Author: Julia Lauria-Blum

Deborah Camp is a Queens, New York-based freelance mural and graphic design artist, author, and art educator. She recently completed painting the Christmas window murals at JFK International Airport for American Airlines Terminal 79 and American Airlines Hangar 10, spreading holiday cheer at the airport. Ms. Camp was hired to create a festive atmosphere for American Airlines employees to boost morale. This year’s colorful holiday themes narrate a visual story on the windows and walls at American Airlines Terminal 79 and Hangar 10, helping to create a festive, inviting space. “Over the years I have shared my visual art, writing and…

This past November, as the wheels of a JetBlue airliner left the runway at JFK International Airport, Donna Coughlin-Argeroplos breathed a sigh of relief as she settled into her seat for the three and a half hour flight she was taking to the Dominican Republic with over a dozen fellow congregants of the Genesis Church Dominican Republic Mission Team. On this trip, Donna, a retired teacher and librarian at the Mill Neck School for the Deaf, was now realizing her four-year vision of creating and building a children’s library at a school in San Marcos, which is financed by the…

Airports worldwide, including the Port Authority NY & NJ’s LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy, and Newark Liberty International airports, have recently completed, or are currently undertaking, major terminal redevelopment projects. Today’s redeveloped airport terminals feature sweeping, light-filled, expansive interior spaces. These architectural designs, combined with passenger amenities, create a brilliant and modern aesthetic. These spaces serve as central lounges or living areas at the airport, offering a perfect canvas for festive holiday cheer. Adornments such as giant Christmas trees and lights, holiday-themed events, entertainment, and a spirited palette of colors and special programs create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for travelers during…

November is National Aviation History Month. The month-long observance honors the achievements and innovations in American aviation, including the people who made them possible. The celebration covers the entire history of flight, from its earliest forms, such as kites and gliders, to significant modern-day developments, innovations, and space exploration. It recognizes the importance of the aviation industry today, its role in society and the economy, and supports the work of those who maintain and advance it. Since its foundation through an Act of Congress in 1964, the National Aviation Hall of Fame has fulfilled their mission to honor the men and women…

For more than 55 years, DoubleTree by Hilton has provided comfort and hospitality for both business and leisure travelers worldwide, aiming to make guests feel welcome through a philosophy of comfort and kindness. DoubleTree Hotels are famous for their tradition of greeting guests with their signature, warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie at check-in, exemplifying a cordial welcome and a comfortable stay. For more than 30 years, the simple gesture of offering the iconic DoubleTree Cookie to their guests has become synonymous with the DoubleTree’s warmhearted brand of service that makes travelers feel genuinely welcomed and cared for. The time-honored warm…

The term hospitality originates from the Latin word hospes, which means both host and guest. The Latin term evolved into hospitalitas, meaning ‘the quality of being hospitable,’ and was later adopted into French and then English, eventually becoming the modern-day word. At its heart, hospitality centers on making others feel welcome, comfortable, and appreciated. It involves extending warmth, cordiality, and kindness towards guests, visitors, patrons, and people from all walks of life. The hospitality industry is a vibrant and wide-ranging service sector, encompassing numerous areas such as travel and tourism, accommodations, food and beverage, entertainment, recreation, and wellness. Travel and tourism facilitate movement…

On Thursday, October 16, the JFK Airport Chamber of Commerce held an open forum at JFK’s Building 14 with Ian Bogaty, Attorney at Law of Jackson Lewis P.C., to speak about the Healthy Terminals Act (HTA) and the many upcoming changes to the ‘Act’. Originally enacted in 2021, the Healthy Terminals Act (HTA) establishes specific standards for wage rates for covered airport workers at covered airport locations, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The HTA requires that employers of covered airport workers provide an hourly standard benefits supplemental rate in addition…

Airports are energetic center of activity. They are filled with torrents of passengers on countless journeys amidst lounges, amenities, security checkpoints, service areas, and more. New York’s Port Authority airports, JFK International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International, act as major gateways for both domestic and international travel, commerce, and tourism. This October 1st, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced that August 2025 was its airports’ busiest month ever as the four commercial airports collectively welcomed 13.8 million passengers. Several other airport records were also broken during the month, including a new all-time high level of…

In January 2024, an International Air Transport Association (IATA) press release, ‘Global Air Cargo Demand Achieves Record Growth in 2024’ reported that global air cargo demand saw significant growth, increasing 11.3% in 2024, surpassing previous record volumes set in 2021. The four principal forms of cargo transportation are air freight, ocean shipping, rail transport, and trucking; each serves a specific purpose throughout the supply chain. Air freight refers to cargo that is shipped either by cargo plane or in the cargo hold of a commercial airliner. The transport of cargo originates from an exporter to an origin airport, which is…

The JFK Air Cargo Association recently hosted a panel discussion titled ‘Women in Logistics, Leadership, Mentorship & Friendship’ at Vetro Restaurant and Lounge, which featured a panel of women who are changing the cargo industry and helping to shape the future of logistics by driving innovation, building partnerships, resilience, and solving the complex challenges that keep cargo moving on a daily basis. The event highlighted the prodigious career journeys of six women who have built successful careers in logistics and shared their insights into their work in the industry. Carl Shipsky, President of the JFK Air Cargo Association introduced each…