Vantage Group

Wherever Vantage builds and manages an airport, we recognize that the real experts – the people who understand the culture, what’s unique to that region, and the pain points of local travelers – are the people who live there. That’s why, when we build teams, we look for local talent to every role.   Few people know that story as well as Vernice Walkine, Vantage Group executive and CEO of the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD). Vernice oversees the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in The Bahamas, where Vantage led a massive transformation of the airport’s three terminals, starting in 2007.   Prior to working with Vantage, Vernice built deep experience in hospitality as Director General for the country’s ministry of tourism. With the encouragement of the country’s Prime Minister, Vernice got involved with a search for investment in the existing airport, which many on the island felt didn’t match the hospitality of the Bahamian people or its attractions.   “We needed an airport that was reflective of the culture, the country, that people could feel proud of,” Vernice says.   She saw the potential of what Lynden Pindling could be when her team visited Vancouver International Airport, operated by Vancouver Airport Authority, Vantage’s founder.   Vernice joined Vantage and NAD in 2010. She has worn a number of hats during her tenure, including leadership roles in marketing and commercial development, and as CEO since 2013. She leads a team of executives, and is responsible for the 250 NAD employees and around 3,500 people who work at the facility on a daily basis.   Vernice was actually the first Bahamian to join the Vantage team at LPIA, part of a promise from Vantage that the transition team would eventually be replaced by local employees. And that promise has been kept – all the airport’s executives have been local since 2015.   One of Vantage’s core company pillars is people, and we pride ourselves on finding and developing #talent.   “It’s the perfect formula when our people are local”, says Vernice. “[Vantage is] very much about finding the right talent from the community, to serve the community.”   Hiring from the community builds lasting, meaningful partnerships. As the #airport transformation has progressed, improved airport operations has also helped continue to attract local talent.   “The community appreciates that the airport is run professionally,” Vernice says. “They see the airport as a great place to work.”   That dedication to #local employees will steer LPIA through some exciting upcoming events, such as a planned expansion, landside commercial development and playing host to the Routes Americas conference in 2025.   “Airports are like small cities,” Vernice says. “There’s always something exciting happening."

We are dedicated to enhancing the passenger experience at all our #airport and #transportation locations, with a strong focus on ensuring an #inclusive journey for everyone. We are excited to announce that our Chair and CEO, George Casey, has been appointed to the Board of Directors at the Rick Hansen Foundation. This appointment underscores our commitment to supporting initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusivity. We believe George’s perspective and dedication will significantly contribute to the Foundation’s mission of creating a world without barriers. We look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will bring. The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is dedicated to improving accessibility and inclusivity in various environments, including airports. These are some of the key initiatives and achievements of the RHF in enhancing the airport experience: 📜 Accessibility Certification: The RHF offers the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC), which evaluates and certifies the accessibility of buildings and sites. This program helps airports identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities. ♿ Inclusive Design: The RHF works with terminal operators to incorporate inclusive design principles. This includes features that cater to guests with hearing, vision, and mobility disabilities, ensuring a more comfortable and stress-free travel experience. 🔊 Awareness and Training: The foundation also focuses on raising awareness and providing training to airport staff to better understand and support travelers with disabilities. In line with these efforts, we are committed to personalizing services to serve diverse demographics, adapting to different traveler profiles, from business and leisure to family, and types of journeys. Our recognition programs for hidden, mobility, vision, and hearing disabilities, such as the Sunflower Lanyard Program for hidden disabilities and Guest Services for hearing assistance, are key components of our strategy. We also continue to implement universal design principles to ensure our facilities are welcoming and accessible to all. These efforts by the Rick Hansen Foundation are crucial in creating a more inclusive and accessible #travel experience for everyone. Please join us in congratulating George on this significant achievement! 🎉

Congratulations Kansas City Aviation Department and thank you for being the steward of continued enhancements to the guest experience at #MCI. We are thrilled that our dining and shopping program is one part of your success! 

