{"id":53125,"date":"2025-01-04T18:33:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-04T23:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=53125"},"modified":"2025-01-04T18:33:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T23:33:34","slug":"lal-airport-director-kris-hallstrand-named-to-tampa-bay-business-journal-watchlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/01\/04\/lal-airport-director-kris-hallstrand-named-to-tampa-bay-business-journal-watchlist\/","title":{"rendered":"LAL Airport Director Kris Hallstrand Named to Tampa Bay Business Journal Watchlist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lakeland Linder International (LAL) Airport Director Kris Hallstrand is the only Polk County person named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal\u2019s prestigious \u201c25 People to Watch\u201d in the 2025 list.  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The list includes heavy hitters from the Tampa Bay region, including the CEOs of BayCare and Tampa International Airport, the president of the University of Tampa, and the principal owner of the Tampa Bay Rays \u2013 all people described in an introduction as those who will make news in 2025. \u201cDecisions are made based on active projects, initiatives, and hot-button issues facing the region,\u201d many of which involve growth, the magazine wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kris
Kris Hallstrand\u2019s blurb in the Tampa Bay Business Journal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kris Hallstrand, humbled by the inclusion, said: \u201cI wish it were the top 25 teams. I am only good because of the quality of the team I have working with me every day.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thinks partnering with Avelo Air<\/a> to bring commercial air service to Polk County for the first time in decades \u201cmade a big splash for Lakeland\u201d and is part of the reason she has been recognized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a lot of positive things going on at the airport,\u201d Hallstrand said. \u201cThe economic impact and the growth of this airport is phenomenal. And there is more to come \u2014 we have some exciting things developing. We got the attention of a larger group of people, and we were fortunate to be recognized.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakeland Linder International Airport<\/a> generates more than $1.5 billion in economic activity annually, according to a recent study.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partnering With Avelo Air<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With eight routes under its belt, Avelo Air, which started commercial service in Lakeland in June 2024, already has announced its ninth destination \u2014 Nashville, Tennessee. Service to that city will begin April 3, 2025.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe community has really homed in on that as a destination they would like to see. I look forward to seeing how this works out for us,\u201d Hallstrand said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air service development doesn\u2019t stop when you sign up for an airline \u2013 it gets harder, she said. That\u2019s when you must figure out how best to provide service to the community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat does that look like?\u201d she asked. \u201cPeople will say, \u2018I want Atlanta.\u2019 But how many people will use it? Nashville and Puerto Rico specifically were very much talked about as places people want to go. Avelo listened.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kris
Kris Hallstrand (middle) with airport coworkers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Air Service development has two components \u2013 where people in our community want to fly to, and what other communities\u2019 residents want to come here.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very fortunate \u2013 we are running the perfect split,\u201d she said. That\u2019s 60% tourist and 40% local\u201d \u2013 or, in other terms, 60% of people flying into Lakeland and 40% of the Central Florida residents flying out of Lakeland. \u201cI was told early on it wasn\u2019t achievable, but since the inaugural flight, we have achieved that split to this day. It\u2019s the sweet spot of success.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that, she said, is good for the airport, the community, and tourism partners. \u201cIt\u2019s a balance of how you serve your community and be an economic engine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top routes from Lakeland so far are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Rochester, New York\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Manchester, New Hampshire (serving the Boston area)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Puerto Rico, which Hallstrand said has been a \u201chuge success.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. New Haven, Connecticut\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe airline has been a phenomenal partner that truly does want to serve our community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Growth of the Airport<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s much more going on than just commercial service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe airport has areas of growth that we need to tap into for its long-term sustainability,\u201d Hallstrand said. \u201cI think we have found a partner who will help us do just that. We are in the nitty-gritty phases of something. I don\u2019t want to jinx it by getting it public yet.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She thinks \u201clocation, location, location is everything.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWith the population growth and the diversity of businesses in our community that have popped up, the traffic going to Orlando and Tampa continues to worsen, and it only makes sense for Lakeland to shine right now. I think that the opportunity with Avelo, specifically, really highlighted what\u2019s going on here in Central Florida and Polk County. I think our partners, Visit Central Florida<\/a> and community partners, have been getting our name out there, saying, \u2018Come see what we have \u2013 we have something special here.