Now Open: Virgin Hotels Nashville!

Featured on hospitalitynet.org

Virgin Hotels Nashville, the lifestyle hotel brand developed by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, opens Wednesday, July 1st, at 1 Music Square W. Reservations are currently being accepted and can be made directly on the hotel's website, virginhotels.com/nashville or by calling (800) 806-8080.

Ranging from 291 to 592-square feet, all Chambers (rooms) are designed to consist of two distinct spaces separated by a barn-style sliding door, complete with a peephole, ideal for working, recharging, wellness and an overall better contactless experience. The first space, "The Dressing Room", combines the hallway and a dressing area which includes a full vanity, makeup desk with well-lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench complete with Red Flower toiletries, and a closet for two. Slide open the privacy door and guests will enter "The Lounge" with the brand's patented ergonomically designed lounge bed, a red SMEG® mini-fridge, High Definition TV, yoga mat, pedestal table and a cozy built-in window seating offers views of the Nashville skyline and Music Row. Ample outlets for smartphones, computers or other electronic devices are found in various areas of the rooms. All Chambers feature custom lighting on sensors that automatically illuminate when guests move. Additional amenities for pets are available in the Chambers. Virgin Hotels has always been committed to the health and safety of guests and the brand is taking additional measures to ensure guests feel safe throughout their time on property. With the opening of the hotel, the brand is ushering in a new standard of hospitality with the upgraded mobile app Lucy that allows guests to have a truly "touch free" experience via mobile keys, controlling lighting, thermostats and TVs, ordering room service and checking out all from their own mobile device.

Virgin Hotels Nashville offers dining and drinking options for both locals and hotel guests to enjoy. Executive Chef Patrick McEntyre oversees the culinary experiences at The Pool Club and Funny Library Coffee Shop. Located on the 14th floor of the hotel, The Pool Club boasts an indoor and outdoor bar and restaurant where guests can enjoy chef-driven food and inventive cocktails day or night. The seasonal menu features a variety of light bites, hearty entrees, fresh salads and sides. Whether it's lunch by the pool, dinner with a friend or snacks after work, The Pool Club offers a dining experience for every occasion. The beverage program highlights playful and refreshing drinks like champagne-based cocktails, boozy snow cones and a selection of local craft beer, spirits and wine. Local DJs spin soulful, laidback tunes regularly, rounding out the relaxed club experience. On the first floor of the hotel, the Funny Library Coffee Shop offers Laughing Man® coffee, the brand co-founded by actor Hugh Jackman, and a menu of grab and go items for breakfast and lunch. Commons Club, Virgin Hotels' flagship restaurant, bar and lounge, is set to debut this fall on the first floor of the hotel. Anchoring the main entrance of the hotel, Commons Club is designed to feel like a "members only" experience that's open to all. A specially curated entertainment and music program will add to the overall experience which evokes the feeling of a modern social club without dues, where both travelers and locals can enjoy.

Leading interior design firm, MARKZEFF, designed the property to be modern yet comfortable with playful elements incorporated throughout. Drawing inspiration from the Nashville region, design details are represented through the use of intricate brick, roughhewn timber, sumptuous furnishings and refined industrial elements. Nashville's rich history largely influenced the spaces, while artwork and custom furniture play a key role to create a delightful and memorable experience. Guests can find subtle nods to Nashville throughout the design like in the meeting spaces where the carpets are a modern interpretation of vintage quilts one might find in the area. More noticeably, music is celebrated from the moment patrons enter the hotel. A showstopping Music City Ensemble installation, designed by John Peralta, features a 12-piece ensemble of country music instruments - provided by some of the top manufacturers including A&F Drum Co, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Eastwood Guitars - floating weightlessly from the ceiling of the hotel lobby to welcome guests.

Developed by The Buccini/Pollin Group and operated by Virgin Hotels, the new-build property joins the city's iconic Music Row neighborhood, which is home to some of the most famous recording studios in music history, shops, restaurants and other attractions. The exterior, designed by BLUR Workshop and Nashville-based Hastings Architecture, taps into the history of the city while continuing to progress the city's wave of modern architecture.

