Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Sir Richard Branson, today announces its formal diversity, equality and inclusivity framework. Virgin Hotels is, and always has been, committed to diversity and inclusion. By publicly laying out guidelines, commitments and goals at https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/, Virgin Hotels is establishing a clear path forward as it continues to work in a more positive direction.

"I've been part of the Virgin Hotels family from the very beginning, and from its inception I have been proud of the diversity and inclusion that lies at the heart of everything Virgin does," says Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. "Diversity is one of the fundamental principles of the Virgin Hotels brand and a core value that has been brought to life across our properties. Our top priority is ensuring all teammates, guests, visitors and the community continue to experience our hotels in an inclusive environment that supports racial harmony."

With the support of inclusion strategist Donnie N. Belcher, Virgin Hotels is formally launching a page on their website dedicated to transparently sharing their ongoing efforts. Included is a clear diversity and inclusivity statement, asserting Virgin Hotels' mission to ensure "Everyone Leaves Feeling Better" and the importance of creating an environment where all feel safe, valued and welcome. Also included are three clear commitments and goals the brand is prioritizing:

  • Working with and supporting local community partners in the cities where our hotels are located that help support and lift up Black communities
  • Implementing trainings at all hotels and the home office to help raise awareness of unconscious bias impact
  • In coordination with our external advisor, we have audited our existing policies to ensure they support our inclusive approach, and will continue to work with Donnie Belcher to evaluate existing policies to ensure they support our approach

In an effort to continue supporting organizations that assist the local community, Virgin Hotels has introduced a check round up program in their dine and drink establishments across all hotels. Guests can either round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or donate a set amount. Proceeds from each property benefit the following local agencies:

  • Virgin Hotels Chicago - SocialWorks: Founded by Grammy-award-winning musician and humanitarian Chance the Rapper, SocialWorks aims to empower the youth through the arts, education and civic engagement, directly affecting thousands of kids each year.
  • Virgin Hotels Dallas - Cafe Momentum: A restaurant and culinary training facility, Cafe Momentum works to transform young lives by equipping the community's most at-risk youth with life skills, education and employment opportunities to help them achieve their full potential.
  • Virgin Hotels Nashville - The Mary Parrish Center: The Mary Parrish Center has provided more than 7,000 survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking with a full array of no-cost, comprehensive services.

Virgin Hotels is also sharing on their new webpage a timeline highlighting their efforts in the past supporting diversity and inclusivity and the organizations it's partnered with along the way.

For more information on Virgin Hotels diversity & inclusivity commitment, visit https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/. To learn more about Virgin Hotels, please visit www.virginhotels.com

About Virgin Hotels

Virgin Hotels is a luxury lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service and a personalized hotel experience inspired by the innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for over 50 years. Each property intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music, design, and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. The current portfolio includes five hotels—Virgin Hotels Chicago, Virgin Hotels Dallas, Virgin Hotels Nashville, Virgin Hotels New Orleans, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and newly launched Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. Locations in Glasgow and New York City are scheduled to debut in 2023, followed by Miami and Denver in 2025 as well as the launch of Virgin Residences. In addition, Virgin Hotels continues to explore hotel, conversions, and ground-up development in Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle, London, and more.

About Virgin Limited Edition

Virgin Limited Edition is an award-winning collection of unique retreats, chosen for their beautiful locations and magnificent surroundings; each offers a sense of fun, style, luxury, and exceptional personal service. The group includes Necker Island and Moskito Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, The Lodge in Verbier, Mahali Mzuri, a tented safari camp in Kenya, Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in South Africa, and the Son Bunyola Estate in Mallorca. Please visit www.virginlimitededition.com for more details.