Tag: Featured

By Anika Robertson
Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager

Love is in the air at the world’s busiest airport, as ATL leaders launch a weeklong celebration to mark Valentine’s Day and, more importantly, thank the 104 million guests who travel through Hartsfield-Jackson each year.

“This is the third year we’ve hosted this event to provide our guests with an entertaining, uplifting and memorable Valentine’s travel experience,” said Airport Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith at the campaign kickoff Feb. 8 in the Domestic Terminal atrium.

New this year is a specially constructed “love wall,” where guests can write personalized messages. At 24 feet long, the festively decorated wall near the atrium will remain visible throughout the Valentine’s celebration.

“We encourage our guests to take photos in front of our ‘love wall,’” Smith said. “What better way to express yourself on Valentine’s Day than writing a sweet note on the ‘love wall?’”

Event-goers enjoyed love-themed melodies, courtesy of a jazz ensemble from Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts, metro Atlanta’s first K-12 fine arts school, in Clayton County. Dancers from Stilwell gracefully performed in white and lavender.

As part of the weeklong celebration, volunteers from the Department of Aviation, USO of Georgia, Hojeij Branded Foods, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta Fire and Rescue, and other Airport partners will hand out candy and treats to guests throughout the Airport.

The love fest also includes an array of musical performances and festive decorations to brighten the mid-winter days with cheer and, of course, love. A large heart constructed of red ruffles stands in the atrium as well as the centerpoint of Concourse F.

“We are excited this week – and every week – to show our 104 million-plus guests how much we appreciate them,” Smith said. “This celebration is one small way in which we can express our gratitude.”

Hartsfield-Jackson guests, passengers and employees are encouraged to use hashtag #LoveATL and share messages on social media.

 

By Anika Robertson
Senior Editor / Assistant Public Relations Manager

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) leaders joined Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and executives from Jackmont Hospitality Inc. to celebrate the opening of Chicken + Beer on Dec. 12 at ATL.

The restaurant, named for Ludacris’ third studio album, is Jackmont Hospitality’s second independently developed concept at the Airport following One Flew South, which opened nearly a decade ago.

Located near gate D5, the 90-seat restaurant serves Southern-style comfort food and locally sourced craft beers in an upbeat, modern atmosphere complemented by bold artwork, a marble bar and comfortable seating. It offers unique takes on Southern classics such as shrimp and grits and battered catfish as well as beers from established and up-and-coming breweries.

“As of today, Chicken and Beer isn’t just a three-time platinum album; it’s also a brand for food,” Mayor Kasim Reed told onlookers before the ribbon-cutting. “Things just get better and better and better, and Chicken and Beer is the next phase of excellence for Hartsfield-Jackson.”

Interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. also expressed appreciation for the new eatery, which aligns with the Airport’s priorities for award-winning concessions and guest relations.

“We’re thrilled this partnership has found a home at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport,” he said. “One of the Airport’s strategic priorities focuses on enhancing the guest experience. We accomplish this by delivering outstanding food and beverage options. Another strategic priority is marketing our region as an exciting tourist destination by providing our connecting guests – those travelers just passing through ATL – with the sights, sounds and, in the case of Chicken and Beer, Southern-style comfort food and a cold brew all reminiscent of our region.”

The concept has been nearly six years in the making with Bridges’s team and Jackmont Hospitality, which owns and operates restaurants on behalf of Atlanta Restaurant Partners.

“One thing we wanted to do was … to continue what we were able to accomplish [at One Flew South],” said Jackmont CEO and co-founder Daniel Halpern, referring to the desire to drive a premium guest experience. “We wanted to continue that chef-driven mindset.”

Bridges shared his “proud moment” with his fans on Twitter and Instagram with the #chickenandbeer hashtag.

“I appreciate all the fans so much for supporting me in every endeavor and everything that I do because I’ve been diversifying businesses for a long time,” he said. “It was because of you that this started as an album, a triple-platinum album, and now has become a restaurant inside the busiest Airport in the world. So follow your dreams, continue to do what’s in your heart and work hard at it, and I guarantee you can accomplish anything.”

Bridges has tested everything on the menu but predicted that his namesake entrée, Luda’s Chicken & Pecan Waffles with whiskey maple, may become the most popular item. Chicken + Beer opened to the public Nov. 17 and operates daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

 

 

By Shane Blatt
Senior Public Relations Manager

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport served a Santa-sized helping of holiday cheer last week to nearly 500 Airport area first-graders at “ATL Presents: Toyland.”

The students, along with their teachers, enjoyed the four-hour program that featured a magic show, puppeteer performance, parade of children’s characters and even a surprise visit from a certain red-clad, bearded gentleman offering gifts.

The Dec. 7 event marked the 20^th anniversary of the celebration, formerly known as Holidays at Hartsfield-Jackson.

“The purpose of ‘ATL presents: Toyland’ is to provide a tremendous holiday experience for kids to remember for a lifetime,” said organizer Joy Brown,Hartsfield-Jackson’s special events manager. “The look on the children’s faces was priceless. I loved the fact that they are still innocent and young enough to believe in the spirit of the holiday season.”

That spirit was sky-high this year, as the event, having grown in popularity, took place at the Delta Flight Museum.

Interim Chief Financial Officer Greg Richardson offered a warm welcome to students from College Park Elementary, James Jackson Elementary and Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary schools.

“I can’t think of anything more special and exciting than wrapping up the year by spending time with some of the youngest members of the Airport community,” he told the exuberant crowd.

Richardson also encouraged teachers and students to visit the Airport for an ATL Tour, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.

Sprinkles the Elf emceed the event, leading students in dance, song and a shake-off “of the sillies.” New this year was the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, a performing arts group that sang a few holiday carols.

The day’s event also featured a story of the Little Red Truck by Elliott Paige, ATL’s manager for Air Service Development, and a fire safety presentation by a representative from the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.

Puppeteer Peter Hart mesmerized youngsters as his clown dancers and jingle bell monkeys got into the holiday groove. And magician D’Avante Parks enchanted students with a few tricks and disappearing acts while delivering a powerful message: Believe in yourself.

That message resonated with students at Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary.

“We have continuous conversations with our students about doing their best every day in school,” Principal Shateena Brown said. “Our theme is ‘Race to GREATNESS,’ and the only way you can be great is if you believe in yourself.”

Principal Brown said although her students enjoyed the presentations, performances and Disney characters, she said one person in particular stole the show.

“Their favorite moment was seeing Santa and the gifts,” she said. “The highlight for me as a principal was to see the smiles and hear the laughter of my students.”

What’s in store for next year’s “ATL Presents: Toyland”?

Brown, the organizer, said she may tinker with the lineup and add a few surprises.

“Of course, I never like to tell all my secrets,” she said. “I like to keep the wow factor going.”