National Academies Press: OpenBook

Economic and Social Sustainability at Airports (2019)

Chapter: Interactive Breakout Discussions: Day 1

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Suggested Citation:"Interactive Breakout Discussions: Day 1." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Economic and Social Sustainability at Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25597.
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Page 8
Page 9
Suggested Citation:"Interactive Breakout Discussions: Day 1." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Economic and Social Sustainability at Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/25597.
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Page 9

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8 Interactive Breakout Discussions: Day 1 Attendees were given the option of four breakout session topics. Following the breakout sessions, each facilitator gave a synopsis of the discussion. Each topic’s synopsis is summarized below. Local and Regional Economic Impacts Mike Brown, Greater Toronto Airport Authority, facilitator Mike Brown reported that most airports have an economic impact study, even a rudimentary one. While traditional economic studies are made, the more effective ones personalize the story with a local narrative. The challenge of these studies is that airports often conduct a study, but then do not communicate the results or do not communicate effectively. It was suggested that a manual for smaller airports on how to conduct these studies and how to communicate the results be developed. Tenants, Concessions, and Service Providers Cindy Nichol, Port of Portland, Oregon, facilitator Cindy Nichol reported that the breakout session identified major challenges including inconsistencies across systems for the tenants and a lack of clarity about whom at the airport they should be communicating with. Regarding effecting change with tenants, concessions, and service providers, the group discussed the challenge that airports face in balancing persuasion versus force. It was noted that building and maintaining relationships were important. Nichols related that the increasing consideration of fair wages and the effects of raising wages on the tenants/concessions is significant. The English as a second language program of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), where workers can take classes to improve their English language skills, was noted as innovative and unique. Some airports are working on a pipeline for training and outreach. The Port of Portland, Oregon, has a protégé program to help grow tenants. Other innovations that were mentioned included airports providing day care and airports using street pricing.

9 Passenger and Customer Considerations Steve Mayers, Hartfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, facilitator Steve Mayers reported that his group discussed how to get a community involved in planning for an airport. He suggested, for example, that the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator should be involved in facility development. The airport service quality survey, Skytrax, and JD Power can be used on a quarterly basis to gather the voices of passengers. Mayers suggested that smart restrooms provide information and can measure products used, cleaning times, and queue management. The San Diego Regional Airport Authority has an innovation lab to support other organizations in innovating within the airport industry. It was suggested that available data streams are not being used effectively and are often too focused on hospitality. Metric Reporting and Administrative Issues Alyson Genovese, Global Reporting Initiative, facilitator Alyson Genovese reported that for many airports, the internal culture is to gather data, but the data are not reported publicly. For example, airports might not be culturally comfortable reporting human rights issues. She noted the existence of the 2013 GRI airport sector supplement of the Global Reporting Initiative, which offers sustainability reporting areas specific to airports. She also noted that updating the supplement is a challenge because of a lack of funding. It was suggested that a research project could be an examination to determine if airports that are tracking and reporting sustainability metrics receive different insurance rates, insurance payouts, or options for access to capital from airports that do not track and report.

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TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Conference Proceedings on the Web 23: Economic and Social Sustainability at Airports is a compilation of the presentations and a summary of the ensuing discussions at May 7-8, 2018, forum in Washington, D.C.

The meeting brought together individuals from airports, airlines, academia, consulting, local and regional government, general sustainability professionals, and others. The forum included sessions on social sustainability, economic sustainability, keynotes on mitigating human trafficking and innovative development at airports, and interactive breakout discussions delving into myriad social and economic sustainability topics.

ACRP organized the event as part of its series of convening activities titled “ACRP Insight Events.” ACRP Insight Events are forums that foster dialogue among professionals across sectors, institutions, and industries.

ACRP Insight Events convene airport industry leaders and subject matter experts in various fields to encourage discussion and promote broader and deeper insight on topics of significance to airport operators. These in-depth, face-to-face gatherings are designed to promote communication and collaboration, foster innovation, and help identify areas of future interest and research, especially for topics of emerging importance.

Copies of the slides of presentations made at the form are available online. The literature review prepared for the event is also available online.

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