Denver International Airport Focuses on the Customer Experience at Southwest Airlines’ New Gates

DENVER – Aug. 5, 2014 – Denver International Airport (DIA) is pleased to announce Paradies – Taste 5280, LLC was selected through a competitive bid process as the concessionaire to create a unique, architectural, cultural and enhanced customer experience in the 39,000 square-foot extension of the C Concourse. Denver City Council’s Business and Development Committee voted unanimously today to move the agreement for approval to Denver City Council and Mayor Michael B. Hancock.

DIA began construction in September 2013 on five new gates that will be utilized by Southwest Airlines. The expansion is expected to be completed in November 2014. The new space will be designed as an airy, lightfilled, easy-to-navigate space, and the design approach will reinvent the way passengers experience gate areas at DIA with a mix of urban and natural architectural features, integrated with technology. Architectural references to the industrial history of Colorado’s region will be found in materials such as steel beams; a strong unifying element that will be seen in custom pieces such as communal tables, as well as the main architectural feature of all the storefronts.

“As passenger expectations continue to increase, we and our partners at Southwest Airlines are working to create novel and enjoyable customer experiences,” said Denver International Airport CEO, Kim Day. “Not only will the addition of these five gates help the Southwest passenger on Concourse C, but the integration of food and retail and the traditional hold rooms will greatly improve the options and ambience of waiting for a plane.”

“The expansion of the C Concourse comes at an opportune time for Southwest Airlines and our Mile High Customers,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President Business Development. “We’re excited to partner with DIA and Paradies on the integration of this new Customer Experience for our Denver Customers, as we continue to bring more service options to the market.”

Amenities in this new space will feature iPads integrated in custom high top tables, providing an opportunity to order beverages and receive concierge service, or simply to check e-mail, review flight status and catch up on the news. Improved seating choices will include electrical outlets, cup holders and individual tables. The layers of seating elements will be designed with pops of color, while warm wood-look porcelain tiles will ground the center of the concourse in a play on the natural elements found throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

New storefronts will include eSavvy, a partnership with PeachMac featuring popular electronic accessories and devices from the top brands, including Apple; Say Si Bon Marketplace, offering gourmet snacks and news in an atmosphere that evokes a French market; the Coors Silver Bullet Sports Pub, where sports fans will gather to watch Denver’s top teams; a full menu of farm fresh offerings from Modmarket; and pop-up concepts such as Colorado’s own ink! Coffee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and creative cocktails from Tapas Sky Bar.

“Paradies and our partners in Taste 5280 are proud to begin a successful tradition at DIA with these exciting new concepts,” said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO of Paradies. “From Say Si Bon to Modmarket, and eSavvy to Tapas Sky Bar, the Southwest traveler will enjoy an all-encompassing shopping experience, featuring stores and restaurants that represent the Denver area.”

Paradies – Taste 5280, LLC is expected to generate $17.5 million in sales in the first year. Annual sales tax to the City and County of Denver is projected to be $700,000, and more than 80 jobs are expected to be created. The revenue contract is approximately $2.4 million a year for 10 years.

Denver ranks as Southwest Airline’s fastest-growing market in the carrier’s history. They have grown their business from January 2006, offering 13 daily flights to three destinations, to a network today of more than 165 daily flights to nearly 60 nonstop destinations. Southwest Airlines plans to relocate their existing two gates on the A Concourse to the C Concourse, increasing the airline’s overall gate count from 19 to 22 gates. The five new gates will be C23 through C27.

Three contractors are working on the $46 million expansion project. The project will be paid for using Airport Capital Improvement Program funds, which are generated through airport revenues, not the city’s general fund or taxpayer money. Contracts include work on the building, apron paving and interior work. Milender White was selected among the existing on-call contractors with the lowest bid for building the foundation, walls, windows and roof work. The second contractor, IHC, was selected through a competitive bid process for apron concrete paving, where the aircraft will taxi and park. FCI Constructors, Inc. was selected among the existing on-call contractors for the building interior and HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) systems.

About Paradies – Taste 5280, LLC

Providing first-class service to the traveling public for more than 50 years, Paradies is the most recognized concessionaire in the industry. Named Best Airport Retailer for the past 19 consecutive years by Airport Revenue News, the company operates over 550 retail and dining locations in more than 75 markets across the United States and Canada. Paradies partners exclusively with such brands as Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, CNBC News, Univision, PGA TOUR Shops, Brooks Brothers, Brighton Collectibles, EA SPORTS, Dylan’s Candy Bar and SPANX. The company also operates several popular proprietary brands, including Say Si Bon!, KidZoo and TravelMart. For more information, please visit www.paradies-na.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

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 concession program generated about $295 million in annual gross sales. For more information about retail store opportunities, please e-mail [email protected] or visit http://business.flydenver.com/bizops/concessions.asp.

Caption: Amenities in DIA’s C Concourse expansion for Southwest Airlines will feature iPads integrated in custom high top tables, providing an opportunity for customers to order beverages and receive concierge service, or simply to check e-mail, review flight status and catch up on the news. Improved seating choices will include electrical outlets, cup holders and individual tables.

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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