HOLLYWOOD LANDMARK PINK’S HOT DOGS OPENS FIRST-EVER AIRPORT LOCATION AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

U.S. Troops to Benefit from Opening Day Proceeds 

            (Los Angeles, California – July 22, 2010)   Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services , one of the world’s leading airport food and retail providers, held the official grand opening of Pink’s Hot Dogs at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) atLos AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX) today.  The new location is the first time that the well-known Pink’s brand has been featured at an airport anywhere in the world.   In celebration of the grand opening, a portion of the proceeds from Delaware North’s sales on opening day will be donated to the United Service Organizations (USO) - Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc., which provides support to U.S. service personnel and their families.

            The addition of Pink’s Hot Dogs at TBIT follows the completion of a $723-million remodel of the highly-traveled international terminal.  “Adding popular dining and retail concepts that reflect Los Angeles’ culture, lifestyle and cuisine adds measurably to the passenger experience,” said Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.  “Pink’s Hot Dogs brings a much admired addition to that experience.”  

            In honor of opening day and just in time for National Hot Dog month celebrated annually in July, Delaware North Companies and Richard Pink, owner of the original Pink’s Hot Dogs in Hollywood, invited a number of military service men and women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard today to LAX Pink’s for a complimentary send-off meal in appreciation for their service and dedication. Delaware North is a longtime supporter of the USO in various locales and currently employs more than 300 either active or retired military personnel.

            “We are very thankful to Delaware North for naming the USO of Greater Los Angeles as the beneficiary of its Pink’s Hot Dogs LAX grand-opening celebration,” said Mike Teilmann, director of USO – Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc.  “Delaware North’s and Pink’s financial donation will help us continue to support and provide simple comforts to the many thousands of service men and women who fly out of LAX each week to assignments around the world.” 

            Travelers to LAX will also have the opportunity to experience a new Pink’s Hot Dog menu item, aptly named the “LAX International Dog,” available only at the Pink’s LAX location.  The selection was created by Tim Ihle, an LAX employee.  The recipe was chosen from dozens of entries submitted by LAX employees, with the final selection made by Richard Pink and one of Los Angeles’ biggest Pink’s Hot Dogs fans, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  

            “We’re thrilled to partner with Delaware North to bring Pink’s Hot Dogs and a little bit of Hollywood nostalgia to LAX,” said Pink’s owner Richard Pink, whose family owns and still operates the original Pink’s Hot Dogs location in Hollywood, the town that made the landmark eatery famous.  “Visitors from all over the world can now experience Pink’s and its famous hot dogs, whether they plan a stop in Hollywood or not.”

            Establishing a Pink’s Hot Dogs location at one of the world’s busiest airports is just another example of Delaware North’s longtime “Gateway Concept ? ” approach to airport dining.  The Gateway Concept focuses on bringing local, popular brands to major public venues like airports, sports arenas and other travel destinations.  At LAX the company already operates The Encounter Restaurant & Bar, located inside the landmark LAX ThemeBuilding, as well as the Daily Grill at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, among others.

            In the future, Delaware North has plans to bring an all new “Skewers” concept to LAX, created by Iron Chef’s Masaharu Morimoto.  Additionally, the company operates dining and retail locations at the LA/OntarioInternational Airport, which is also part of Los Angeles World Airports operations.

            “The opening of Pink’s has been widely anticipated for months,” said Kurt Clausen, general manger for Delaware North Companies’ operations at LAX. “Providing visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the flair and local culture of dining destinations like Pink’s Hot Dogs is what Delaware North is all about.”

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