Feb 19, 2025

HMSHost Will Grow Its Presence at John F. Kennedy International Airport through a New 15-year Contract to Operate in Terminal 4

HMSHost will begin operations in JFK T4 in 2025, bringing nine restaurants to the terminal that will offer a taste of the rich culinary diversity of three New York City boroughs

BETHESDA, Maryland (Feb. 19, 2025) – Global restaurateur HMSHost, part of Avolta AG (SIX: AVOL) and a world leader in creating dining for travel venues, today announced it has been awarded a new 15-year contract at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) by JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), operator of Terminal 4, to open nine new restaurants across more than 16,500 ft² of concessions space. The partnership with JFKIAT marks HMSHost’s first operations in T4, significantly growing the company’s presence at one of the busiest airports in North America and among the most active air terminals in the New York area.

Beginning this year, HMSHost will open an exciting lineup of dining venues that will offer travelers a taste of three of New York City’s iconic boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens — showcasing the rich culinary diversity of the surrounding community. Local concepts will include Manhattan’s Bessou, FIELDTRIP, Dos Toros Taqueria, Eataly, Boqueria, and Chopt; Brooklyn Tea & Market; and Villa Russo Café of Queens. Additionally, HMSHost will also evolve its partnership with the James Beard Foundation^® (JBF) to bring the Foundation’s Good To Go by JBF™ fast-casual concept to the terminal — which will debut in T4 with a menu by New York’s Due Madri.

“In a city so renowned for its culinary scene as New York, JFK has evolved into a dining destination in itself,” said Steve Johnson, President and CEO, North America, Avolta. “We embraced the opportunity to partner with JFKIAT, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and our joint-venture partners to be a part of the evolution of JFK and make the journey as exciting as the destination for travelers passing through Terminal 4. These new food and beverage offerings will more than double our presence at JFK, which we are tremendously proud of.”

“The transformation of T4 and JFK Airport has given us a new opportunity to work with local businesses and provide gateways for meaningful local investment,” said JFKIAT Chief Executive Officer Roel Huinink. “I am looking forward to the arrival of our new local partners at T4, and I am pleased that we will be able to offer our customers even more authentic New York flavors and experiences.”

HMSHost currently operates dining venues throughout JFK in Terminals 1, 5, and 8.

Arriving Soon at JFK Terminal 4

The new food and beverage options landing soon at T4 will represent the culinary playground of Manhattan, the passionate creatives of Brooklyn, and the international flavors of Queens. Throughout the terminal, travelers will enjoy a better, seamless travel experience through technology like reservations and digital waitlists, QR codes, self-order kiosks, and self-checkout, along with all the benefits of the Club Avolta loyalty program.

• Bessou – A beloved neighborhood restaurant known for its bold Japanese flavors and a warm communal spirit, Bessou was founded by Maiko Kyogoku and reflects her love of Japanese comfort food through specialties like karaage fried chicken sandwiches, onigiri rice balls, and a new line of craveworthy popcorn.
• FIELDTRIP – Created by James Beard Award-winning chef and popular TV personality JJ Johnson, Fieldtrip’s “Rice is Culture” approach to fast casual eating connects global cuisines through a grain of rice and offers the ideal place for disparate groups to converge.
• Chopt – Chopt brings creativity to every bite, combining high-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and original dressings to their lineup of salads, wraps, and warm bowls.
• Dos Toros Taqueria – Born in Union Square and inspired by the taquerias of the Bay Area, Dos Toros brings fresh ingredients and bold flavors to 19 locations across NYC, redefining fast-casual Mexican.
• Boqueria – Named for Barcelona’s most famous market, Boqueria merges authentic Spanish cuisine with Manhattan sensibilities. The sleek, sophisticated tapas bar brings the communal, congenial vibe of its renowned namesake to T4.
• Eataly – An emblem of Italian culinary artistry that has cemented its place in New York City’s gastronomic culture, Eataly at JFK T4 will offer travelers a taste of the Italian lifestyle via a full-service restaurant serving authentic Italian dishes from antipasti to pasta and pizza, blended with a wine bar, grab-and-go items, and a curated retail selection.
• Brooklyn Tea & Market – Tea enthusiasts will savor the buzzy essence of Brooklyn at this grab-and-go market highlighting the diverse cultures of tea.
• Villa Russo Café – Villa Russo Café will offer travelers a slice of New York's rich cultural and culinary heritage they rarely get to see and a culinary experience that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Queens. In 1954, the Russo family opened a small neighborhood pizzeria in Queens, minutes away from JFK, and began serving their authentic Italian dishes. Through a proud tradition of offering old-world family recipes over generations, their legacy grew and transformed into one of New York's premier catering venues and recognizable hospitality brands.
• Good To Go by JBF™ – Go To Go by JBF™ is a fast-casual concept located in New York’s Market 57 that brings the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good^® mission to life through chef-crafted food and beverage offerings. The JFK location will host the best of the Foundation’s chef partnerships at T4 through a chef-in-residence program, beginning with Erika Nakamura and Joclyn Guest, the talented duo behind New York’s Due Madri.

Through extensive outreach events and in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFKIAT, HMSHost is proud to operate these new T4 concessions with a diverse group of local entrepreneurs and certified Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partners: Chef Grace Ramírez (Owner, Tamalito, Inc.); Allison Dunn (Owner, Neat Rules Hospitality Group, LLC); Petrushka Bazin Larsen (Co-founder/Co-owner, Sugar Hill Creamery, LLC); Maiko Kyogoku (Founder, Kintaro Foods, LLC); Tara Merdjanoff (Co-founder, Kismet Cocktails, Inc.); Brian Martinez (Owner, Fresco’s Cantina, LLC); and Corliss Stone-Littles (Owner, Corliss Stone-Littles, LLC).