Exciting News from JFK International Airport! 🗽 Today JFK Millennium Partners and The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey unveiled the exciting first details of the planned concession offering at the new $4.2 billion Terminal 6 concession program, a transformation that’s set to redefine the travel experience with a unique blend of global luxury brands and local New York businesses. 🌟 From iconic eateries like Di Fara Pizza and Fuku to innovative retail spaces by Hudson and Dufry Group, Terminal 6 will offer travelers an immersive and authentic taste of New York City. This $4.2 billion project is not just about enhancing the guest experience, but also about creating significant economic opportunities for local communities. 💼 Discover how this groundbreaking initiative will elevate your journey and support local entrepreneurs. Read the full article linked in the first comment. #JFKAirport #TravelExperience #LocalBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #NYC

We are honored and proud to share that North Peace Regional Airport (YXJ) Liquids Disposal System project was selected as the 2024 ACI World - Airports Council International Environmental Achievement Award winner in the category of Environmental Improvement with Limited Resources.   At North Peace #Airport, the team faced challenges with liquid waste disposal due to limited resources and high shipping costs. Instead of buying an off-the-shelf system, they designed and built their own. They created a pouring station at security with a stainless-steel bin and sink, and a chemical-free pump to direct liquids into the drain, reducing labor and safety risks. This system not only made the disposal process more efficient but also increased the collection of #recyclable containers, which in turn were donated to the local Fort St. John Museum, generating about $6,000 in additional annual income for the museum. Congratulations to the YXJ team, including Dixie Modde, C.M. Administration and Facilities Officer, @ Hugh Large, Airport Operations, and Managing Director @Stacy Smith. Thank you also to Cathie Puckering, Vantage's Vice President for the Canadian Network, for receiving the award on the behalf of the YXJ team at yesterday's event in Grand Rapids.

Celebrating passenger growth across the Vantage network!   With a busy summer travel season nearly wrapping up, we are thrilled to see a 7% growth in passenger traffic across our network of airports in 2024! This growth is a testament to our team’s dedication and the trust our passengers place in us. 🚀   As we celebrate this milestone, we are more committed than ever to expanding our network and enhancing the travel experience for our passengers. Our goal is to continue growing our locations, providing more connectivity and convenience for travelers worldwide.   The global air travel industry is experiencing a robust recovery. Global passenger traffic is predicted to grow by approximately 12% according to ACI World - Airports Council International. This positive trend underscores the increasing demand for air travel and the vital role our airports play in connecting people and places.   We look forward to continuing this journey of growth and innovation, ensuring that our passengers enjoy safe, efficient, and enjoyable travel experiences. Thank you for being a part of our success story!   #Aviation #Growth #PassengerExperience #AirportExpansion #Travel

🚨 Exciting News from Kansas City International Airport (MCI)! 🚨 We are thrilled to announce a new amenity landing this winter at the new Terminal at #MCI: Escape Lounges by CAVU, a pay-per-visit #airport lounge open to all passengers! ✈️   This new lounge will offer travelers a relaxing ambiance and premium food and beverage favorites, all designed to evoke a uniquely Kansas City sense of place inspired by The City of Fountains. 🌆   In collaboration with #local partners, brands, and suppliers, the Escape culinary team has crafted a menu featuring regional flavors and recipes, available daily.    The new lounge will celebrate and support ACDBEs and local businesses, too – a hallmark of our concession program. 🎉   Location: Concourse A near gate A5 Access: Open to all MCI travelers, regardless of airline, status, or card in hand.   Premium amenities include: • Chef-curated menu – breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings that change seasonally, highlight local flavors, and accommodate all dietary requirements • Local wines, beer, and spirits • Power outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi, and up-to-date flight information • Digital library with more than 7,000 publications from 120-plus countries, courtesy of PressReader 📚 Marsha Chesmore Kevin Shrier

🌱 Across all our locations, we’re committed to #sustainability. Our team takes data-driven steps to keep #airports clean and enhance the #passengerexperience. Together, we promote responsible disposal. 🌍♻️ 🌿 Limiting Waste – By Making Less  At John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (Hamilton International Airport (FLYYHM), Vantage takes a grassroots approach to waste management, driven by data. New waste receptacles and a benchmark waste audit help understand disposal patterns, allowing for more effective diversion efforts. Universal principles apply waste avoidance is key. Unclaimed items find new homes, food leftovers benefit local kitchens, and coffee grounds enrich soil.  🚰 A Community-Driven Solution for Airport Liquid-Waste Disposal  At Vantage’s North Peace Regional Airport (YXJ), resourcefulness meets sustainability. Facing unique challenges, the team designed a custom liquid-waste disposal system. A stainless-steel pouring station with an automatic drain which redirects liquids, reducing labor and safety risks. Plus, recycling efforts benefit the local community.  🌿 Taking Meaningful Action: Recycling at Sangster International Airport  Sangster International Airport (MBJ Airports Limited) in Jamaica defies norms by launching a large-scale recycling program focused on international aluminum waste. Despite the absence of recycling mandates and widespread waste separation practices, their initiative diverts significant waste from landfills and supports local recycling businesses. @Keisha Mohan, the Environment, Health, and Safety Manager, calls it a “happy success story” in environmental preservation.  🌿 Understanding Patterns for Better Waste Management  In 2023, LaGuardia’s Terminal B (LaGuardia Gateway Partners) conducted a waste audit that sparked real change. Employees—from custodial staff to the CEO—collectively sorted and identified more than two tons of waste. The audit revealed key areas for improvement, leading to innovative ideas.   Armed with audit results, the team significantly increased liquid, organic, and recyclable diversion from landfills. Terminal B’s diversion rate surged and continues to rise.  “Efforts to increase recycling and composting require buy-in and participation across the entire terminal community, and the waste audit has also been a great way to engage and unite various stakeholders in a common goal,” Justin Bland.  🌿 Technology-led Solutions to Make Recycling a Breeze  At LGA’s Terminal B, “Oscar,” an AI-powered waste sorting bin, revolutionizes recycling. Equipped with a camera, computer, and TV screen, Oscar identifies items and guides users—recycling or trash? It even gamifies the experience with QR code promotions. Plus, the data-rich system enhances waste management insights. In just three months, Oscar bins boosted diversion rates to 47%, surpassing traditional bins.  Intuitive AI

