Many of the world’s best chefs and culinary media have experienced Etihad Airways’ award-winning hospitality on their way to Australia for this week’s announcement of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
As the
Official Airline Partner of the 2017 event, Etihad Airways has had the honour
of flying some of the biggest names in global gastronomy to Melbourne – the
widely acclaimed food and wine capital of Australia – to participate in the
week-long programme.
The airline
has also co-hosted hundreds of international and Australian chefs, sommeliers,
food media and influencers at a range of culinary events held in the Victorian
capital, including a pop-up ‘Sky High Bar’ at Official Hotel QT Melbourne where
guests have enjoyed beverages normally served exclusively in Etihad Airways’ Premium Lounges.
At the
finale – The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards gala event – guests were given
a taste of flying on board an Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 aircraft through an
innovative interactive 360-degree technology platform. Guests were also invited
to #TasteTheWorld, removing pieces of chocolate from a specially made edible
map of the globe, for a chance to win two Business Class tickets to anywhere on
the airline’s global network.
Patrick
Pierce, Etihad Airways’ Vice President of Marketing Partnerships, said the
airline’s partnership with Tourism Australia and The World’s 50 Best
Restaurants had proven to be a valuable investment.
“The World’s
50 Best Restaurants program has
given us an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the quality of our food and
beverage offering and unique approach to hospitality to some of the biggest
names and influencers in the culinary world today.
“Their
feedback about the experience has been extremely positive, which is a huge
inspiration for the airline’s hospitality
team to continue the current momentum.
“The partnership has also shone an international spotlight on
the richness of Australia’s extraordinary culinary tourism offering. Already one of the most popular destinations in our
network, the worldwide exposure generated by The World’s 50 Best program will
enhance its already-great appeal and strengthen our position as the airline of
choice to and from Australia.”
John
O'Sullivan, Tourism Australia Managing Director, said: "Etihad Airways has
been an incredibly enthusiastic supporter of our Restaurant Australia program
and the natural choice as our international airline partner for The World's 50
Best Restaurants.
"The
airline clearly shares the same ethos as ours when it comes to world-class food
and wine. Many of the chefs and media whom Etihad Airways flew to Australia for this event have
commented on the quality of the airline’s dining experience, both on board the
aircraft and on the ground in its airport lounges.”
Etihad
Airways offers its guests an onboard dining experience which is unique among
the world’s airlines. Its innovative approach to hospitality is inspired by the
world’s best restaurants and cutting-edge culinary and beverage trends.
In its
First Class cabins, Etihad Airways’ professional Inflight Chefs, many with
fine-dining experience, use their expert culinary skills to deliver a highly
personalised à la carte dining experience, tailored to each guest’s taste. With
an onboard pantry of fresh ingredients, they are able to go ‘off menu’ to offer
guests a sumptuous made-to-order meal.
In Business
Class, specialist Food and Beverage Managers oversee the preparation and
service of a contemporary, healthy à la carte and dine anytime menu. They can
also recommend the perfect beverage from the airline’s boutique inflight
cellar.
Etihad
Airways currently has 235
Inflight Chefs and 495 Food and Beverage
Managers, offering its premium cabin guests a hospitality experience for which
the airline is widely considered the world’s best.
The airline also has the finest collection of airport lounges in the world,
reflecting its commitment to providing guests aspirational hospitality
experiences on the ground as well as in the air.
Premium Lounges are located in Abu Dhabi, Dublin, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, New
York JFK, Paris, Sydney, and Washington DC.
In its
flagship First Class Lounge and Spa at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the
Executive Chef has a long and distinguished career with leading hotels
including The Ritz-Carlton, Shangri-La, and InterContinental. With his team of
Sous Chefs, Demi Chefs, and Chef de Partie, they create haute cuisine which is
served in an elegant and expansive à la carte dining area. Menus, which are
changed frequently, feature a choice of Arabian, Indian and international
cuisine made to order at any time of day. The kitchen prepares everything
in-house using the freshest, locally sourced, seasonal produce.
Etihad Airways’ partnership with Tourism
Australia for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 deepens the airline’s
existing five-year, $30 million investment in Australian tourism, which was
signed in 2015.