Miami International Airport secret shoppers approved

Three actions last week moved to upgrade concessions at Miami International Airport, as commissioners agreed to extend hundreds of leases 12 years or more coupled with tenant-paid improvements while they ordered an early search for tenants in a new terminal and a new secret shopper program with teeth.

The airport, in the midst of $9 billion growth, is to also revamp the stores and dining that passengers can choose from in an upgrade that will swing the mix from mostly shopping to nearly two-thirds food and beverage. Most food and shopping concessions will vastly alter within three years, all funded by tenants, who will pay at least $1.1 billion to the airport in 12 years.

The sweeping reconfiguration will come with new dining and shopping concepts in present locations with the current strong local flavor. The plan passed last week as commissioners bypassed competition for a dozen vacant locations and listed their candidates to get the valuable leases.

Today’s 244 concession spaces are 46% food and beverage, 54% stores. That’s to swing to 63% food and beverage and 37% stores, which Aviation Director Ralph Cutié has said is the industry standard. The shift that removes some retailers will add new food and beverage spaces.

Businesses now in 90% of airport concession space will get 10 days to sign leases. Each must then upgrade, spending a minimum of $850 per square foot for retail and $1,000 for food and beverage for the first 1,500 square feet, with all spending at least $500 per square foot for the rest of their locations. They would have to finish within three years.

“This is one of the most important items we’ve voted on in a long time… based on the investment to our airport that we so desperately need,” said commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez.

In a separate measure, commissioners directed Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to solicit for concessions for a forthcoming Terminal K and for all other unleased space suitable for concessions in the airport’s South, Central and North Terminals with 45 days or report to the commission.

The county expects to award the contract to build Terminal K this year.

“An open competitive procurement ensures that the concessions selected for Terminal K will be best in class,” said the legislation from Danielle Cohen Higgins and Kevin Marino Cabrera. There was no open procurement in the larger measure to reshuffle present concessionaires.

The legislation encourages an expedited selection for Terminal K while it is under design and construction to provide efficiencies in opening the terminal. The measure sets “a goal of having an award recommendation presented” to the commissioner this year.

For the secret shopper program, the legislation by the same two commissioners tells the mayor to designate an employee as concessions manager “who shall be available to respond to concerns or questions regarding concession operations at MIA.”

The airport-wide program is to visit all concessions at least once per week to observe staffing, customer waiting times, available merchandise and customer service. That program is to be incorporated into future concession agreements “and the achievement of secret shopper benchmarks shall be made enforceable provisions of these agreements.”

Results of the secret shopper visits are to be made available to regularly commissioners. The legislation says Tampa International Airport uses such a program.