We are happy to introduce Community Connections, our 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (#ESG) report! 📊🌎   In this report, we highlight our #commitment to #environnment, #social and #governance performance areas across our network. Connecting people with places, and challenges with solutions is the power of the Vantage network. We’ve collected stories from across our network that detail specific, relevant local information and notable ESG practices and accomplishments, illustrating the progress Vantage has made at each network location and with the stakeholders and communities they serve. The framework for measuring performance is informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and more detailed guidance is provided by the Global Report Initiative (GRI) and the Airports Council International (ACI) – Europe Sustainability Strategy for Airports.     As George Casey, Chair and CEO of Vantage Group says, “Part of our success is a responsibility to help make airports and transportation centers more sustainable and more connected to the people who live and work around them – a responsibility we take seriously” – a sentiment that comes to life in the stories and metrics featured in the report. View the full Vantage 2023 ESG report here: https://lnkd.in/g3TdHEBJ #airports #sustainability

Millions of passengers move through airports annually. With each journey comes a huge range of emotions, stress levels, and vastly different experiences. Every passenger #journey is unique, and a modern #airport should cater to everyone’s needs. No one appreciates this more than Sammy Patel, Vice President of Commercial at Vantage Group, who has worked in travel and aviation for more than two decades. “Much of what I’ve witnessed firsthand working in operations was seeing the mixed emotions of passengers who are all flying for different reasons, whether it be stress, anxiety,  or excitement, ” Sammy shared. “We have a part in facilitating a smooth, trouble-free passage for our passengers with their differing needs." Sammy is now responsible for Vantage's commercial operations and strategy across the global network, overseeing all non-aeronautical revenue, including food & beverage, retail, car parking, land development, and more. Having worn many different hats in the #aviation industry—from commencing training as a pilot to moving into operations and commercial roles—Sammy has a unique understanding of the variety of passenger experiences and how an airport can play a major role in shaping them, for better or for worse. “The work my team and I do today is all about creating memorable experiences. There are several layers to that: understanding anxiety, gauging stress levels, and addressing their needs and wants.” In Sammy’s view, Vantage’s unique philosophy of creating memorable experiences comes from three distinct pillars: 🏙 Sense of Place: When a passenger arrives at a Vantage location, Sammy explains, they should know immediately what destination they’re in based on the design, selection of art and concessions, scents and sounds, and other elements throughout the transportation hub. The best commercial programs champion #local flavors and experiences, like the Bob Marley One Love restaurant in Montego Bay or the Made for KC BBQ Experience at Kansas City International Airport (Kansas City Aviation Department) 👨👧👦 Knowing Your Passenger: We spend a lot of time getting to know who is coming through our facilities and their unique needs. Vantage works with airlines, rail, and commercial partners to gather and leverage data, which helps inform decisions unique to each location. This ensures personalized experiences for all travelers depending on their needs, be it dine-in or convenience ordering through digital kiosks. 🎭 Fun, Theater, and Excitement: Even the most frequent traveler can get anxious travelling through an airport, so Vantage invests in fun, theater, and excitement to reduce anxiety levels and create an environment of familiarity. #LaGuardia Terminal B’s interactive kids’ play area and dynamic fountain featuring multimedia water shows are prime examples of this approach. From restaurants and retail to artwork and experiences, offering passengers a range of choice is always top-of-mind at Vantage terminals.