New automated retail lounge opens at Syracuse airport

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) this week unveiled a new automated retail lounge at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR).

The new lounge is located on the first level of the airport, pre-security checkpoint, SRAA said in its announcement.

The new automated retail lounge will expand the airport’s 24/7 food and beverage offerings. It’ll also provide a new seating area for travelers and visitors to the airport.

Specialty vending options that are now available in the lounge include sandwiches, subs, salads, yogurt parfaits, ramen noodles, hot breakfast sandwiches, hot comfort foods, cookies from local baker Kadesha Carter’s “Cupcakes R Me,” a variety of snacks, coffee, and other beverages.

Visit Syracuse has also installed two interactive kiosks in the lounge to “personalize and improve” the traveler’s journey through digital experiences, interactive mapping, and itinerary building.

The kiosks even serve as photobooths, SRAA noted. A large video wall on the north side of the lounge displays content videos, social media, and advertising.

SRAA partnered with students from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) College of Art and Design to design the lounge.

“Seeing the fruits of our collaboration with the students from RIT’s College of Art and Design has been very rewarding,” Jason Mehl, SRAA chief commercial officer, said in the news release. “The students’ design has helped us meet a real-world need here at the airport while simultaneously elevating the customer experience pre-security checkpoint for travelers, visitors, and airport workers.”