PR Newswire
CHICAGO, April 1, 2014
CHICAGO, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that Areas USA and its airport concessions joint venture partner Robinson Hill Inc. have transformed dining experiences inside O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 5, it's time for a taste.
Areas with Robinson Hill will offer "A Taste of T5" at the grand opening celebration of O'Hare's remodeled international concourse on April 4 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The grand tasting will follow a news conference at the pre-security checkpoint. Afterward, guests will be escorted inside the terminal and invited to taste samples from eight new food and beverage retailers, all with deep roots in Chicago.
Media who wish to attend the grand tasting must register no later than April 1. Space is limited.
Areas USA pays attention to local brands and selects the finest for America's airports. It also partners with location institutions to hire workers with the requisite skills. Areas USA and Robinson Hill are the largest employers inside the terminal, with some 200 workers, and has invested nearly 40 percent, or $10 million, of the total $26 million slated for the project.
At T5, the once sparse food court now features four restaurant concepts from Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE). They include three quick-serve dining spots -- Wow Bao (authentic Asian dishes with modern flair), Urban Olive (fresh salads) and R.J. Grunts (known for its burgers). Chicago's foodies traveling abroad will recognize names such as Hub 51. There's one in downtown Chicago, and it's a hot spot and a chatterbox of activity even on week days.
Travelers from foreign lands will know they are in good hands with freshly baked tortas wafting down the concourse from Tortas Frontera by renowned Chicago chef Rick Bayless. Tocco, a wine bar and restaurant concept in Chicago's trendy Wicker Park neighborhood, will woo them with its contemporary décor and extensive wine list.
"We wanted T5 to be more than just a place to get something to eat but a place to get something special," said Eduardo Uribe Mesta, Vice President of Business Development, Areas USA. "I think we've achieved that."
The Kofe gourmet coffee and tea kiosk is powered by another Chicago-based company, coffee purveyor Intelligentsia. Also in the main corridor is LEYE restaurant Big Bowl.
"Frequent travelers come across the same restaurants in airports. By focusing on local brands, it becomes a unique experience for travelers. It's something to look forward to. So get ready to break the monotony," said Dee Robinson, President of Robinson Hill.
At the grand opening, photographs of the terminal before the renovation will line the concourse so visitors can fully appreciate the investment by Areas USA. Areas also partnered with the following organizations to hire workers: City Colleges of Chicago Washburne Culinary Institute; Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts; Refugee One; Butanese Community Refugees; Catholic Charities; Fischer House, which assists military families in need; and the Illinois Worknet Center.
"People travel abroad to have authentic experiences. T5 restaurants are as uniquely Chicago as its sports teams or Lake Michigan," said Oscar Hernandez, Vice President of Airport Operations for Areas USA. "We value authenticity and it's our hope that travelers will be equally pleased with the outcome."
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140401/CG95664
SOURCE Areas USA