Airport business goes to usual traders
ORIA interior, artist’s rendition
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) has finally revealed the winning bidders that have secured the lucrative retail, duty-free and food and beverage concessions in the departure hall at the renovated Owen Roberts International Airport. From the 42 bids, the 20 available concessions have gone to just eleven largely established local traders. Retail and duty-free shopping has been given to Kirk Freeport, Last Chance Island Souvenirs, Bodden Freeport, Tortuga Rum Co., Jacques Scott, Island Jewellers and Churchill Cigars. The food court will include Wendy’s, Subway, Island Taste and The Brew Hut.
It has not been clear why the process has taken so long but the airport management missed their own bid deadline to reveal the successful tenders in December 2017. The winners, who will now get the chance to sell to the airport’s captive audience, learned of their success back in June and were then asked to sign the leases. Works to fit-out the new locations began earlier this month and the concessions are now expected to open in phases over the next few months as the airport nears completion.
“Travellers to and from Owen Roberts International Airport can look forward to a myriad of enhancements and amenities over the next several months as we move closer to completing this multi-phased project to better serve our guests and to offer them a world-class airport experience,” said CIAA CEO Albert Anderson.
The much needed and anticipated project will almost triple the airport’s size from 77,000 to 208,000 square feet and will accommodate up to 2.5 million passengers per year. While officials believe the work will be largely complete by December, it is still expected to continue well into 2019. The main controversies over the airport, however, relate to what are said to be substantial cost overruns.
An auditor general’s report, which is being kept secret until the project is complete and all of the change orders are settled, is said to reveal a more than 20% overrun on the original $55 million price tag. There are also a number of questions about the tendering process and the management of the project by the tourism ministry.
When the new airport project is complete, it will offer many more amenities and services than the current facility, including a children’s play area, mothers’ nursing station, digital flight information displays, common-use self-service kiosks, 39 check-in counters and nine departure gates.
Category: Business, development, Local News, Tourism, Transport
I wonder whether any local proper restaurants put in bids. I am not sure how financially viable a non-fast food restaurant would be at the Cayman airport? Cayman is not a layover airport, just a point of first departure.
I always eat at home or stop off at a restaurant (such as GT Yacht Club). I would think most residents most of the time would continue to do the same. Tourists most of the time probably do the same (at hotel or elsewhere). Realistically, most flyers are at most looking for some quick grab and go food, so unfortunately these bland fast food restaurants are probably the only types that can make a go of it at the Cayman airport.
Thoughts?
damn I was hoping ale kebab would’ve gotten in.
why do they not have a chicken joint?
subways is nasty
wendys is overpriced.
island taste food is just as garbage as ever
and brew hut doesn’t sell cooked / hot food
Ala Kebab would have been nice. Would be interested in knowing who actually bid.
(Wendy’s, Subway….megghhh…..very unadventurous selections…..)
In addition to the post which references the accurate trail of family connections related to the airport retail tenancy and its Board/Ministry, please note that the owner of the Wendy franchise is the Deputy Chairman of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) Board.
Burger King has had an application on file for years at CIAA whenever new retail space opened up but it’s Wendy’s who is successful! No surprise!!
How predictable. How unambitious. How utterly depressing.
It really sounds like allot of hanky panky is goig on at the Airport on the Taxpayers dime , that should be investigated and exposed publicly .
Someone said in a comment that when the employee hands you your receipt , the bottom part that says that 15% was pay . Could that be their record of how they get their pay ?
Now put a vending machine in and sell sodas, snacks and water for $1 – $2 and see where you make your money. That’s where I’ll spend!
I suggest everyone make a point of avoiding these establishments. I certainly will be. I thought this was an honest, good faith effort to do something new and improved. Most of these vendors don’t deserve the spots and won’t serve the travelling public well. No objective selection process decides to keep everything exactly the way it is. This is communist-level stuff, like elections with candidates from only one party. This has to be shamed and punished.
