By Staff Writers

Atlanta Business Chronicle recognizes retail program

Hartsfield-Jackson won the Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Best in Real Estate: 2008 Deal of the Year" award in the Retail category for its exceptional concessions program. The Airport was honored on March 5 at the Fox Theatre during the newspaper's annual gala, which recognized real estate deals in several categories: Visionary, Retail, Office, Industrial, Land, Residential, Design, Mixed-Use/Special-Use, Rehab/Renovation and Best Overall.

The Airport's new concessions program will introduce more than 70 stores by this summer. Many of the shops are open and offer a taste of Georgia, such as Atlanta Magazine's HOME store and the Georgia Aquarium's Beyond the Reef shop. Other new stores include The New York Times Books & News, CNBC News Atlanta, Newsbeat, Atlanta.net, Lacoste, Piedmont Park Travel Mart and Techshowcase.

DeCosta wins Citizen Airman Award

The U.S. Air Force Reserve Command has awarded Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Ben DeCosta its Citizen Airman Award. "The effort put forth by Mr. DeCosta and the Airport staff in welcoming our Airmen coming home is well worthy of this award," said Air Force Reserve Command Chief Master Sgt. Troy McIntosh. Also honored was USO of Georgia CEO Mary Lou Austin. An average of more than 500 military personnel pass through Hartsfield-Jackson every day.