Virgin Hotels has announced the appointment of Rani Gharbié as its new vice president of development. Based in New York, he will oversee brand expansion throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“As an avid traveler with a deep understanding of the hotel industry, it’s an amazing opportunity to join the Virgin Hotels team,” says Gharbié. “They’ve introduced a hotel experience guests identify with and are excited about, and that’s difficult to do in what is a very crowded market. I’m proud to be a new steward for the brand as we look to keep up the admirable growth in the United States and make our move into Canada.”
“I’m thrilled to have someone like Rani leading the charge in North America,” adds Allie Hope, Virgin’s head of development and acquisitions. “His knowledge of the way the hotel and real estate industry work together is unparalleled, and he’s someone we’re proud to have represent the Virgin Hotels brand as we continue to meet our development goals.”
Gharbié most recently served as a founding principal with New York-based hotel and real estate development and investment firm Cedar Funds. He has also held key hotel and real estate positions for nearly 20 years, including as regional director of development for InterContinental Hotels Group, where he expanded brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Indigo across the Middle East and Africa. He holds a master’s degree in real estate from Columbia University.
