Chicago, USA
Chicago Midway International Airport | MDW
Vantage has teamed up with industry-leading partners to develop and manage a new concession program at Midway International Airport, Chicago’s neighborhood airport.
It’s a transformative approach to airport concessions management that is elevating the guest experience, driving non-aeronautical revenue, and creating hundreds of new jobs.
Transforming the Concessions Experience
In partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Aviation, Vantage, SSP America, and Hudson by Avolta are transforming Midway’s retail, food & beverage, and services lineup for the airport’s 22 million annual passengers.
Our scope includes leasing, transition, design, and day-to-day active management of the concession program and common spaces at Midway. The brand-new lineup offers 70,000 square feet of experiences – nearly double the size of the previous offering.
A New Approach to US Airport Concession Management
Vantage welcomed Midway to our network in 2019, introducing a new approach to U.S. airport concession management that’s rooted in our decades of experience in other global markets.
Challenge
The existing program required an immediate transition to new concepts, while minimizing any impact to airport operations and flights operated by Midway’s primary airline, Southwest Airlines.
Solution
Vantage and its partners accomplished an ambitious transition plan, changing over nearly 50 temporary commercial locations during a compressed 10-day period.
Results
Thanks to strong teamwork and the deep combined experience of all partners, Midway Partnership has transformed the airport’s dining and shopping options, bringing more than 70 new dining and retail brands to travelers to and from the Windy City.
Explore “The World’s Busiest Square Mile”
A by-the-numbers look at Midway Partnership and our transformation of shopping and dining options at Chicago Midway International Airport.
Investment in concessions space improvement
New hires from nearby Chicago neighborhoods, with concessions jobs doubling from 700 to 1,400
Industry-leading Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation for US airports
Increase in spending per guest since 2019
Annual passengers
Brand-new dining and retail options including iconic local Chicago favorites and popular global brands
Being a true Chicagoan, there are businesses and brands at Midway that I would normally find streetside. It’s a piece of home.
Midway’s First Concession Upgrade in 20 Years
As part of the Chicago Department of Aviation’s overall modernization of Midway, Vantage and its partners are almost finished transforming the concession program, with the final new permanent locations set to open by Fall 2024. Here are some program highlights.
Beloved local brands
Chicago is home to some of the most iconic foods and flavors, and they’re all available at Midway. From Chicago’s famed pizza, dogs, and popcorn to local brews poured at outposts of favorite local bars, the airport delivers an unmistakably Chicago sense of place™.
Smart use of space
In the concourses, un-used moving walkways have been replaced with new restaurants, offering guests both a great atmosphere and a view of their gate from the bar or table.
Technology-forward
Midway was one of the first airports to welcome a Hudson Nonstop retail concept, featuring Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology. Elsewhere, mobile ordering, and digital self-checkout kiosks and wayfinding streamline the journey.
Opportunities for all
Midway’s new concession program comes to life thanks to leading industry experts and talented local minority and women-owned business operators. With an Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) rate of 56%+, Midway leads the country in airport disadvantaged business participation.
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