Training covers fine dining service, emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, wine pairing, culinary arts, and personalized luxury hospitality techniques/ Image: Emirates
Emirates has inaugurated a state-of-the-art training facility in Dubai dedicated to refining the hospitality skills of nearly 25,000 cabin crew members. This $8 million Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence is designed to immerse crew in world-class service standards inspired by Michelin-star hospitality, aiming to deliver unmatched luxury and personalized experiences in the skies.
Emirates centre of hospitality excellence: Setting new standards in crew training
The Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence is a purpose-built training complex that combines luxury hospitality with airline service, creating an immersive learning environment for cabin crew. Covering fine dining, premium guest engagement, and service innovation, the facility includes:
- A restaurant and lounge accommodating up to 170 guests
- Eight technology-enabled classrooms
- Elegant presentation kitchens designed to simulate real-life gourmet settings
By the end of the year, more than 10,000 Emirates cabin crew will have been trained here, with the entire workforce of nearly 25,000 crew members expected to benefit from ongoing refresher courses throughout their careers.
Michelin star inspired training and culinary excellence at Emirates
This centre represents the culmination of Emirates’ collaboration since 2020 with the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. Together, they developed an elevated hospitality strategy built on four key pillars: excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion.The facility offers a comprehensive curriculum modeled on Michelin-star standards, including:
- Immersive Fine Dining Experience: Cabin crew dine as guests in a four-course gastronomy lunch crafted by Emirates’ master chefs, featuring celebrated dishes from Emirates’ First and Business Class menus. The meals are served by elite training staff, embodying Emirates’ seven-star hospitality goals aimed at enhancing authenticity and connection with customers.
- Culinary Arts Training: A dedicated kitchen space merges professional restaurant techniques with airline galley operations. Crew learn the art of plating—balancing textures, colours, and presentation to turn dishes into visual works of art.
- The Art of Service Course: This communication-focused course teaches cabin crew the emotional and cultural nuances of luxury dining beyond basic service. It trains them in presence, poise, emotional intelligence, and the ability to anticipate and personalize passenger needs. This curriculum was developed through extensive research of Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels worldwide.
- L’art du Vin Wine Training: Launched in mid-2024, this wine programme includes three levels—Introduction, Business Class, and First Class—held in a lounge-style classroom. Expert sommeliers guide cabin crew through tasting Emirates’ onboard wine selection, the heritage of each wine, and how to recommend food pairings expertly.
Emirates’ commitment to world class cabin crew development
This new centre complements Emirates’ existing suite of advanced training facilities. Earlier in 2024, Emirates opened the Crew Zone at their Group Headquarters in Dubai. This 24/7 space supports cabin crew with workshops, tech zones, wellbeing hubs, and interactive lounges to aid professional growth.Emirates currently employs close to 25,000 cabin crew members representing over 140 countries and speaking more than 70 languages. All recruits undergo an intensive eight-week onboarding programme covering:
- Corporate onboarding
- Safety and emergency procedures
- Crew resource management
- Group medical training
- Aviation security
- Image and uniform standards
- Service and hospitality training
Training blends theoretical lessons with practical experiences, including full-motion simulators of Emirates’ aircraft fleet. Throughout their careers, crew receive continuous training to enhance their skills and career advancement.Thomas Ney, Divisional Senior Vice President of Service Delivery at Emirates, emphasized the importance of this investment:“Emirates continues to uplift the ‘fly better’ experience for our valued customers. We have invested in the highest levels of luxury hospitality training for our cabin crew, enabling them to truly connect with the customers they serve and create unforgettable moments. This immersive training allows our crew to experience firsthand the cuisine, beverages, ambiance, and hospitality Emirates is known for—empowering them to deliver world-class service.”
Opportunities for aspiring Emirates cabin crew
Emirates remains actively recruiting talented cabin crew globally. Interested candidates can visit www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/cabin-crew for information on open days and application details. Go to Source
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