Today, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) hosted its fifth Concessions Open House at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport. More than 150 business owners, retailers, service providers, suppliers and MBE/WBE firms participated in the event. The attendees took time to network and learn about concessions opportunities at Chicago's airports.

CDA officials provided information and answered questions about the different phases of the application and qualification process for the CDA Concessions Program. Speakers included CDA Assistant Commissioner Glen Ryniewski; Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Projects Administrator Alfredo Camarena; Unison Consulting Vice President Andrew Weddig; Unison Consulting General Manager Diana Miller; and City of Chicago Office of Compliance Training and Development Analyst Victoria Wright.

The Concessions Open House attendees also had an opportunity to meet with representatives from the CDA, City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services, BACP; as well as master concessionaires including HMS Host, Westfield, Delaware North and OTG Management.

CDA staff distributed informational packets that included an overview of the concessions program and facts on upcoming concessions Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

This is the second Concessions Open House the CDA has hosted for the year 2011.

Presentation materials will be available on the CDA website at

www.flychicago.com/BusinessInformation/DoingBusiness/