The facility, located in Atlanta outside Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, is the first of its kind for the industry and is expected to train over 5,000 employees in its first year
ATLANTA, GA, March 13, 2025 – Today, Sodexo Live!, the hospitality partner to the world’s most iconic venues, opened the doors to a first-of-its-kind training simulation center, which will prepare airport lounge employees to provide world-class, bespoke service in over 170 airport lounges globally. This milestone physical facility, which takes up 5,000+ square feet adjacent to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, will train an estimated 2,000 team members, or Experience Makers, in the first year of opening, who will then be equipped with the skills to train another 3,000 at their respective lounges. This training center is the next phase of the Sodexo Live! Academy which continues to enrich the skillsets of the 40,000+ global team members who support the organization’s global portfolio.
Training is a cornerstone in Sodexo Live!’s employee value proposition and benefits to each participant include a lifelong foundation of premium service skills that can translate to a career in hospitality. The space includes a mock airport lounge bar and restaurant, to fully simulate the environment. Classes and training courses will focus on things such as financial acumen and leadership development, along with more tactical topics such as knife skills, mixology and front-of-house hospitality skills. The curriculum will offer customized learning pathways for every type of role, ranging from entry-level positions to senior leadership.
To correspond with this opening, Sodexo Live! is also investing in 5 new full-time training and development positions for its airport lounge portfolio, as part of an investment in the mission-critical importance of having top-flight talent to service such clients as Delta, American Airlines, American Express, Chase Sapphire, United, Cathay Pacific and more. The minimum requirement for time spent in training will be 3 days, while managers will be expected to commit to 5 full days of immersive training and team building annually.
The hospitality space has transformed in the last few years, and the airport lounge industry specifically is rapidly growing. We understand it’s crucial for us and our client partners to find and retain qualified talent to elevate the service for our guests in these premium spaces. This is an essential investment to continue to ensure top-tier hospitality standards for clients and their respective passengers.
This opening is the latest evolution of the global Sodexo Live! Academy, which now features five distinct physical training schools and comes on the heels of the recently launched partnership with the renowned New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI). Select students will benefit from exclusive internships and on-the-job training opportunities at Sodexo Live! properties around the world, like the Michelin-starred Jules Verne and Madame Brasserie in the Eiffel Tower; the boats on the Seine; and The Lenôtre School of Culinary Arts, leaving with unparalleled knowledge that will set them apart in their career development.
About Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! manages prestigious conference, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, Sodexo Live! offers clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories, including for over 32 million passengers served each year at 170+ airport lounges globally. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Super Bowl LIX, Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Hard Rock Stadium, the Scottish National Gallery, The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations in Marseille and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
