Denver International Airport Sets Records for Concession Revenue, New Businesses in 2013

DENVER — Feb. 19, 2014 — Denver International Airport (DIA) opened a record number of new shopping and dining experiences in 2013, which helped the airport’s concessions program generate an all-time high of about $295 million in gross revenue.

Due to expiring leases, the airport expects to transform about 75 percent of its shops, restaurants and other amenities over a three-year period. In 2013, DIA opened a total of 21 new or updated concession locations as part of this transformation – the most new locations opened in one year since the airport’s inaugural year in 1995. DIA’s concessions 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 total, the concessions program generated $294.8 million in 2013, which is 5.15-percent more than the $280.4 million generated in 2012. The 2013 revenue is equal to $11.22 per passenger, a 6.4-percent increase over the previous year. 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. DIA’s innovative Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) and kiosk program, which gives small businesses an opportunity to do business at the airport without a large capital investment, generated about $12.7 million in gross revenue – the highest amount since the RMU program began in 2011.

“We set out on a very deliberate path to provide a creative offering of concessions to our customers,” said Kim Day, Denver’s Manager of Aviation. “Our revenue growth supports our additions of new local, healthy food options and Colorado retail brands in combination with the familiar, national brands that our customers expect. We have many more exciting concepts on the way, which should provide further increased revenue and passenger satisfaction. This is an exciting time of transformation for our program, and it is rewarding to see our passengers confirm our decisions with their purchases.”

New additions to DIA last year included local, chef-driven concepts such as Elway’s steakhouse, Udi’s Café and Root Down. These local flavors are giving DIA’s passengers a taste of Denver, while creating a unique sense of place inside the airport. That trend will continue in 2014 with the addition of local brands and flavors, including Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs – a legendary local hot dog eatery that will bring its distinctive flavors to Concourse B – and the Tattered Cover, a timetested Colorado book store that passengers have requested for years.

In 2013, DIA also added several national brands, including Wetzel’s Pretzels, City Wok, Jamba Juice, Dunkin’ Donuts and Einstein Bros. Bagels. The airport will continue in 2014 to add well-known concepts, with an eye toward offering a more vibrant mix of options for passengers. Some of the opportunities in the near future include a restaurant and bar at the base of the upcoming Westin Hotel, a chef-inspired restaurant and concepts for men’s and women’s fashion, additional restaurants, convenience and retail opportunities. The complete 2013 concessions revenue report is available online by clicking here.

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.

###