Easy enough for me: I don’t eat from Subway or Wendy’s on island. Last thing I’ll be doing at the airport is choosing to buy from either establishment.
I hope no one is surprised.
In prior articles, people were foaming at the mouth that the concessions would go to rich foreigners. Now the opposite when local operators, including subway, get in. No airport is a fine dining destination. This one isn’t even finished. Most of these comments are absurd whines.
The truth will soon come out and don’t be surprised if an investigation is launched.
Since when Subway is local? Or does a Caymanian own the franchise rights here?
Jamaican Caymanian.
Otherwise known as a legal Caymanian. Amazing how you must get the origin of the person into this when it’s irrelevant.
He is from Jamaica. He is now Caymanian too. Amazing how saying Jamaican Caymanian set you off. Does African American send you off the deep end too?
Seeds imported from other counties and planted on Cayman soil does not magically make the species a native plant.
Note I have nothing against expats but you can’t claim a legal Caymanian and a native Caymanian are equally ‘local’.
sorry, but no one is from Cayman! time of arrival is irrelevant….
The project was managed by the Ministry of Tourism, headed by Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Councillor Mr. Wight.
Kirk Freeport is owned by Chris Kirkconnell, nephew to Mr. Wight and also cousin to Minister Moses Kirkconnell.
CIAA also has Thom Guyton as Chairman, and Thom is married to Debbie (Kirkconnell) who is Chris Kirkconnell’s aunt and also Moses Kirkconnell’s cousin, as well as sister-in-law to Councillor Mr. Wight’s sister (Chris Kirkconnell’s mom).
Yeah, this all seems above board…
Let’s not get started on the proposed port …
Standard Cayman nepotism
Oh dont ye be so fast. It doesnt apply to all. This is indeed however, a standard, or classic case of such acts. Never ye generalize so absurdly again. We locals arent all the same. Mind state is what makes the man, not His surroundings.
We arent a product of our environment anymore (how could we be, the previous ignorant folk sold out and are weak leaders today) its 2018. Remember 2012 for that is when change came upon all. We are in an age of Information sun get with it…the truth here is in plain sight!
Actually the project was/is managed by the board of CIAA. Not 1 person and no elected person sits on the board. I am likely family to you if we go back enough generations. So what?
Listen we all know how these things go especially here in Cayman
I wish I was related to you, Moses.
Moses is the lightning rod that will put this group out of power at the next election.
Kirkconnell International Airport
Already in Cayman Brac.
I am amazed that there is no proper sit-down restaurant with a bar area. It would be nice to get a breakfast/lunch/dinner before flying, especially if you have a tight connection. Say something like Cimboco, Peppers or another well-known local restaurant. It would have left a great last impression for our visitors. It would also have provided some jobs, likely with good tips. We don’t all want to line up for the mediocre, especially if we don’t want to line up for each meal course or a refill of our drink.
Fast food could easily have been island-oriented, there are several in MIA. Jerk chicken, Cayman style beef, etc. anyone?
Is this just the first wave of openings with more to come? There must have been nearly that many outlets before the “improvements”.
Nope. These are the only spots. As the article states, there were 20 available, but 11 made bids using up all the space and those 11 won, seemingly including everyone who was there already. I have become extremely pessimistic about Cayman lately because it seems to be running on the autopilot program of a stupid robot and this is just the latest example of why. Not even I thought we would say goodbye to our visitors with the same shops selling the same old things and the same fast food restaurants they have everywhere they live. Never mind locals who would have loved to finally have a reason to arrive early for a flight, get on the airside and then enjoy a meal before departing on all the flights we have with their tiny bags of stale pretzels being nothing to eat. I am too amazed there is no sit-down restaurant. We needed one of those no matter who got the spot. I thought the specification called for one. Where is it? Miami Airport had better food 30 years ago. This is just pathetic.
Information and truth – we love it!
