Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson Celebrates Grand Opening of The Club MDW, The First Passenger Lounge at Midway International Airport
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CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) joined Midway Partnership and concessions partners today to celebrate the grand opening of The Club MDW, the first premium lounge in the 96-year history of Midway International Airport.

The new lounge comes less than a year after Mayor Johnson announced the completion of the last major phase of the $400 million Midway Modernization Program, the most comprehensive investment in Midway facilities in more than two decades.

"Midway International Airport is an essential gateway for our city, and The Club MDW is a key part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the travel experience here in Chicago for leisure and business passengers," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Our commitment to investing in Midway reflects our mission to continue delivering a world-class experience that meets the needs of all travelers."

Located near Gate B1 in the recently renovated Central Market, The Club MDW offers travelers a relaxing, comfortable environment with enhanced amenities, including complimentary refreshments, a variety of seating options and workspaces equipped with charging stations. The Club MDW will employ approximately 50 full-time employees, and construction was completed this month at a cost of approximately $5 million.

The lounge is available to all travelers, regardless of airline or class of service, by purchasing a day pass for $50 or with membership in various lounge networks, including Priority Pass, the world's largest independent airport lounge program and LoungeKey.

"The opening of The Club MDW is a continuation of the work completed through the Midway Modernization Program, and it is one of many upgrades that passengers can expect as we continue to transform Chicago's original hometown airport," said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. "We are excited to offer this new service to Midway's growing number of travelers and look forward to seeing it become an integral part of the airport experience."

The lounge will officially open to customers for service at 4 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. Daily hours will be 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the bar opening at 6 a.m. The lounge has a maximum capacity of almost 100 people. Passengers purchasing a day pass can access the lounge up to three hours before departure.

"As we approach the completion of our transformation of the shopping, dining and service offerings at Chicago Midway International Airport, we are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the airport's first-ever lounge alongside our partners at the Chicago Department of Aviation and Airport Dimensions," said Sammy Patel, CEO, Midway Partnership. "This latest amenity is an excellent addition to our world-class concession program, offering another option for guests looking to relax and enjoy the journey through Midway."

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The design of the 3,300-square-foot club draws inspiration from Chicago's rich architectural history, featuring high-contrast, monochromatic tones and photography by local artists Mark Hersch and Angie McMonigal. The multi-functional space is designed to meet the needs of the modern traveler, providing areas for work, relaxation, and socializing, and at its heart is a lively bar, serving as a central hub where guests can unwind and connect. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows provide sweeping views of the airfield, transporting travelers away from the hustle and bustle.

"In the ever-evolving world of travel, we are so thrilled to be a part of this new chapter in Midway International Airport's 96-year history," said Nancy Knipp, President of Airport Dimensions America. "As a new wave of travelers is redefining how they spend their time in airports, Airport Dimensions is committed to setting new industry standards through innovation, personalized experiences, and exceptional hospitality.

"The Club MDW has been uniquely designed to celebrate the diverse architectural history of Chicago and will offer Midway's travelers an authentic taste of the city," Knipp continued. "We are delighted to support Midway Partnership and the CDA to contribute to their vision of elevating the guest experience and are very excited to partner with local ACDBE partner Marc Brooks and Hyde Park Hospitality, whose team will manage the operations of the lounge, ensuring the highest quality of service for the guest."

"As a native Chicagoan and small business owner, it is extremely exciting to be a part of the team to bring the first lounge to Midway," said Marc Brooks, President and CEO of Hyde Park Hospitality. "This partnership is yet another example of the city's commitment to include more Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) firms in airport contracts."

A common theme across The Club's portfolio of lounges is that The Club MDW embraces local culture through local food and drink offerings. The Club MDW features craft beers from Revolution Brewing and Two Brothers Brewing, spirits from KOVAL Distillery and locally sourced cuisine.

In addition to Midway Partnership's ongoing volunteering efforts at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Airport Dimensions and Hyde Park Hospitality will make a $10,000 donation.

Learn more about the program at mdwmod.com.

For more about The Club MDW, visit www.airportdimensions.com.

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ABOUT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION (CDA)

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) owns and operates one of the world's busiest airport systems, comprised of O'Hare and Midway International Airports. Chicago's airports offer service to more than 260 nonstop destinations worldwide, including 76 international destinations combined. Together, Chicago's airports serve nearly 100 million passengers each year and generate approximately $70 billion in annual economic activity for the region, while supporting 700,000 jobs throughout nine area counties. More than 54,000 employees work directly at O'Hare and Midway.

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The CDA is self-supporting, using no local or state tax dollars for operations or capital improvements at either airport. For more information, visit www.flychicago.com

ABOUT MIDWAY PARTNERSHIP

Midway Partnership is a joint venture comprised of some of the top companies in the aviation industry – Vantage Group, SSP America, and Hudson – tasked with transforming the dining and shopping options at Chicago Midway International Airport. Midway Partnership has invested over $75 million to bring more than 70 new dining and retail brands to the airport. Midway Partnership is creating hundreds of new employment opportunities in the City of Chicago and is well on the way to doubling the number of concessions jobs at the airport from 700 to 1,400. The project will increase the total concessions area from approximately 40,000 square feet to 70,000 square feet and boasts one of the nation's highest Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation levels at over 56%. Our work will position Chicago Midway to be a leading international airport in the coming years, generate tens of millions of dollars for Chicago residents and the city, and improve the travel experiences of the 22 million passengers annually. For more information about Midway Partnership, please visit www.midwaypartnership.com.

ABOUT AIRPORT DIMENSIONS

Airport Dimensions believes that journeys should be better for the traveler and more profitable to the airport. That's why the company continuously seeks ways to open new aspects of customer engagement - using a mix of enriching physical experiences and innovative digital services. Airport Dimensions aims to improve the traveler experience at each turn - from comfortable lounges to restful sleep pods and convenient food ordering to contactless collection of duty free - all while helping airports maximize non-aeronautical revenue opportunities, retain airlines, and become more competitive.

Airport Dimensions operates 66 airport lounges and experiences, including those in development, located across North America, South America, Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

Across the network, Airport Dimensions work with over 40 airports and multiple airline partners to deliver award-winning hospitality experiences to millions of travelers. Most recently, it's Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at BOS was awarded Best Lounge Experience 2024 by Airport Experience News, Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at HKG earned the title of APAC Lounge of the Year as part of the Priority Pass Excellence Awards 2024, and Club Aspire at LHR recognized as Europe's Leading Airport Lounge 2024 at the World Travel Awards.

Airport Dimensions is a Collinson Group company, along with Collinson International - the operator of Priority Pass, the original and market-leading airport experiences program. Travelers can access a network of over 1,500 lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 700 airports in 145 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special.

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