Official Expo Milano 2015 sponsors Etihad Airways and Alitalia celebrated a major milestone by welcoming the 100,000th guest to their joint pavilion at Expo Milano 2015.

Italian national Luigino Nonino, accompanied by his family, was the lucky 100,000th visitor to the pavilion.

 To mark the occasion, the Nonino family was presented with tickets to return to Expo, an Airbus A380 model aircraft, and was invited to dinner at the exclusive pavilion lounge. The family also enjoyed a guided tour of the pavilion and the new Etihad Airways and Alitalia cabin and service products including The Residence by Etihad.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer, said: “The popularity of this amazing pavilion has exceeded our expectations, and in welcoming our 100,000th guest in the short period since we unveiled it to the world, we also celebrate the successful collaboration between two great airlines creating a showcase of airline innovation.”

The two-storey Etihad Airways and Alitalia pavilion has a prime location next to Palazzo Italia and measures 1,150 sq m.

The spectacular venue boasts a Social Hub, which provides a multimedia experience around the theme of ‘Connecting the World Journey’, using cutting-edge technology and large interactive screens, and an impressive Imagination Lounge hosting several daily cooking demonstrations by Etihad Airways’ on-board chefs and celebrities, including Italy’s Gabriele Rubini, famously known as Chef Rubio, and the UAE’s Chef Khulood Atiq.

The pavilion also features three fully operational flight simulators and a dedicated Kids Area, packed with interactive games, an augmented reality experience, and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets which provide users with a 360-degree fully immersive experience of some of the exciting destinations Etihad Airways and Alitalia fly to. These include Abu Dhabi, New York, London, Tokyo, Bangkok and Buenos Aires.

As Official Global Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, Etihad Airways and Alitalia are playing a key role in bringing visitors to the event.

Ariodante Valeri, Chief Commercial Officer of Alitalia, said: “We are very proud of the success of our pavilion with so many visitors. To welcome thousands of people from around the world, in a context that is so unique, innovative and international, is the best way to present Alitalia and the partnership we have with Etihad Airways. Such recognition and appreciation confirms that we are on the right track." – TradeArabia News Service