Airport hospitality services heavyweight Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has its sights firmly set on the North American market for its lounge operation, with New York JFK and major gateways in California to be introduced, LATTE can exclusively reveal.

Plaza Premium Group CEO Song Hoi-see confirmed that the company is in “talks” for a lounge at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport, in addition to newly announced domestic and international facilities at Dallas/Fort Worth and at Denver’s international terminal.

The latter projects were formally announced earlier this month by PPG as part of a broader global US$55 million expansion which also included facilities at Beijing Daxing, Dubai International, Heathrow, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Toronto, Hong Kong and Sydney.

“In North America we have already signed contracts. In fact we are building now in Denver, Dallas Fort Worth, in New York JFK as well. We are looking throughout California, all the major cities,” Song said. Beyond North American growth, Plaza Premium Group eyes future opportunities in China and India.

In Sydney, PPG has managed the American Express Lounge for five years, and the neighbouring SkyTeam Lounge for even longer. Having just upgraded and relocated the Amex Lounge to a new, larger premises, the previous venue will now be converted into a Plaza Premium facility, operating under its own brand as opposed to a management contract. The group has the same Plaza Premium Lounge concept in Melbourne and Brisbane.