Blake Smith has been promoted to Vice President of Entertainment & Brand Partnerships at Virgin Hotels

Blake Smith, who is based in Chicago, has overseen entertainment initiatives for the brand since 2014. Smith has booked over 400 bands and musical acts to perform at Virgin Hotels Chicago's two entertainment venues, Upstairs and Cerise, as well as organized partnerships and activations with renowned Chicago music festivals Pitchfork and Lollapalooza. Stepping into his new role as Vice President of Entertainment & Brand Partnerships, Smith will create brand-wide entertainment initiatives and partnerships to be implemented at new Virgin Hotels properties as the brand expands this year, creating an entertainment program that provides guests and locals alike with unparalleled cultural experiences.