Press Releases

Mar 7, 2018

HMSHost Receives Six-Year Contract Extension at Mineta San José International Airport

SJC travelers to gain more international flavors, craft beer, and national favorites

SAN JOSÉ , CA — Silicon Valley airport travelers are set to gain several new places to eat well while on the move as global restaurateur HMSHost has secured a six-year contract extension valued at approximately $267 million. The San José City Council on March 6 approved the extended contract, with a minimum capital investment of $6 million, to construct and re-concept several dining offerings, including two new locations in partnership with Burlingame, Calif.-based WSE Group, Inc. in Mineta San José International Airport’s (SJC) Terminals A and B before the end of 2020. New brands coming to the airport include Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, The Great American Bagel, International Beer Union, and Trader Vic’s. HMSHost will also expand the existing and ever-popular Gordon Biersch, and one of four Starbucks® stores.

“HMSHost is excited to expand the dining scene and to continue to serve great food and beverages in support of Silicon Valley airport’s continued passenger growth records,” said HMSHost Vice President of Business Development Michael Price. “We thank the San José City Council and airport team for their ongoing partnership and we look forward to opening these leading brands along with enhancing some existing restaurants for travelers to enjoy for many years to come.”

HMSHost’s Terminal A plan includes the addition of the critically acclaimed, modern day “roadside” burger stand, Shake Shack. SJC will also get a craft beer-focused concept from HMSHost called International Beer Union (IBU) – a play on the abbreviation for the ‘International Bitterness Units’ scale used to measure beer’s bitter flavor characteristics. Additionally, Terminal A’s existing Gordon Biersch will be expanded and the Starbucks® store located near Gates 1-5 will be expanded to serve the growing number of travelers using this concourse.

In Terminal B, HMSHost will open the brand that leads the industry in the chicken category with a devoted following, Chick-fil-A. HMSHost, in partnership with WSE Group, Inc., will further enhance Terminal B with the brand that invented the Original Mai Tai® cocktail, world-famous Trader Vic’s with its flagship location in Emeryville, Calif., known for its ancient-style Pacific Island BBQ cuisine, will be featured as a full-service restaurant, and in a more compact Trader Vic’s Outpost location to serve travelers’ grab-and-go needs. Terminal B will also get the beloved breakfast and all-day fare from award-winning bagel bakery and deli concept, The Great American Bagel, to be constructed next to the recently-opened Gates 29 and 30.


“The City of San José has been a long-time partner of HMSHost, and we are pleased to continue our relationship in mutually serving Silicon Valley travelers for at least the next six years,” said Director of Aviation John Aitken. “These new food and beverage offerings, combined with HMSHost’s existing successful concepts, give our diversity of passengers a variety of flavor and price-point choices. Whether our customers are business travelers flying to Europe with an extra hour to enjoy a sit-down meal, or a family of four going to Walt Disney World with just enough time to grab a quick meal to enjoy onboard our five-hour, nonstop flight to Orlando.”

HMSHost operates several restaurants at SJC, providing original dining experiences to travelers such as the Shark’s Cage Sports Bar & Grill, Smashburger and more. A list of existing HMSHost-operated locations at SJC is available on the HMSHost location finder map.

About HMSHost
Global restaurateur HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining for travel venues. HMSHost operates locations all over North America, and is part of Autogrill Group, the world's leading provider of food & beverage services for people on the move. Visit HMSHost.com for more information.