American Airlines threw a lavish Thanksgiving Celebration for Sydney-based travel trade partners at the Hyatt Regency on Wednesday 21 November 2018. Close to 100 of American Airlines’ VIP travel agents, media, oneworld and Qantas partners were treated to a long table lunch, in The Gallery on the lower level of the hotel.
The table stretched the length of the venue, decked out with floral arrangements, shared platter platforms and scale model American Airlines aircraft as the centrepiece, some mounted atop pumpkins, with American flags draped throughout to set the Thanksgiving ambience.
Guests dined on a menu prepared specially by celebrity chef Sean Connolly, who introduced menus featuring local cuisine in the premium cabins on American Airlines’ flights from Sydney to LA earlier this year.
The menu at Hyatt Regency included a prawn cocktail in a Bloody Mary mayonnaise (entrée), Almond Grove turkey with chestnut stuffing and applesauce, accompanied by sides of duck fat roast potatoes, carrots and balsamic roasted Brussels sprout (main) and pumpkin pie, served with caramelised pecan syrup and chantilly cream.
Former Harlem Globetrotter, Tracy Williams – a friend of American Airlines and motivational speaker – was in attendance for the Thanksgiving Celebration, and encouraged guests present to adopt the tradition of connecting with family and friends at this time of year, and to “give thanks” for those that are important to them.
AA’s General Manager Sales for Australia/New Zealand Simon Dodd said that the Thanksgiving period is an “important and busy time” for the airline. Over the next 12 days, seven million customers globally are expected to be transported around the world on American Airlines’ flights.
Dodd said that as the US carrier approaches its third anniversary of operation in Australia, “we have a lot to be thankful for”, thanking the travel industry for its support of American Airlines’ Los Angeles–Sydney non-stop service and his local team.
American Airlines has spent $24 billion over the past five years in capital expenditure and now has the youngest fleet of any US network carriers, which Dodd says means the experience for customers on board is “superb”. He also reminded guests that AA was the first US carrier to introduce Premium Economy to Australia.
Lead image: Simon Dodd, General Manager Sales, Australia/New Zealand, American Airlines; Tracy Williams, Former Harlem Globetrotter/Professional Speaker and American Airlines’ special guest; Chef Sean Connolly, and Laura Evans, Marketing Manager Australia/New Zealand, American Airlines.