Longtime LAX Concessionaires Protest Bidding Process

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Three major companies that have long provided places to eat, drink and shop at Los Angeles International Airport say city officials have unfairly evaluated a series of bids from firms now seeking to replace them.

Late last Friday, HMS Host Corp., Delaware North Cos. and the Hudson Group, along with a venture called HDS Partners, filed 11 protests challenging recommendations that would award multimillion-dollar contracts to mostly newcomers.

The protests, which involve eight of the 10 contracts, contend that Los Angeles World Airports, the operator of LAX, did not properly vet competing bids and that some finalists did not comply with certain requirements or lacked the financial stability to deliver on promises to better reflect the cuisine and culture of Los Angeles.

If the protests are successful after a review by the city, the contracts could be re-bid or awarded to other companies.

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