Jun 12, 2014

HMSHost Takes Home Moodie Food & Beverage Awards at 2014 Conference

Company Recognized for Excellence in Airport Dining and Corporate Social Responsibility

NORTH AMERICA & COPENHAGEN — At a grand gala at the Hilton Copenhagen Airport Hotel, global restaurateur HMSHost, a world leader in travel dining, was honored by the 2014 Moodie Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards. HMSHost received awards for Best Airport Fast Food/Quick Service Restaurant for 8 oz Burger Bar at Los Angeles International Airport and Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative for its company-wide food donation program. HMSHost’s parent company, Autogrill, was also honored with The Judges Award for Thought Leadership in Food & Beverage. The Moodie FAB Conference and Awards, hosted annually by The Moodie Report and its sister title, The Foodie Report, recognizes and promotes excellence in travel dining all over the world. HMSHost President and CEO Tom Fricke was a keynote speaker at the conference.

“The Moodie FAB Awards are a tremendously influential institution within the travel dining industry and HMSHost is honored to be recognized for being a leader who can be counted on to deliver superior restaurants to travelers,” said HMSHost President and CEO Tom Fricke. “These awards represent countless combined efforts of the entire HMSHost team to increase culinary-driven menus, provide stellar service, and utilize technology to provide travelers the best possible dining experience in airports; as well as our commitment to the local communities that we serve.”

8 oz Burger Bar by Govind Armstrong was born from L.A.’s culinary revolution and is anything but a regular burger. Burgers are made using a special in-house blend of sirloin, tri-tip, short rib, and chuck beef. Guests can choose from exciting toppings such as garlic roasted tomatoes, red onion marmalade, charred escarole, and roasted mushrooms. Add it all up, and not only do you have one of the best, most inviting burgers in the City, you have a place that has earned rave reviews from the L.A. Times, Yelp, and many other food publications – all for that most American meal, the hamburger.

HMSHost’s food donation program helps communities by donating to local food banks from operations in 62 airports, 62 motorway travel plazas, and 4 malls. The program was born in 1992 and by 2013 more than 3 million food items had been donated across the country. The HMSHost food donation program supports the three pillars of the company’s startsomewhere® sustainability initiative, which focuses on the environment, nutrition and wellness, and community partnerships.

The Moodie FAB Awards judges included David King, industry consultant and Director of the David King Partnership, The Moodie Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, and (for select awards) The Moodie Report Executive Director – Business Development & Innovation Matt Willey. Winners were selected from a record high 200-plus FAB Awards entries, spanning airports on every continent, as well as the best in railway station food & beverage.