If Cimboco or Pepper’s or for that matter Paperman’s or Cafe del Sol thought they could make a profit there without it being a nightmare and having to raise their prices I am sure they would have responded to the RFP.
Peppers is Jamaican owned.
This 15% grat at the hungry horse , is that the only restaurant and concession that charges a 15% service charge ? If so , what Law gives them that rights to charge 15% more for just say collecting your money for a sandwich you just picked up out of cooler keeper , which might not have been made by the employees . I would have do something about that , or leave the sandwich right where they put it . I think that should be called RUNWAY ROBBERY not highway ..
I am stunned. The 15% is an absolute rip-off and should have been cause to not renew the license for this operator. But at a Million or so a year, $150,000 in the slush fund (there is no way it was going to the staff there) goes a long way to keeping the wheels turning.
In truth it’s a scandal. Just blatant price gouging from the captive audience. Problem is that no one realizes the xtra charge that is to be levied until they are actually being asked to pay. There should be a sign clearly stating the policy.
Airport mafia much like the taxi mafia. We can complain but nothing will come of it. Bring your own food, buy a bottle of rum and a few cokes from the vending machine and make your own drinks.
Except that you CAN’T because of security…. They even question a tube of mascara!
“Kirk Freeport, Tortuga Rum Co., Jacques Scott” Wow what a surprise. It wasn’t a situation where there were 10 spaces and 50 bidders bidding against each other. It is 10 spaces, 3 of which are already spoken for and the remaining 7 spaces are bidden for by the other 47 bidders. Those 3 companies will ALWAYS have guaranteed spaces despite what any governing official or representative says. Money talks and BS walks here in Cayman.
Don’t forget to count the Dart spaces – also already spoken for by incumbent retailers which were never going to be turned down because politricks rule the day.
So the last memories of our island that ‘stayover guests’ have is being ‘ripped-off’ in the departure lounge.
And to top it all off, they might even get soaking wet when boarding the aircraft.
What a great way to encourage ‘return tourism’!
LMAO, so true.
Sorry to laugh but I refuse to cry!
Yes but look at the nice round roofs and all those windows!
The savings from a flat roof and associated AC bills (was CUC on the design board) could have paid for the jet ways.
Just take a good look at all the steel that they used to construct the 4 arches and they could have gotten at the very least 10 jetways! What an absolute disgrace and WASTE of money to have them. Even now if they were smart they would use solar panels on them……Sorry, what am I thinking? “If they were smart”, can’t use that phrase with these jokers.
I got stuck in departures for 3 hours waiting for a delayed plane to arrive. There’s no drinking fountain, or any charging infrastructure. Which architectural firm designed the departures hall?
It was the Gudbuddy-Fix Company. They seem to get a lot of the government contracts.
My thoughts exactly. The architects don’t seem to have been anywhere in the world but here and Jamaica. No thoughts to make something nice and different. I am embarrassed to be honest but let’s wait to see how it is once it’s finished.
Designed by Simpletons.. You’d think they would want to design something to be proud of!
Airports worldwide are catering to people that need to plug in. Desks where you can work on your laptop while charging it. Unique, eh! *eyes roll
There is a drinking fountain right as you enter the Departures Hall, which also includes a water bottle filling station to save on plastic bottles.
The departures hall brings Cayman forward into the early 1980s.
I think they bought the design from the same architect who designed the Jamaica Airport. It looks the same.
I’d forgo most of the former duty free space for a comfortable and peaceful member lounge like Sir Turtle/Priority Pass or Admiral’s Club. It is a business airport, not a mall food court.
The choice of the winning bidders for Wendy’s and Subway says allot . Who are the owners of them ? They could’ve made a little bigger/better choice for the passengers except very fast-food .
Business airport? People come for a holiday not a conference usually.
Our premium $10-20k week-long vacations are not for entry-level air passengers or tourism novices. Our pricing predominantly restricts vacations to senior management and business owners. Even if they didn’t check the “business” box on their purpose of travel Customs card…there are many sophisticated dual-purpose visits with family along in tow. These are the people that buy $2mln SMB vacation condos.
