Emirates has opened the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a USD 8 million training hub designed to deliver world-class hospitality education to its 25,000-strong cabin crew workforce.

The facility features a 170-seat restaurant and lounge, demonstration kitchens, and eight tech-enabled classrooms. It will train more than 10,000 crew by the end of the year, focusing on Michelin-star standards in fine dining, premium guest engagement, and table service.

The launch is the culmination of Emirates’ hospitality strategy developed in partnership with the École hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. The centre is designed around Emirates’ four hospitality pillars – excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion.

Thomas Ney, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president of service delivery, said:
“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 really relate to the customers they serve and create unforgettable signature moments.”

The facility provides immersive experiences, including a four-course fine dining lunch curated by Emirates’ master chefs, culinary plating workshops, wine-tasting sessions, and communication-focused training to help crew build rapport with guests.

It will also be used to train newly recruited staff and provide refresher programmes for experienced crew.

Emirates currently employs nearly 25,000 cabin crew from more than 140 nationalities. Recruits undergo an initial eight-week training programme covering safety, security, medical response and service delivery. Ongoing training is provided throughout their careers.