Emirates has opened its Centre of Hospitality Excellence to businesses and organisations across the UAE, offering tailored training programmes designed to strengthen hospitality standards, improve customer experiences and develop professional skills.
Located within the
Emirates Crew Training Centre in Dubai, the $8 million facility provides a
premium learning environment inspired by the airline’s internationally
recognised hospitality philosophy.
The purpose-built
centre features a restaurant and lounge accommodating up to 170 guests,
presentation kitchens and eight technology-enabled classrooms.
The programmes are
modelled on the service standards underpinning Emirates’ award-winning inflight
customer experience, giving organisations the opportunity to learn from the
airline’s expertise in delivering personalised hospitality at scale.
The centre offers
training inspired by Michelin-star hospitality principles, covering fine
dining, guest engagement, service etiquette and customer experience leadership.
Since opening its external programmes, it has welcomed government entities,
leading universities and major regional businesses.
Divisional Senior Vice
President Service Delivery at Emirates, Thomas Ney, said: “Delivering
exceptional hospitality requires more than technical training, it demands a
deep understanding of people, culture and service excellence. At Emirates, we
have spent decades refining our approach to hospitality through continuous
learning and innovation, delivered to millions of global customers. By opening
the Centre of Hospitality Excellence to organisations across the UAE, we are
proud to share this expertise and help inspire the next generation of
hospitality professionals.”
Tailored training
programmes
UAE businesses can
book bespoke workshops and immersive training experiences lasting between one
and five days, with modules customised to their individual objectives.
Available programmes
include Hospitality Excellence, which introduces Emirates’ House of Hospitality
through training gap analysis, case studies and practical exercises.
The 7-Star Dining
Experience focuses on fine dining protocols, table settings, presentation and
guest interaction, while L’Art du Vin offers wine education covering tasting
techniques, wine theory and food pairing, delivered by WSET Level 3-certified
trainers.
Other offerings
include hands-on gastronomy workshops led by experienced chefs, bespoke
team-building activities and leadership sessions featuring Emirates executives
discussing the airline’s global operations and service strategy.
Organisations can also
arrange behind-the-scenes tours of Emirates’ training facilities, including
aircraft simulators and culinary training hubs. Bespoke programmes can combine
culinary demonstrations, leadership discussions, service challenges, learner
assessments and immersive dining experiences.
Building on
Emirates’ hospitality expertise
The centre forms part
of Emirates’ wider investment in hospitality and service innovation. In 2020,
the airline partnered with Switzerland’s Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne to develop
its hospitality strategy, built around four pillars: excellence, attentiveness,
innovation and passion.
The facility also
plays an important role in training Emirates’ more than 25,000 cabin crew
members, representing over 140 nationalities and speaking more than 70
languages.
All cabin crew
complete an intensive eight-week training programme at the Emirates Crew
Training Centre, covering safety, security, medical procedures, hospitality and
service delivery. Training includes classroom sessions and practical exercises
using full-motion aircraft simulators.
Within the Centre of
Hospitality Excellence, crew also participate in immersive dining experiences,
enjoying four-course meals prepared by Emirates’ master chefs while observing
professional service from the guest perspective. A dedicated Culinary Hub provides
practical training in food presentation and plating, while specialist wine
sessions form part of the airline’s L’Art du Vin programme, launched in 2024.
Through opening the
centre to external organisations, Emirates aims to extend its hospitality
expertise beyond aviation and support the development of service excellence
across industries.
The airline said the initiative reflects its belief that exceptional hospitality is not simply a skillset, but a mindset, with the wider ambition of strengthening the UAE’s reputation as a global leader in hospitality. -TradeArabia News Service