For Immediate Release
May 16, 2024
Contact:
LAX Public Relations
(424) 646-5260
laxpr@lawa.org
Attendees learned about $225 million in forthcoming concessions and construction contracts supporting LAX's modernization
(Los Angeles) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) welcomed more than 150 representatives of small and local businesses to the LAWA Concession Opportunities at LAX Outreach and Networking Event, which was held yesterday at The Proud Bird event center. Attendees learned about future contracting opportunities for concessionaires, contractors, and vendors to support new and modernized facilities and guest services at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
"Small, local, and diverse businesses helped LAX serve more than 75 million guests in 2023, and we expect to welcome even more guests to our city over the next few years," said Dave Jones, Deputy Executive Director for Commercial Development, LAWA. "Today's event underscores our efforts to connect our communities with incredible opportunities at LAX so they continue to thrive from our shared success."
The event provided businesses with opportunities to meet face-to-face with LAWA staff, concessionaires, airport partners, and industry leaders to learn more about doing business at the world's eighth-busiest airport. Speakers, which included remarks from Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb, LAWA Chief Executive Officer John Ackerman, Deputy Executive Director Jones, and LAWA staff, provided an overview of concession opportunities and detailed the department's commitment to cultivating a vibrant pool of local, diverse, and small businesses.
Speakers from LAWA included (from left) Deputy Executive Director for Commercial Development Dave Jones, Commercial Development Division Director of Terminal Leasing and Concessions Denise Sample,
Chief Executive Officer John Ackerman, Business, Jobs & Social Responsibility Director Amber Meshack, and Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Karim Webb.
In the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, LAWA expects to offer more than $100 million in opportunities for concessions contracts and more than $125 million in contracts to construct concession spaces, resulting in an estimated 450 jobs. These new opportunities will support new and modernized LAX facilities, including Terminal 4, the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal, the LAX Automated People Mover's West Station, the LAX Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, and LAX Economy Parking.
Attendees also learned directly from LAWA staff about its business opportunity programs and how to navigate the City of Los Angeles' contracting requirements. This included information about the City's Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certification program and its RAMPLA and Bonfire contracting platforms.
Merriwether & Williams staff offered information about its assistance program, which helps businesses fulfill bonding requirements, and the LAWA-sponsored Airport Minority Advisory Council's (AMAC) Los Angeles Regional Chapter shared information about how its network can help connect businesses with additional opportunities and resources.
Businesses interested in future LAWA contracting should visit www.lawa.org/lawa-businesses/how-to-do-business-with-lawa for more information and sign up on www.rampla.org and www.bonfirehub.com for updates.
LAX, the sixth-busiest airport in the world serving nearly 66 million guests in 2022, is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a proprietary, revenue-generating department of the City of Los Angeles that also governs Van Nuys Airport (VNY). As the international gateway to the Southern California region, LAX and its partners are dedicated to meeting global airport standards for customer satisfaction, safety, regional economic leadership, organizational performance and sustainability.
To better serve the millions of domestic and international guests that travel through LAX each year, the airport is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program to modernize its entire campus. Initiatives underway include an Automated People Mover, a Consolidated Rental Car Facility and two projects that will each add over one million square feet to the airport's existing property: Terminal 9 and Concourse 0. For more information about LAX, its transformation and its environmental, social and local workforce commitments, please visit flylax.com. Follow LAX on X (formally Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
