Emirates Launches the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a World-Class Cabin Crew Training Facility
- Joe Breitfeller
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
Emirates has today announced the launch of The Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a luxurious, world-class training facility for the carrier’s 25,000 cabin crew members.
On Monday (October 6, 2025), Emirates announced the launch of a world-class training facility for 25,000 cabin crew members, The Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence. The $8.0 million learning zone and program features a sprawling restaurant and lounge for up to 170 guests, elegant presentation kitchens, and eight tech-enabled classrooms. Over 10,000 Emirates cabin crew will be trained in the new facility by the end of the year. The new facility will provide elevated service training modeled on Michelin star standards, including fine dining protocols, premium guest engagement and table service finesse. In 2020, Emirates partnered with the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland to establish a new elevated hospitality strategy, and the new center has been designed to inspire cabin crew to deliver Emirates’ four pillars of hospitality in the sky - excellence, attentiveness, innovation and passion.
In Monday’s announcement, Emirates’ Divisional SVP – Service Delivery, Thomas Ney, 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. We are delighted to provide our crew with immersive training, allowing them to personally sample the cuisine, the beverages, the ambiance and ultimately, the hospitality Emirates is renowned for. This is how we empower world class cabin crew.”
Elevating hospitality to new heights, the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence offers a wide range of training and facilities for cabin crew engagement. Newly recruited Emirates cabin crew members will be trained in the facility, as well as experienced crew, who will receive recurrent and upgrade training throughout their career. Additionally, the facility will offer cabin crew the unique opportunity to dine as guests and experience a gourmet four course-course lunch. The fine dining experience has been curated by Emirates’ master chefs, serving some of Emirates’ most celebrated First and Business Class dishes and signature meals, and will be served by Emirates’ elite training team.
In the culinary hub of Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a training kitchen has been designed as a fusion between a professional restaurant kitchen and an airline galley. Here, Emirates cabin crew will learn the art of plating from a team of experienced chef trainers. Balancing textures, colors and shape, cabin crew learn how to produce dishes that look like works of art on the plate.
Beyond the impeccable handling of silverware, attractive plating and wine service, the Art of Service course encourages cabin crew to go beyond the basic service steps and tune into subtle cues, listen with intention, anticipate needs, and adapt their approach to create personalized experiences. It also focuses on developing their savoir-être - the art of presence, poise, and emotional intelligence, essential for engaging with Emirates diverse guests. This training has been designed by the Emirates’ team from extensive research and exploration across a variety of Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hospitality worldwide.
Building on the success of L’art du vin, Emirates’ wine learning experience for cabin crew, the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence will also be the venue for hosting wine tastings and dedicated events led by expert wine trainers and sommeliers. The L’art du vin programme was launched in mid-2024 at the Emirates Cabin Crew Training Centre in Dubai, and takes place in a classroom that replicates a high-end lounge, offering three intensive wine courses tailored to varying levels of experience.
Emirates Launches the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a World-Class Training Facility for 25,000 Cabin Crew Members – Courtesy Emirates
Currently, Emirates employs nearly 25,000 cabin crew members from over 140 countries, who speak more than 70 languages, all of whom have been trained at the Emirates Crew Training Centre in Dubai. The initial eight-week course covers all aspects of the cabin crew role, including Corporate Onboarding, Safety & Emergency Procedures, Crew Resource Management, Group Medical, Aviation Security, Image and Uniform Standards, and Service & Hospitality Training.
Source: Emirates
