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Global airline alliance SkyTeam has turned to gategroup member company Performa to develop service concepts and to manage and operate SkyTeam’s first co-branded lounge, opening June 4 at London Heathrow Airport. Performa’s specialized lounge division developed guest service standards and operational procedures for the SkyTeam lounge and the design of the dining and bar menu offerings. Performa also will manage the day-to-day activities of the facility.
Several gategroup companies are working side-by-side with Performa Lounges to support SkyTeam’s goal of building its brand presence at Heathrow. They are:
– Gate Gourmet, the world’s largest independent airline catering and logistics provider, which is supplying chefs and preparing food and beverages.
– Elan, which has recruited and trained energetic staff to interact with guests and provide a superior level of service.
– Gate Aviation, a leading U.K. supplier of specialty aviation services, which will maintain impeccable levels of cleanliness throughout the facility.
“SkyTeam sets some of the highest customer experience standards in the industry, and it is an honor for gategroup companies to partner with the alliance in this exciting project,” said gategroup CEO Guy Dubois. “Winning the SkyTeam contract demonstrates again the appeal that gategroup’s comprehensive scope of products and services brings to the airline industry” he added.
The new multi-level lounge will occupy 1,600 square meters and seats more than 300.
“Today is extremely significant for SkyTeam as we become one step closer to transforming Terminal 4 at London Heathrow into the first-ever airport facility truly centered around the alliance and its passengers,” said Francesca Freeland, lead for the SkyTeam Heathrow Airport team. “We have succeeded in creating a lounge with enhanced customer benefits that brings our ‘Caring More About You’ philosophy to life.”
Keith Yates, who heads Performa, said, “The Heathrow project brings together Performa’s considerable experience in managing, servicing and designing lounges that epitomize quality and contemporary sophistication.” Other notable examples of Performa’s lounge work include the Emirates lounges at London Heathrow and Hong Kong.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
