Oct 20, 2023

Multiple HMSHost Restaurants Named “10Best” in USA TODAY’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards

Accolades Include Travelers Voting Three Kings Public House at St. Louis Lambert International Airport No. 1 “Best Airport Bar”

BETHESDA, Maryland (Oct. 20, 2023) – Global restaurateur HMSHost, a Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN) company (soon to become Avolta) and world leader in creating dining for travel venues, announced today that travelers have named 13 of HMSHost’s restaurants among the top sit-down restaurants, bars, and grab-and-go food in U.S. airports as part of USA TODAY’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

Among the many accolades, Three Kings Public House at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) was voted the No. 1 “Best Airport Bar.” HMSHost opened the outpost of the St. Louis favorite in Terminal 2 in 2018, offering upscale global pub food, house-made infused liquors, a one-of-a-kind beer cellar list, and local craft brews on tap.

“At HMSHost, we put the traveler at the center of everything we do, striving to make their journey as rewarding as the destination. Having over a dozen of our dining venues named the very best in the airport environment by the guests we serve every day is an honor and a testament to our ability to provide exceptional experiences for travelers,” said Steve Johnson, President & Chief Executive Officer, North America. “We are proud to share this exciting recognition with our airport partners, brand partners, joint venture operators, and the hundreds of associates who work in these outstanding dining venues.”

USA TODAY’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards recognized HMSHost’s restaurants in three categories:

Best Airport Bar

• Three Kings Public House – St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
• Memphis Made Brewing Co. – Memphis International Airport (MEM)
• Whisky River – Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FTL), and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
• Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen – Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)

Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant

• Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Landry's Seafood – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Blanco Tacos + Tequila – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Whisky River – Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FTL), and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
• Publican Tavern – Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Chicago Cubs Bar & Grill – Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Best Airport Grab-And-Go Food

• Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless – Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Love Shack – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• 1897 Market – Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

HMSHost Leading the Industry

HMSHost is recognized by the industry as the leader in travel dining with awards such as Restaurateur with the Highest Regard for Customer Service and Best Brand Restaurateur for Shake Shack by Airport Experience News. In recent years, USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has awarded first place honors to HMSHost’s Three Kings Public House at St. Louis Lambert International Airport and its Whisky River locations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. ACI-NA, the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, recognized HMSHost with the 2020 Associate Inclusion Champion Award for leadership and achievement in the ongoing inclusion of business and workforce diversity, outreach, and advocacy. Additionally, ACI-NA awarded HMSHost the 2022 Excellence in Airport Concessions Award for the Best Employee Recognition Program. The company also creates original, award-winning events and campaigns including Airport Restaurant Month, Channel Your Inner Chef live culinary contest, 1,000 Acts of Kindness, JBF@ORD Chef Series, and Eat Well. Travel Further.