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Superior Hospitality Leverages Industry Expertise in Partnership with Delaware North
Superior Hospitality Leverages Industry Expertise in Partnership with Delaware North
Tyrone Nabbie’s extensive experience has taught him how to thrive in the airport concessions industry. His career spans good and bad times, including terrific highs and devastating lows. However, he draws upon these experiences to lead Superior Hospitality to its greatest success yet. Nabbie believes learning the lessons challenging times provide and the ability to persist when others may crumble are the traits of a successful entrepreneur. “You don’t become an entrepreneur until you have endured some hard times in business,” Nabbie said.
Nabbie launched Superior Hospitality Management in 1994 after an extensive career in the hospitality industry in Florida and the Bahamas. He was born and raised in the Bahamas and came to the U.S. after graduating from The Bahamas Hotel Training College. He then began his career working for Trusthouse Forte in Nassau, working his way from the ground up in the food services industry. “I was a soldier. I did every job from dishwasher to busboy, waiter, host, and cook before I got into management,” Nabbie said.
His tenure with Trusthouse Forte gave him a scholarship and job exchange opportunities, which he used to attend Florida International University to earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. After graduation, he landed his first job in the airport concessions industry as a concourse manager at Miami International Airport for Dobbs House. He then moved on to work at Concessions International, leading the opening of their operation at Orlando International Airport.
The next step in his career included returning to the Bahamas to serve as vice president of food & beverage at the Crystal Palace Hotel, one of the largest resorts in Nassau. He then returned to the U.S. to become the general food services manager for the Orlando Convention Center. This experience led to his first opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in a concession operation. He launched Superior Hospital Management in 1997 when he entered a joint venture with Fine Host Corporation to operate food and beverage concessions at the Orlando Convention Center.
The successful partnership led to Superior Hospitality’s first airport concession when he acquired a minority interest with Fine Host to run the food and beverage operations in a terminal at the Orlando International Airport. Managing operations at one of the busiest airports in North America gave Nabbie extensive experience as an airport concession operator during the 13 years the joint venture maintained a contract at the Orlando Airport, ending in 2016.
During these years, Nabbie also began launching a variety of streetside restaurants in Florida and the Bahamas, with brands including Bennigan’s, Sbarrro, and a proprietary brand called Kafe Kalik. The Kafe Kalik brand offers guests “A Taste of the Caribbean” through an authentic Caribbean experience and cuisine. Nabbie says the brand gives customers “an hour and a half vacation” when they visit the restaurant.
Mastering His Craft
Nabbie’s career gives him a unique perspective on achieving business and entrepreneurial success. He believes the first and most crucial step is mastering the industry or trade the company is a part of. His 40-year career in the food and beverage industry gives him the confidence to know he has the experience and longevity to face new challenges as they arise. He also knows he is a valuable resource for business partners who rely on his expertise to move their combined interests forward.
Nabbie maintains two considerations when mastering his craft – technical skill and technical knowledge. He attributes technical skills to developing the physical ability to successfully operate a food and beverage business, including food preparation, staffing and management, menu selection, customer service, and quality. He classifies technical knowledge as mastering the operation’s mental aspects, including understanding the strategy and reasoning behind all parts of the business. It also includes understanding cost accounting and financial management. “You have to understand why you do what you do and how it all comes together to make the operation successful,” Nabbie said.
His industry expertise makes him a great business partner for a large concession operator looking for ACDBE partners. After his earlier experience partnering with Fine Host, Nabbie established his first joint venture with the Delaware North Corporation in 2011 in pursuit of a food and beverage concession at Fort Lauderdale International Airport for the four terminals in the facility. The team won the contract, and the successful partnership has developed into additional operations at Buffalo International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Richmond International Airport, and, most recently, Orlando International Airport.
“The relationship with Delaware North has been fruitful for both sides. They are a great partner to work with—their business affairs are transparent,” Nabbie said. He is delighted that Delaware North leadership collaborates with ACDBE partners by valuing their opinions, openly communicating, and operating with mutual respect. “We have an excellent partnership,” Nabbie said.
Mastering Relationships
Realizing the importance of relationship building at the interpersonal and political level is another component of success for Nabbie. While he built a successful career through developing expertise in the food and beverage industry, he recognizes that relationships are the key to having the opportunity to display his skill. “You can be the greatest operator in the world, but if the people making decisions don’t know you or don’t like you, you won’t have the opportunity to show how great you are,” Nabbie said. Nabbie categorizes relationships into two groups – external and internal. The external relationships include key decision-makers at airports, government officials, or airport authority board members who influence decisions made by their organizations. He categorizes internal relationships as those with business partners, mentors, proteges, and the employees he works closely with daily. “These are the relationships you need to get to a yes decision in pursuing new opportunities,” Nabbie said.
He believes that one advantage Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprises bring to larger concessionaires is local relationships that can help a team win a new opportunity. ACDBEs are frequently knowledgeable of the local decision-makers, political landscape, and critical community issues that can add value to a concessions team seeking to land an airport contract. He ensures Superior Hospitality strives to cultivate and build upon relationships built over the years and is always mindful to keep relationships active and fresh.
Mastering Community Involvement
The final key to success for Nabbie is community involvement. Like the relationship-building component, he views community involvement as a critical factor for ACDBEs. As airport leaders stress the importance of including ACDBEs in concessions contracts, Nabbie believes ACDBEs must, in turn, give back to the community to demonstrate the actual value of the program. Involvement in the community includes hiring employees from the local community, supporting local causes, and maintaining an active presence in the community. He says this type of engagement incentivizes local officials to continue advancing the ACDBE Program because of its positive impact on the community.
Nabbie also includes mentoring as part of community engagement. As an experienced operator, he adds value to his joint venture teams by mentoring local ACDBEs at each airport where Superior Hospitality operates. Mentoring newer ACDBEs further strengthens joint venture teams while pursuing contracts and allows Nabbie to fulfill his greatest passion of helping others reach their full potential. “Sharing what I have learned drives me and allows me to be a foundation for the mentorship of new ACDBEs with my business partners,” Nabbie said.
He calls these three components “Nabbie’s Triangle” because they represent the three essential requirements of building a successful enterprise. However, he is quick to acknowledge that the different sides of the triangle sometimes take greater importance in the pursuit of success. For instance, he says the relationships and community involvement sides of the triangle often take greater significance because there is only an opportunity to show expertise once the team wins a contract.
Overcoming the ups and downs of business ownership and enduring challenging business cycles has given Nabbie wisdom and confidence as he looks towards the future for Superior Hospitality. The pandemic years of 2020-2022 devastated the business, but he has rebounded and stayed the course. “We went through an opportunity of pain during those times, but I’ve learned that you’re not really an entrepreneur until you feel some pain and go through some rough times, and it has made me a better and more successful operator,” Nabbie said. He also expresses his satisfaction with Delaware North as a business partner. He says their patience and empathy during the turbulent years of the pandemic helped Superior Hospitality navigate its way through challenging times.
In the future, he plans to continue to grow his business partnership with Delaware North and one day become large enough to graduate from the ACDBE Program by increasing annual revenues beyond the federal size limit. He recognizes that working as an ACDBE joint venture partner with a larger concession operator may bring smaller opportunities, but several small opportunities can create a sizeable business. Nabbie said, “At this stage of my career, I’m looking at low-hanging fruit and bringing together several smaller opportunities because I’ve realized that a lot of breadcrumbs can make a loaf.”
