HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum opens dedicated reception for Emirates Airline at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel

This is the first such facility for the airline within a hotel anywhere in the world.

The new facility was formally opened at a high-profile ceremony that was also attended by Mr. Robert Riley, Chief Executive Officer, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts and other senior representatives of Emirates Airline & Le Méridien Dubai, plus government officials.

Opening the new Emirates reception at Le Méridien Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed said: "Our commitment to providing our customers with the highest levels of service, both in the air and on the ground, is a key reason why Emirates has become the world's fastest growing intercontinental airline.

"We are happy to partner with Le Méridien Dubai to open the first dedicated Emirates hotel reception. It is the latest example of our commitment to offer our transit passengers - who in most cases have been journeying for several hours - the best possible hospitality, for which Dubai is renowned.

"Emirates has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial association with Le Méridien Dubai for several years. The hotel has played a pioneering role in the development of the hospitality sector in Dubai and the region. Its strategic proximity to the Dubai International Airport and great business and leisure facilities made it a natural choice for Emirates."

The dedicated reception is manned by experienced Emirates staff, available around-the-clock for services such as issuing of boarding passes, flight confirmation and seat bookings, baggage follow-up, limousine service and other passenger assistance.

There is also a dedicated lounge area with international newspapers and magazines, plus a wide range of hot and cold food and refreshments. The facilities also include a business centre, equipped with free Internet access, laptop connections, telephones, faxes and printers.

Mr. Robert Riley, the London-based Chief Executive Officer of Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, said: "The opening of the dedicated Emirates reception at Le Méridien Dubai is a reiteration of the long-standing partnership that we have enjoyed with Emirates Airline these past several years.

"We are extremely privileged that Emirates has chosen one of our most prominent properties in Dubai to be the venue for the first-ever Emirates reception in a hotel. We are committed to working alongside Emirates to uphold the high standards that the airline is known for."

"Emirates Airline has played a key role in promoting Dubai to a regional and global audience. In Dubai, as in other global markets, we work very closely with the airline on joint initiatives that are aimed at providing value to visitors into the emirate."