Queens, NY - (March 24, 2011) — The Food & Shops at LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal Building announced today the winners of their ‘Quest for the Best’ employee recognition and incentive program for superior customer service to the traveling public.

The winners of the 'Quest for the Best' program are as follows:

• Annual Quest for the Best Award - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store*
• First Runner Up/Food- Auntie Anne’s
• First Runner Up /Retail- Life is Good
• Second Runner Up/Food- Cibo Market
• Second Runner Up/Retail- Hudson News
• Most Improved/Food - Jet Rock
• Most Improved /Retail - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store
• Service Spirit Award- Sunglass Hut

The winners were announced at a special awards brunch held by MarketPlace Development, the retail development company that develops and manages the Food & Shops program, on March 23rd at Figs Restaurant in LaGuardia’s Central Terminal Building. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, the recipient of the Annual Award received a $1,000 cash prize and the 'Quest for the Best' trophy.

“The employees of the Food & Shops are the essential component of our concessions program when it comes to outstanding customer service,” says Lillian Tan, Vice President/General Manager for MarketPlace. “We developed the Quest for the Best incentive program as a way to motivate our tenants and reward their continued hard work and dedication. We congratulate all of the winners and commend them on their commitment in providing high quality service to our passengers.“

Launched in 2007, the 'Quest for the Best' program is the Food & Shops' quarterly employee incentive and recognition program where the best Food & Shops service providers are honored. This program was developed to motivate and celebrate the service efforts of the stores of the Food & Shops. Each quarter stores earn points for mystery shop scores, attendance at training programs, customer commendations and more. The team with the most points at the end of the quarter wins a cash prize of $500 and earns the right to display the Quest for the Best trophy in their store until the new quarterly winner is chosen. The culmination of the program is a special awards celebration in which the store with the most points receives a cash prize of $1,000.

About MarketPlace Development
MarketPlace Development is the private partner with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the $18 million, 47,000-square-foot redevelopment of the food and retail program at the Central Terminal Building, the largest of LaGuardia’s four terminals. A Massachusetts based retail development and management company, MarketPlace Development also handles the development and leasing of all retail, food and beverage, and passenger service concessions in the seven domestic and international terminals at Philadelphia International Airport.

For more information on the Food & Shops at LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal Building, visit www.ShopLaGuardia.com or follow us on Twitter @shoplaguardia.