On April 1, 2025, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a $332 million no-bid concession deal for Miami International Airport (MIA), granting existing vendors 12-year lease extensions in exchange for substantial renovations and investments. The agreement also includes a possible three-year renewal contingent on an additional $65 million in upgrades. The item passed unanimously.
During the commission meeting, concerns were raised about the process for selecting which concessionaires would receive the lease extensions. Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III reportedly began naming vendors during the session, which some observers said felt arbitrary and lacked a transparent framework. The impromptu nature of the selections fueled criticism that the process favored incumbents and shut out potential new entrants.
Adding to the controversy, commissioners began amending the legislation during the public meeting to allocate no-bid MIA leases to specific businesses—without advance public notice. Although MIA rarely opens its coveted retail or restaurant space to true competition, the real competition is said to happen behind the scenes—among commissioners jockeying to secure no-bid deals for favored operators.
According to Aviation Director Ralph Cutie, these spaces haven’t been competitively bid in nearly 20 years—a point he confirmed in recent comments to the Airport Committee. That extended timeframe has only amplified criticism of the rushed, opaque selection process.
Among the most high-profile beneficiaries of the lease extensions is Chris Korge, a major MIA retail operator and longtime Democratic Party powerbroker. Korge is a mega-donor, served as finance chair of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and is known to travel frequently with former President Bill Clinton, with whom he is personally close.
During the meeting, Chairman Gilbert called for a round of applause for Korge, publicly acknowledging his role as a beneficiary of the extended lease. While commissioners added a 30-day window allowing other businesses to potentially bid—an apparent tweak meant to ease criticism—the deal still largely favors existing tenants, particularly those with strong political ties.
Commissioner Eileen Higgins, a Progressive Democrat running who co-sponsored the resolution, defended the no-bid framework by pointing to repeated delays in launching a competitive process. In a tweet by Miami Herald reporter Doug Hanks, Higgins also acknowledged the frustration.
This is not how I wanted to do it… But I believe this is the right deal for the airport," said Commissioner Higgins.
Emilio González, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former Director of MIA, and current candidate for Mayor of the City of Miami, strongly condemned the deal.
“These no-bid giveaways at MIA are blatant pay-to-play dealing — adding another 12 years to contracts creates publicly financed millionaires while travelers get stuck with overpriced, second-rate options. It smacks of City of Miami corruption," said Gonzalez.
González’s statement highlights growing frustration among critics who view the no-bid approach as emblematic of a deeper culture of favoritism, insider dealing, and diminished accountability in local government.
While the deal promises long-overdue modernization of MIA’s concessions infrastructure, critics warn it sets a precedent that weakens public accountability. Without competitive bidding, they argue, the county risks fostering favoritism, reducing market access, and ultimately passing on higher costs to consumers.
The vote marks a pivotal moment for MIA and Miami-Dade governance, highlighting the tension between rapid redevelopment and adherence to open, competitive public contracting standards—with powerful donors and insiders never far from the center of the action.
