Kansas City International Airport Concessions Program Recognized for Employee Recognition Excellence
Kansas City International Airport’s (MCI) concessions program has been recognized by Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) with the Best Employee Recognition Program award, honoring the program launched by Vantage Group.
Developed in partnership with the Kansas City Aviation Department (KCAD) and concession partners, the program celebrates frontline team members across food, beverage, and retail who deliver exceptional passenger experiences every day. Designed to boost morale, encourage peer-to-peer recognition, and reinforce service excellence, the program has become a cornerstone of workplace culture across the terminal.
Key initiatives include:
· Employee Appreciation Day - an annual celebration featuring food, activities, and giveaways to recognize frontline teams
· Above & Beyond Awards - a monthly recognition program honoring employees who demonstrate outstanding service and professionalism
· Service Excellence Pins - ongoing, in-the-moment recognition for employees who exemplify exceptional hospitality
The program’s goal is to strengthen engagement, satisfaction, and morale among frontline teams, recognizing that a strong employee culture directly enhances the passenger experience.
“This recognition is truly about our people,” said Marsha Chesmore, General Manager, Vantage Group at MCI. “Every day, hundreds of frontline team members go above and beyond to serve our passengers. This program was created to ensure those efforts are seen, shared, and celebrated. We’re grateful to our concession partners and KCAD for helping build a culture where appreciation and service excellence go hand in hand.”
This recognition underscores the shared commitment of Vantage Group and KCAD to delivering a first-class airport experience through empowered and engaged employees.
“Vantage has been a great partner with the Kansas City Aviation Department, and this award is proof,” said Director of Aviation Melissa Cooper. “Customer service is a key pillar of our Kansas City aviation team, and being able to reward employees who exemplify that not only reinforce the good work but encourages others to step up and do the same."
About Kansas City Aviation Department
The Kansas City Aviation Department operates Kansas City International Airport and is an Enterprise Fund department of the City of Kansas City, Missouri. The department is supported entirely by airport user fees, which fund the administration, promotion, operation, and maintenance of the airport system. For more information, visit KCairports.com.
About Vantage Group
Vantage Group is a global leader in airport and transportation investment, development, management, and advisory services. Since 1994, Vantage’s corporate and network-wide team has managed an award-winning portfolio, building strong partnerships that integrate global expertise and local know-how to solve complex transportation challenges at every network location. Over three decades, Vantage has built a track record of creating customized solutions to transform airports and transportation centers that benefit the passengers, stakeholders, and communities they serve. Vantage is a wholly owned strategic platform of Investcorp Corsair Infrastructure Partners for capital deployment in the airport and transportation sectors. Visit vantagegroup.com to learn more.