Features
Economy taking its toll on airport concessions
SAN FRANCISCO — Eateries and vendors at San Francisco International Airport are watching their business slide along with the troubled high-tech economy.
Business travel has dropped, causing restaurants such as Lori’s Diner to offer discounts to airport employees just to bring in some business.
Allison Marble, a spokeswoman for the National Business Travel Association says corporations that spend the most on business travel are reducing their spending by 30 percent to 50 percent. More than 60 percent of the group’s members are switching to low-cost airlines, she said.
CalStar Retail Inc. has not paid rent for three of its six stores in the complex and is being sued by the airport. San Francisco Golf has fallen behind its rent payments and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art store has asked for a rent decrease.
From May 2000 to May 2001, total concession sales dropped 2 percent at all terminals combined.
