The issue on the Pensacola City Council agenda is the airport food concessions: Chick-Fil-A vs. The Fish House, Corona Beach House vs. Pensacola Bay Brewery, Einstein Bros. Bagels vs. Bagelheads, Surf City Squeeze vs. Varona’s.
City Administrator Colleen Castille sent out to the council a link to a USA Today article that says business travelers prefer Chick-Fil-A.
According to Certify, which helps companies track expense accounts, business travelers are “more likely to spend their dollars at bargain chain eateries, such as Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donuts, Panera Bread, and McDonald’s.” Although the article doesn’t say whether those travelers eat at those franchises in the airport or not.
Castille didn’t send the council this article from the Wall Street Journal, “Airport Food Favorites to Share:”
Gourmet has taken off at airports because travelers are, on average, a fairly affluent group willing to splurge on vacation or business trips. More and more travelers consider themselves to be foodies or at least gravitate to well-reviewed local restaurants over national chains and fast-food outlets, and now want to eat the same way when traveling as they do at home. They have more time to do it at the airport since check-in and security requirements prompt early arrivals inside terminals. And airports want to create a local feel so they bring in local food favorites as a way of becoming the “front door’’ to their community.
I guess it boils down to whether Pensacola International Airport has more business travelers than tourists and other visitors.
—-
Full, Full, Full Disclosure: Collier Merrill is one of the owners of The Fish House. He also has a small interest (5%) in the Independent News. I picked up a chicken sandwich last week at the drive-through at the Chick-fil-A on Bayou Blvd. It was tasty. Since I was headed back to my office, does that qualify me as a “business traveler”? I will ask the city administrator at tomorrow’s Morning with the Mayor.