Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Hotels have launched a partnership which sees the chain’s commercial sales effort in the UK run by the airline.
The agreement will give Virgin Hotels access to a dedicated sales team led by Virgin Atlantic’s global sales vice-president, Lee Haslett.
The aim is to expand Virgin Hotels’ presence in the UK and in key markets across the world such as the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region.
A dedicated Virgin Hotels sales director will also be recruited to lead trade sales, reporting to Haslett.
The partnership will offer the trade content about Virgin Hotels and improve the booking process, “ensuring agents can sell confidently in the market”.
Agents will be able to package flights and hotels together and a trade incentive scheme will be introduced, aligned to the Virgin Atlantic programme, rewarding agents for hotel bookings.
Haslett said: “We are pleased to announce this new partnership with Virgin Hotels, leveraging the power of our brand and offering unique benefits to our trade partners and our mutual customers.
“Virgin Hotels is creating excitement in the UK market, and by having the expertise of a dedicated Virgin Hotels team, combined with the established trade reach of Virgin Atlantic will mean we are able to maximise our trade and customer opportunities.”
Maya Latinovic, Virgin Hotels’ global sales vice-president, added: “Our trade partners and consumers at the heart of this partnership already view the Virgin Atlantic and the Virgin Hotels brand as one.
“Offering a one-stop experience in the UK is essential to the growth of Virgin Hotels and Virgin Atlantic abroad and will provide tremendous benefits.
“Virgin Atlantic has cemented an exceptional reputation with trade in the UK and will further elevate Virgin Hotels’ efforts while increasing awareness on our collection of luxury lifestyle hotels.”
The current portfolio has six hotels: Virgin Hotels Chicago, Virgin Hotels Dallas and Virgin Hotels Nashville, plus newly opened Virgin Hotels New Orleans (pictured), Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and Virgin Hotels Edinburgh.
Properties in Glasgow and New York City are scheduled to open in 2022, followed by Miami in 2025.