- The company was recognised across categories celebrating excellence in food & beverage, culinary talent, restaurant design, marketing and the overall traveller experience at airports across Europe and the Americas.
- The awards highlight Areas’ ability to develop innovative concepts, nurture culinary talent and deliver locally inspired dining experiences at some of the world’s leading airports.
- Presented during the 15th edition of the FAB Awards in Bengaluru, India, the awards recognise the industry’s most innovative concepts and best practices in airport food & beverage worldwide.
Barcelona, July 9, 2026.
Areas, a global leader in food & beverage and travel retail, has received seven awards at the 2026 FAB Awards, the industry’s leading international awards recognising excellence in airport food & beverage and hospitality, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report. The awards were presented during the gala held on 7–8 July in Bengaluru, India, as part of the 15th edition of the event, which brings together the world’s leading airport operators, food & beverage companies and travel hospitality professionals.
These recognitions reinforce Areas’ global leadership and reflect the company’s ability to develop distinctive dining concepts that combine innovation, operational excellence, local authenticity and customer experiences tailored to the evolving needs of today’s travellers.
This year, the FAB Awards jury recognised Areas across categories ranging from best airport food & beverage offer and culinary excellence to restaurant design, marketing initiatives and international team collaboration.
Areas received the following awards at the 2026 FAB Awards:
- Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year for the food & beverage programme at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (USA), recognised for its combination of local authenticity, culinary diversity and outstanding traveller experience.
- Airport Chef of the Year for Chef Jesús “Chuy” Elizondo, whose Casa Benell concept at Monterrey International Airport (Mexico) brings a high-quality culinary proposition based on natural ingredients, artisanal bread and authentic gastronomy to the airport environment.
- Airport Food & Beverage Marketing Campaign of the Year for Wellness, a campaign implemented across multiple airports in Mexico promoting healthier, lighter and functional dining options designed to enhance travellers’ wellbeing.
- Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Representing Sense of Place for Kardea Brown’s Southern Kitchen at Charleston International Airport (USA), a concept that introduces travellers to the culinary traditions of the Gullah Geechee culture and the distinctive gastronomy of the American South.
- Airport Instagrammable Location of the Year for Comptoir Libanais at Milan Malpensa Airport (Italy), recognised for its vibrant design, strong cultural identity and visually engaging dining experience.
- Airport Restaurant Design of the Year for Novecientos Grados by Tony Hawk at San Diego International Airport (USA), a concept celebrating California’s culture and skateboarding heritage through an immersive culinary and design experience.
- FAB Superstar Award for the Areas Culinary Community, an initiative bringing together chefs from across the company’s business units to foster culinary innovation, knowledge sharing and international collaboration.
These awards reflect the strength and diversity of Areas’ operating model, enabling the company to develop tailored concepts for different markets, promote culinary talent and collaborate with chefs, brands and local partners to deliver distinctive dining experiences at some of the world’s leading airports.
The awards also reinforce Areas’ commitment to making airport dining an essential part of the travel experience through high-quality gastronomy, innovative concepts, outstanding design and a strong connection to the cultural identity of each destination.
FAB Awards
Organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, the FAB Awards are the leading international awards dedicated to airport food & beverage and hospitality. Since their launch in 2011, they have grown into the industry’s premier global event, recognising innovation, excellence and best practice across airport operators, food & beverage companies, brands and hospitality professionals. Each year, the event brings together senior executives from airports, travel retail operators and industry partners from around the world to celebrate the most outstanding achievements in travel dining.