With a weather forecast of 25C and clear blue skies, Schweppes Sydney Cup Day at Randwick on Saturday could not have been a better setting for a day at the races and where better to be on the course than at the Emirates Marquee, the hottest ticket of the day at Randwick.
If the quality of the setting, the food and sparkling French champagne is any indication of Emirates in-flight service, then flying with Emirates must be a dream, with the Emirates Marque no plastic sheet affair, but a classic mock sandstone clad palace with stone and cedar flooring, fountains [pictured right], sofas, sumptuous bathrooms and even artwork painted on the ceiling [pictured below].
I am not a gambling man, well not on horses, but seemingly on life, so being able to requisition a very comfortable classic french style gold trimmed sofa and becoming ensconced for the day, sipping French champagne and eating delectable canapés followed by a delightful lunch was just perfect – thank you to the excellent Lance for bringing a fabulous silver lunch platter for Lyn to save her queuing as she has not been well recently and tires easily!
Having experienced corporate hospitality at the highest level all over the world, corporate hospitality by Emirates takes it to a new level with the sofa perfect for Lyn in particular to see everything that we wanted and have a gorgeous afternoon.
I did wander around from time to time to catch up with old friends and colleagues and even snapped the occasional personality for TravelMole and this is TravelMole’s social calendar from the day.
Thank you Emirates, thank you Stephen Pearse, Tim Harrowell, Julie Steel and the Emirates team for a fabulous and a very memorable day!
Maria Vanuti and Lyn Alwyn-Jones exchange leopard skin stories!
Keith Stanley, CEO of Stella Travel Services chats with Joanne Crowley Bradman and Terry Darwent of Oracle.
Dawn Wells, Leigh Glaser and Sue Graham of CiEvents enjoy some Moet!
Maria Vanuti, Stewart Williams MD of Globus and Helen Williams exchange a story or two!
Stewart Williams and Judy Harrowell enjoying the afternoon.
………and then we found Tim and Helen and lost Judy!
Vince Sorrenti and his Emirates “minder” get together!
Tim Harrowell entertains his guests including rugby union legend Nick Farr-Jones [right].
Patrick Benhamou, head of the French National Tourist Office – Maison de la France in Australia with Mrs Benhamou and guests.
Ch 7’s Tom Williams and his Emirates “minders”!
A Report by John Alwyn-Jones from the Emirates Marquee at Royal Randwick