\u2019 \u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Map of Central Florida and LAL\u2019s vicinity to many activities Credit: LAL Website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Hallstrand said there are 1.4 million people closer to LAL than Tampa and Orlando. \u201cThink about that \u2013 a lot of folks are traveling around the country to various locations and at various times. There are synergies at the airport. We will make headway moving forward, becoming the place to be for aviation growth, not only in air traffic and cargo, but maintenance and overhaul, which will also provide more high-skill, higher-wage jobs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe future looks bright if we keep our eye on the region.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Future Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The next big challenge is maintaining our identity, Hallstrand said. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to be Tampa or Orlando. We just need to be the best Lakeland we can be. What is good for our community is what we need to keep our eye on.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That includes staying focused as we progress. \u201cWhat can we do to be better and make life better for others?\u201d she said she focuses on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If she could blink an eye and change one thing to help the airport, she said it would be improving signage to the airport.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cI would get our wayfinding (signage) improved. It\u2019s an impactful detail. It\u2019s one area I think we could improve.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is something she continues to work on.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She\u2019d also like a restaurant to fill the empty space left behind when the former food service provider closed shop. That will happen sooner than later. In fact, the name of the new restaurant- Sora Eatery<\/a>\u2013 was revealed during the city\u2019s agenda study meeting on Dec. 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Philosophy of Kris Hallstrand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Hallstrand said there are many people in the region doing great things, and some deserve this honor more than she does. She continues to strive to be the best, to learn something new every day.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cI work hard, I try hard,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery day I put forth the best effort I can. What can I do better today than I did yesterday? How can I provide a better service?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Kris Hallstrand sharing airport plans at a CFDC Investor Meeting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Right now, for instance, the airport is working on updating the terminal area master plan to identify things like parking and terminal needs, or, as she describes it, \u201cHow we will do what we do moving forward.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Happiest Airport on Earth<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Improving the customer experience is at the forefront of everything, she said. \u201cHow are we going to move our customers through the airport. It is not about being the biggest, it\u2019s about being the best. So, if we have 12 gates instead of 16, that\u2019s fine. I think the community feels like we are trying to do our best to make life the best it can be.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Customers tell her the airport already is doing an outstanding job on customer service, providing mostly positive feedback with some negative comments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cPeople are enjoying it,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gives me the energy to keep going. Everybody downstairs is smiling \u2013 the Transportation Security Administration workers, airport workers, customers. It\u2019s contagious. I asked TSA to be the happiest airport on earth \u2013 they have all done it. And our passengers are smiling ear to ear.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On a recent morning, an 80-year-old woman said she couldn\u2019t believe what a great experience leaving from Lakeland Linder on Avelo was, she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cTiming is everything,\u201d Hallstrand said. \u201cPartners are everything. Avelo is outstanding.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, 2025 is Hallstrand\u2019s time to be watched. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Lakeland Linder International (LAL) Airport Director Kris Hallstrand is the only Polk County person named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal\u2019s prestigious \u201c25 People to Watch\u201d in the 2025 list.  … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"7591","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvaTAud3AuY29tXC9sYWtlbGFuZGdhemV0dGUuaW5mb1wvbmV3c1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDFcL1NjcmVlbnNob3QtNzQtMTItcG5nLndlYnA_Zml0PTIxNCUyQzI5MiZzc2w9MSIsInR4dCI6IkxBTCBBaXJwb3J0IERpcmVjdG9yIEtyaXMgSGFsbHN0cmFuZCBOYW1lZCB0byBUYW1wYSBCYXkgQnVzaW5lc3MgSm91cm5hbCBXYXRjaGxpc3QiLCJ0ZW1wbGF0ZSI6ImhpZ2h3YXkiLCJibG9nX2lkIjoxNjMwNDA2NjF9.lJyjSVPZsvr0mOL_0mt3jf14aITPoT-trq8DDWuG4qkMQ"},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":53126,"url":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-74-12-png.webp","type":"image\/png"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[7591,6],"tags":[10697],"class_list":["post-53125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city-of-lakeland","category-community","tag-lal-airport-director-kris-hallstrand-named-to-tampa-bay-business-journal-watchlist"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53125"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53127,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53125\/revisions\/53127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}