I toured the 600-room hotel with a pool and gym that American built exclusively for its employees — see inside Skyview 6

Taylor RainsMay 29, 2024, 02:55 IST

The "Globe of Firsts."Taylor Rains/Business Insider

American Airlines opened a $250 million employee-only hotel at its Texas headquarters in 2023.
The hotel features 600 rooms and numerous amenities, like a gym, an outdoor pool, and a cafeteria.

American Airlines spent $250 million to build an employee-only hotel at its sprawling Texas headquarters that opened in January 2023.

Complete with 600 rooms and heaps of amenities, the "hospitality complex" is basically a mini-city exclusive for employees traveling to the airline's main hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, on company business.

Think flight attendant and pilot training or annual conferences. Eligibility extends to employees at American's mainline operation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries like Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, and PSA Airlines.

American's senior manager of corporate real estate, Holly Ragan, told Business Insider during a recent tour that the hotel's purpose is to have everything in one place where employees can easily access everyday needs. It also creates community and pride among employees, she said.

"Skyview 6 is the central heart of campus where our team members can gather," Ragan said. "We have dining, corn hole, a fitness center, a pool, and just various offerings to help our employees feel a sense of normalcy when they're here."

Take a look inside American's "Skyview 6" hotel, which is not open to the public.

Skyview 6 is a rare perk in the industry. Only a few employee-specific airline hotels have been built in the US.

The entrance to Skyview 6.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The hospitality complex was built on the former site of the industry's first Stewardess College, which American opened in 1957.

Aerial view of American Airline Stewardess College.University of North Texas Libraries/Tarrant County College NE

American wanted to ensure employees had access to things like food and fitness without having to leave campus, Ragan said.

Skyview 6 is part of American's giant Dallas/Fort Worth headquarters, which includes corporate offices, dispatch operations, and training centers.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The company wasn’t exaggerating — the hotel has literally everything.

The author at Skyview 6 during a tour in May.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Employees entering Skyview 6 for the first time will enter through a giant lobby complete with ceiling art that represents different engine types.

The Skyview 6 lobby.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Along the wall is the famous staircase where early-day American flight attendants stood for their graduation picture.

The staircase installed for flight attendant graduation photos.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

On the day of my visit, it was the graduation of a class of flight attendants. They, too, would pose for the iconic staircase photo.

Photos on the wall at Skyview 6 show the Stewardess College graduates on the staircase in 1957.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Near the lobby is a 10,000-square-foot multi-use ballroom where events like the annual State of the Airline hosted by CEO Robert Isom are held.

The ballroom at Skyview 6.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

There are also conference rooms scattered throughout the hotel's first floor, as well as a coffee and wine bar.

The coffee and wine bar.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Employees staying overnight at Skyview 6 will be assigned one of the 600 rooms available on-site.

The 8th floor of the Skyview 6 hotel.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The rooms came with everything you’d expect at a regular chain like Marriott or Hilton, including a bed, television, bathroom, desk, and closet.

Inside one of the Skyview 6 hotel rooms.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The bathroom has a standing shower, toiletries, a make-up ring, and a Bluetooth-capable mirror for listening to music or a podcast.

The bathroom.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Ragan said the shower is particuarly unique as the shower head and the nob to turn it on and control the temperature are on opposite sides.

The shower head is on the other side.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Aviation-themed art nod to the airline without being overbearing.

The artwork varies room to room, Ragan said.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Aside from the expected hotel amenities, American has added a few special touches based on employee feedback.

American's private hotel operates like any other, complete with a housekeeping service.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

For example, Ragan said crews travel with clips to hold curtains together and keep light out, so a magnet was added to make them easier to latch.

The author clamping the curtains shut.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Another crew-specific amenity is a board to pin up their 'paper tiger,' which is a poster diagram of the cockpit required for pilot training.

The board where pilots can hang up their cockpit diagrams, which are nicknamed "paper tigers."Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Meanwhile, employees asked that there be no microwaves in the rooms to avoid unwanted smells like burned popcorn.

The rooms have a safe (top drawer in the pictured dresser) that is big enough to hold a standard-sized laptop.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The closet area features plenty of hanging space for uniforms, as well as a full-body mirror.

The full-body mirror is on the sliding closet door.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Outside the rooms are lounges for employees to socialize or study.

This is one side of the lounge — a study space is on the other.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Ragan said each living space comes with a customized color scheme and artwork representing a destination.

The study area of the lounge.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

As far as food, employees have access to things like a grab-and-go market and a giant cafeteria.

The grab-and-go market is pictured in the top left. The cafeteria offers silverware to cut down on plastic.Taylor Rains/Business Insider, American Airlines

A huge compass covered half of the ceiling, with indicators showing due North and the degrees.

The giant compass on the ceiling of the cafeteria.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The sitting area outside the food hall stretches into a large courtyard where employees can access sports courts and walking trails.

The courtyard outside Skyview 6 hosts some 400 new trees and rocks that were excavated from the original Stewardess College.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The centerpiece of the courtyard is the 'Globe of Firsts.'