Denver International Airport Announces 14 New Business Opportunities, Officials to Host Open House

DIA Seeking New Restaurants, Shops

DENVER — Aug. 29, 2014 — Denver International Airport (DIA) announced today that it will seek bids on 14 new shopping and dining locations, including a common-use passenger lounge, convenience retail for the upcoming public transit center, and a brewery-themed restaurant for the upcoming Westin hotel and conference center.

A total of 11 requests for proposals (RFPs) representing 14 new concession opportunities will be released beginning in November. The locations are currently advertised on the airport’s 90-day list of upcoming business opportunities.

Due to expiring leases, about 75 percent of DIA’s 140 concession locations will transform via a mix of new or remodeled businesses over the next few years. The transformation will bring a better mix of local flavors and national brands to the more than 50 million passengers who use DIA each year.

“The airport is looking for proposals to enhance our growing lineup of local treasures along with world-class shopping and dining options, in our efforts to enhance our customers’ experiences,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “We are actively seeking concepts that will provide quality and variety while meeting the escalating expectation of the traveling public, while simultaneously creating a sense of place at DIA.”

For the first time, the 90-day list includes the participation goals assigned to each location under the federal Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program (ACDBE), and the City of Denver’s Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) goals. ACDBE goals apply to the operation of each concession, while M/WBE goals apply to the design and construction of each location. These goals are typically not published until the formal RFP process begins. DIA is proactively providing the information earlier to encourage entrepreneurs to obtain the proper certifications, or find certified business partners, prior to the formal bidding process.

To support that effort, DIA will provide a special free seminar for entrepreneurs during the annual DIA Day, which offers a comprehensive look at how to do business at the airport. The seminar will provide detailed information about the 11 RFPs and how to navigate the bidding process. DIA Day also offers “speed dating” sessions that focus on specific aspects of doing business at DIA, including bonding and insurance requirements, the airport’s Retail Merchandising Units program, upcoming concessions opportunities, working with airport security and information about the DIA Commerce Hub. Lunch will be provided.

DIA Day will be held Oct. 7 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. Registration for the workshop is now open at http://diaday2014.eventbrite.com. Registration closes Sept. 29 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 11 upcoming RFPs include:

Food/Beverage (Hotel Restaurant)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a signature-destination, two-meal-per-day restaurant. The restaurant should be brewery themed and feature on-site brewing of specialized brews unique to the location and other proprietary brews. This restaurant is located on the west side of the new Westin Hotel, accessible from the adjoining public plaza and by hotel guests, and consists of over 5,000 square feet of interior restaurant space and significant outside seating area. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Convenience Retail (Public Transit Center)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a convenience retail concept that includes to-go food items such as, but not limited to, pre-packaged candy, snacks and nuts; beverages (bottled and/or fountain); news and magazines; medical sundries; coffee; and specialty coffee. The concept consists of 1,400 square feet located on the platform level of the new RTD Fastracks commuter rail transit center. Goals: ACDBE 25%, M/WBE 30%

Common-Use Lounge (A Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a common-use passenger lounge that allows access to any passenger paying a membership fee or daily fee. The lounge consists of 3,400 square feet located on the Concourse A mezzanine. Goals: ACDBE 30%, M/WBE 30%

Food/Beverage (A Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a locally or nationally recognizable chef-driven full service restaurant and bar. The concept must provide three meals per day. Steakhouse, southwestern, and Mexican food concepts are prohibited. The concept location consists of 3,075 square feet in the east outboard sub core of Concourse A. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Food/Beverage (A Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a nationally-branded and recognized, fast casual concept that balances Colorado sense of place with the recent merchandise guidance results. Permitted concepts include: burritos or other fresh, made to order Mexican, pizza, American comfort food, Mediterranean, or noodles concepts with less than 10% Asian inspired themed dishes. The concept location consists of 643 square feet in the center core of Concourse A. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Food/Beverage (B Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a nationally-branded and recognized specialty coffee kiosk concept at two locations within Concourse B. One kiosk location is in the East Outboard sub core and a second kiosk is located in the west outboard sub core. Both concepts must have a 360 degree point of sale/service area and include an inviting seating area. Concept location total square feet will be provided at release of the request for proposal. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Food/Beverage (B Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage nationally-branded and recognized “better” burger or gourmet burger concept. Fast food hamburger concepts will not be considered. Beer and wine, and milkshake sales are permitted. The concept location consists of 1,458 square feet in the east outboard sub core of Concourse B. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Food/Beverage (B Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a nationally-branded and recognized, fast casual concept that balances Colorado sense of place with the recent merchandise guidance results. Permitted concepts include: fresh, made-to-order pizza, American comfort food, Mediterranean, and noodles concepts with less than 10% Asian inspired themed dishes. The concept location consists of 1,136 square feet in the center core of Concourse B. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE goal 30%

Food/Beverage (C Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage a full-service, three meals per day restaurant with full bar that specifically responds to the food and beverage needs of the passenger on Concourse C. Steakhouse and Mexican food concepts are prohibited. The concept location consists of 2,326 square feet in the east sub core of Concourse C. Goals: ACDBE 33%, M/WBE 30%

Specialty Retail (A and B Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage multiple retail locations at Denver International Airport. The retail locations include: 1) 1,127 square feet of contiguous space, in the center core of Concourse A, for the development and operation of a nationally-branded and recognized men’s fashion apparel and accessories concept in the aspirational, affordable luxury, or luxury category. 2) 646 square feet of contiguous space for the development and operation of a nationally-branded and recognized women’s fashion apparel or high-end, designer, sunglass concept in the West inbound sub core of Concourse B. Goals: ACDBE 25%, M/WBE 30%

Specialty Retail (A and B Gates)

DIA will seek a company to develop, operate and manage multiple retail locations at Denver International Airport. The retail locations include: 1) 1,011 square feet of contiguous space, in the center core of Concourse A, for the development and operation of a nationally branded women’s fashion and accessories concept in the aspirational, affordable luxury, or luxury category. 2) 643 square feet of contiguous space, in the east inbound sub core of Concourse B, for a high-end or artisan jewelry concept. Goals: ACDBE 25%, M/WBE 30%

About DIA’s shopping and dining program

DIA’s concession program consists of more than 170,000 square feet of retail space inside the airport that includes more than 140 locations offering an exciting culinary, fashion and retail experience. In 2013, the concessions program generated a record $294.8 million in gross revenue. The sales resulted in approximately $10 million in sales tax to the City and County of Denver and about $47.5 million in concession rental revenue to DIA. The airport relies on revenue from airline and non-airline sources, as no taxpayer money received by the city’s General Fund is used for DIA expenditures. An estimated $115 million of the total concessions revenue was earned by minority- and women-owned businesses that are certified under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

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