The results you get when the board is comprised of either lodge or political appointees. Management is in turn led by a former telephone technician of a then monopoly company. Not a formula for success.
CIAA obviously didn’t take the time to visit other airports (Miami, Nassau, Kingston) when making these decisions. Aside from anything else I can’t think of any other airport that has three independent liquor outlets essentially selling the same products (and certainly not one the size of Owen Roberts). Really one would have been enough, with the other two spaces handed over fo something more interesting.
I couldn’t agree more. Miami used to be a drab example of an international airport, but it is improving its game. The International side of the airport in Nassau has a good mix of interesting locally sourced product and very little of the expensive jewellery that bombards customers on Bay Street and in the hotels. Customers at ORIA will have had plenty of chance to buy from any of these people wherever they stay on the island, but we have no imagination and it is politically expedient to force feed them yet more Kirk or Dart stores in particular.
You can’t think of another airport that has three independent liquor outlets? Have you left Cayman since the 1950s?
You can’t think of another airport that has three independent liquor outlets? – I challenge you to name one!
Miami. Kennedy, Bush, Dallas
What a crappy selection.
Wendy’s and Subway. Welcome to Miami.
It’s going to stink of onions and French fries.
Both in Departures hall, and on your airplane – hopefully you’re just going to Miami!
The CIAA can’t force businesses to bid.
CNS: please publish the full press release.
CNS: OK, It’s now attached at the end of the article.
The other 31 bidders included what would have been some very popular choices, from what I hear speaking to people. But the CIAA prioritised two things: revenue for the CIAA, and being an ‘existing’ bidder. So we have ended up with the same ones the CIAA is comfortable with, who can satisfy the CIAA’s greed. No business with a new idea, or new business, had a chance, particularly the food service establishments who have difficult margins to manage. The bidders chosen can use revenue from outside the airport to pay the exorbitant rent. So they won.
i still want to know why there have been no temporary liquor stores open for the past 6 months. the tortuga stand is a joke which conveniently does not sell its basic liqours.
Or simple coordination of duty free presales from any liquor store. Show airline ticket, prepay, and collect sealed goods at the gate, like at Miami! No storefront needed!
trust me, the days of $10 bottle of rum are over.
every traveller who goes through this airport will pay for this expansion for the rest of time.
I paid just over $10 for a little container of fruit today at the counter in the departure area…A much larger one in Fosters cost $3.49..Island Taste is taking the piss becuase they are the only show in town..can you imagine how much a Subway sandwich will cost?
Can’t wait to hear who they will kick out for StarBucks..We know that is coming
Yes, but at least Starbucks has excellent coffee. Not the swill you get there now.
When was the last time you had a Starbucks?
Insane. No decent coffee shop. No healthy food. A bunch of junk. (If you think Subway is healthy I pity you).
What you mean the chicken breast (sorry I mean the soy breast) isn’t healthily? :p
Not lucrative, extortionate rent by ciaa
Another missed opportunity. If it was up to me, I would have crossed all of those companies and their owners to put in new, exciting and interesting vendors. A couple of them no doubt belong at the airport – Tortuga and Kirk Freeport – but every other retail space could have sold something completely different. We didn’t need four liquor stores and two jewellery stores. As for the food, those spots could have been anything. Somewhere similar to the current counter would have been needed, but the quality of the current one strongly points to not giving that spot to the same merchant if that is the best they can do. The idea was to enhance the offering: how is that achieved with the same exact businesses? While not surprising, this is one more piece of depressing news for anyone not living in parochial Cayman.
Lodge!
You got that right. The Lodge controls everything in Cayman. And I bet many people don’t realize that there are THREE, yes I said 3 lodges in this small place we call Cayman.
What are they, explain please?
Not lodge, Jamaica .
Not a very high quality lodge at that.
