Virgin Hotels has appointed Jefferson Thomas as the director of architecture and technical services administration.
Thomas’ hospitality experience includes 16 years with Marriott International in the corporate capacities of design, construction, architecture, and sustainability. He brings to the company 28 years of architectural experience and over 12 years of LEED certification experience. At Marriott, he managed an average of 150 new construction projects at one time in all phases of development.


Graduating from Virginia Tech, Thomas holds a master’s in business administration, a master’s degree in project management, as well as a bachelor’s degree of architecture from Virginia Tech. He has been a LEED accredited professional since 2006 and is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and the Project Management Institute.
“We are thrilled to have someone with Jefferson’s qualifications joining the team,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. “He will be intimately involved in the programming, design, and technical services aspect of the brand. His experience as an architect and working with Marriott Hotels is invaluable as we work closely with our investors and owners on conversions and new build projects.”
Virgin Hotels Chicago is scheduled to open in the summer of 2014, and a New York City property in the NoMad neighborhood will open in 2016. Other locations under consideration for Virgin Hotels properties include Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Washington, DC, London, and additional neighborhoods in New York City.
