Speaker Biograghy: Suzy obtained a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Johnson & Wales University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She joined American Airlines in January 1994. Her career at AA lasted nearly 18 years, where she lastly held the position of Account Executive covering a sales territory that included Sint Maarten and surrounding islands, as well as Antigua. She was awarded the Crystal Pineapple Award as Trade Supervisor of the Year 2005 by the St Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association, for her outstanding and significant contribution towards the tourism industry, the island’s main economic pillar. She joined the PJIAE marketing team in November 2011, where she currently holds the position of Manager Marketing & Customer Services, with the responsibility of delivering quality and memorable service by enhancing the customer experience and expanding commercial business, as well as promoting SXM Airport as a good corporate citizen.


Day 1 - 15 March
Session: Commercial Development, Retail, Concessions & Media

14:10 - 14:35 - Increasing non-aeronautical revenue in a small airport
Synopsis: Airports increasingly have to look to higher non-aeronautical revenues to boost their bottom lines. This becomes a challenge in a small airport like Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) with an average annual passenger movement of 1.6 million. Finding the perfect mix of concessionaires with international brands while maintaining the local flavour and sense of place was therefore the goal when we embarked on a new retail strategy at SXM.

Audience will learn:

• Establishing and executing a new retail strategy at a small airport that does not receive government funding
• Creating a sense of place and identity to improve the passenger experience
• Balancing local flavour and international brands to create a win-win situation