You must have been Blackballedf
What a dismally drab selection of food vendors! No Caymanian food or even Caribbean. Wendy’s and Subway – yuck yuck, same old junk food purveyors. A total lack of imagination.
I agree with your post but having a USA franchise chain is not out of the norm. Take for instance, Norman Manley has a BK. However, the astronomical prices charged by Hungry Horse is despicable. I flew out last week and before doing so bought a container of fruit, a pattie, OJ and a Compass, total price $24.39! And to think that this establishment has had the monopoly on food at the airport for the past 25+ years. Go figure the profits made and the savings deposited.
And they tear off the part of the receipt that shows they added tip so people double tip them!
Disgusting fast food restaurants!!
Wendy’s and Subway? How predictably tacky.
Nothing says Caribbean quite like..Subway and Wendy’s?!
What a waste of space… we are known as the “culinary island” and this is the crap we are putting in our new airport???
That is funny. Food here is so pedestrian. The only people who say that live here. The only awards won for cuisine are the paid advertisement. It is once again a joke
Reality Check people. Everyone gets hungry. A sandwich pick up to go is fine. When was the last time Cayman Air gave any thing to eat on a flight. No problem. A water fountain in the lounge would have been nice. Who designed this spot with no water fountain!!! People take medication and dont always have change for a four dollar bottle of water. Practical things are ok.
have you been to the French Caribbean?
Why on earth would anyone want to go there?
Upmarket sophisticated tourist destination and financial services centre? Do those in charge even understand what that means?
But will the Airports Authority place caps on the amount the food and beverage sellers can charge? The prices now are ridiculous.
Will they ever fix the electronic noticeboards giving flight details at the gates?
No legislation exists to cap what any vendor sells anything for in Cayman. Food is usually overpriced in airports because of scarcity. I just think its a shame all the staff have such sour faces.
the airport is not finish yet
They need to stop Hungry Horse from automatically adding 15% to everything they sell.
It is a not a dine-in restaurant in its current state in the departure lounge, it is a pick-up, pay and go snack shop.
Why am I paying 15% for a Snickers and a bottle of water?
Wrote to CIAA, email was not even acknowledged much less responded to.
A bottle of water that comes in cases of 40 bottles for $6.99 at Priced Right and they can look you in the face as they sell it for $2 + 15% service charge. I REFUSE to spend a dime at Hungry Horse
In truth I think we can all appreciate that this is business and they need to make a profit. But Govt/CAA really ought to prescribe a fixed price for a bottle of water at a reasonable price. It’s a basic necessity. A Coke or Sprite isn’t. If you want one of those then expect to pay a premium but I honestly think a bottle of water should be at a set price of $1. In India there is a fixed price for a litre bottle of water no matter where in the country you buy it. Plus it’s a low price. Why ? Because it’s a staple of life .
There is no law stating that 15% grats need to be paid. Simply take it off your bill
I agree about the 15% rip off.
I tried refusing to pay the 15%.
Cashier refused and said it was built in the software ????He said pay or don’t take the food so I put everything back.
Please tell me they do not add 15%. If they do, they need to report monthly to the Government how much tips were generated, and how they were distributed. I am sure most just went into general revenue for the owners.
If not… And it goes to the staff:
I want that job! The line up for that place and the prices would suggest they sell $5000 a day ( which in the future will be dived by 5 restaurants, not a formula for sustainability, but i digress), 15% of that is $750, divided by the 2 or 3 Filipinos you see working there, they are making BANK!
Don’t comment if you cant even spell flyer.
Don’t comment if you can’t spell can’t.
Surprise!
Owld then we have a papermans or cafe del sol? Too much to ask I guess right?
Agree. A decent coffee shop would’ve been nice.
It won’t be long before Starbucks will start dishing their crap out… tacky indeed. A real wasted opportunity to showcase some of the best of the island. Subway. Wendy’s. Come on…. really…. somebody needs firing for that!