A new Starbucks will open today at Palm Springs International Airport as part of the airport's $25 million terminal improvement project.

Members of the Palm Springs City Council and the Chamber of Commerce will attend the grand opening at 3 p.m.

“The Starbucks is one of the great new additions to our airport food and beverage concession program designed to elevate the level of service to our traveler,” said Thomas Nolan, the airport's executive director.

Other new businesses such as La Brea Bakery, Zia Juice and a seasonal wine bar are expected to open by the end of November.

Mayor Steve Pougnet said the new additions show that Palm Springs is a top resort destination.

“New concessions like Starbucks, Zia Juice and La Brea Bakery are proof that in the eyes of big business, Palm Springs continues to be a major economic tourism driver,” he said.

The openings will mark the completion of a two-phase $25 million airport improvement project that also added a new concourse and remodeled the airport's courtyard and main terminal structure.

Passenger traffic at the airport has been down around 8 percent for the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period last year, according to statistics posted on the city's Web site.