After helming Virgin Hotels for 10 years, CEO Raul Leal is stepping down from his title. Leal was the lifestyle brand’s first employee at the time of its launch in 2010, and has been an instrumental fixture in its evolution. Leal will continue to consult for Virgin Group as an advisor on brand and design decisions and pursue personal projects.
“It has been a joy to work with one of the world’s great brands and launch a disruptive business. I am extremely proud of the unique concept proposition we have built at Virgin Hotels,” Leal says. “From the distinctive ‘chamber’ room design to the vibrant food and beverage operations, we have created a product and service focused on our customers and always strived to exceed expectations. With Virgin Hotels poised for sustained success and the current business climate ripe for disruption, now is the right time for me to follow my passion of building new organizations and helping others re-energize existing cultures with purpose.”
“Raul has built a tremendous platform for Virgin Hotels to expand from over the last ten years,” Peter Norris, Virgin Hotels chairman, says. “We have won several distinguished hotel awards and have shaken up the lifestyle hotel sector with our distinctive proposition and innovative designs. His passion for service and his commitment to his people mark him out as a hotelier of distinction and leave the brand in excellent shape to thrive in the coming years.”
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson adds: “Raul has been instrumental in helping to establish the Virgin Hotels brand and culture over the last decade. His eye for design, his devotion to his team, and focus on our guests has created a unique proposition and we are thankful for his leadership.”
Virgin Hotels plans to announce a new CEO in the coming weeks.
