSherpa on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Fairbanks International Airport Baggage Transport Conveyor Enhanced With Mod Drive™ System
Airports face a host of unique industry challenges, such as meeting efficiency regulations and seeking out the best maintenance practices to reduce costs and keep operations flowing. In today’s current economic climate, any potential cost savings can go a long way.
In 2019, Alaska’s Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) sought to modernize its equipment and operations. They were dissatisfied with the performance of the gearmotors on their baggage transport conveyors and began searching for new suppliers. Regal approached FAI with a solution that could improve equipment performance and simplify maintenance, with the added benefit of energy cost savings: the Hub City® MOD Drive™ system.
This white paper discusses the hardware deployed, the test results and the annualized expectations for ROI.