The hotel also features a state-of-the-art fitness center, which is open 24 hours a day, and over 9,000-square feet of flexible meeting and event space. To maximize their time on property, guests can sign up for the brand-wide guest preferences and loyalty program, The Know, to unlock member rate discounts, room upgrades, exclusive dining and event offers and a complimentary cocktail hour dubbed "The Spirit Hour."

CRE Clients Featured in Food & Wine Magazine

Congratulations to our clients Le Cavalier at the Green Room, Bardea Food & Drink, and DECO Wilmington who were recognized by Food and Wine magazine for their influence on Wilmington's Restaurant Renaissance!

Wilmington, Delaware’s Restaurant Scene Deserves Your Attention

By: Regan Stephens

In just a few days, Tyler Akin will know what the floors look like. The drab, worn rugs inside the 2,500-square-foot dining room will be ripped up, where the terrazzo underneath may or may not be ruined from a previous renovation. Akin, the chef and owner of Philadelphia’s Stock and Res Ipsa, is working on his biggest project to date, about 30 miles south.

The 36-year-old Delaware native is reimagining the Green Room in Wilmington’s historic Hotel Du Pont, which has, until now, remained largely unchanged for the last hundred-or-so years. The new restaurant, named Le Cavalier, is expected to open this spring, joining a host of new restaurants making Delaware’s biggest city a supremely compelling place to eat.

The Hotel Du Pont first opened in 1913 inside the DuPont building, which occupies an entire city block in downtown Wilmington. Inspired by the opulent hotels populating European cities at the time, the 217-room property has hosted dozens of luminaries over the years, including Amelia Earhart, Katherine Hepburn, and Eleanor Roosevelt. In 2017, the building was bought by local real estate developer the Buccini/Pollin Group, which, along with PM Hotel Group and Akin, have set about giving the Green Room a contemporary upgrade.

“There aren’t many examples quite like the Green Room,” says Akin, who grew up visiting it. “It hits you in the face—you’re walking through history.”

The Green Room revamp is coming in the midst of a restaurant renaissance that’s helping to revitalize the city of Wilmington at large. In the fall of 2018, modern Italian bistro Bardea opened, and within the year it was a James Beard Award semi-finalist for best new restaurant—a first for Wilmington.

Co-owner Scott Stein says he and partner Antimo DiMeo started thinking about opening a restaurant in the city about five years ago. “It still had some growing and developing to do, so we were patient and waited a few years before going for it,” he says. “When we found the space that is now Bardea, we knew it was a fit and we were eager to become a part of this amazing city.”

Just last fall, a local restaurant group opened the speakeasy-style cocktail bar Torbert Street Social in a historic brick building that was once a horse stable, tucked behind a string of restaurants in the city’s Financial District. Also housed in the DuPont building, Deco—short for Delaware Collective, and a nod to the area’s Art Deco architecture—is a new food hall with eight restaurant stalls, a bar, and a private event space. Seven stalls in the $3.5 million project are constant, and range from pastries and banh mi to a pizza-focused outpost of Bardea, while one stall is revolving, allowing local chefs to test concepts before committing to a brick and mortar. While food halls have been opening in cities across the country over the last few years, this is Wilmington’s first, and it's a big deal.

As places like Deco and Bardea were propelling Wilmington’s food scene forward—with dishes like Deco’s banh mi with barbecue pork and housemade veggie chips, and Bardea's hamachi collar aged in foie gras—the Green Room remained stagnant, serving standards like shrimp cocktail and surf and turf…

Continue reading on foodandwine.com

A Neo-Brasserie Arrives at the HOTEL DU PONT This Spring

Image courtesy of Stokes Architecture & Design

Chef-Partner Tyler Akin, PM Hotel Group and The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (Buccini/Pollin) are pleased to announce the new French brasserie arriving at the HOTEL DU PONT this Spring will be named Le Cavalier at the Green Room.

“Le Cavalier” (pronounced: luh-KAH-vuhl-YAY) honors the deep equestrian tradition in the Brandywine River Valley.  Our inspiration started with Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and President of Delaware during the revolutionary war, who is honored with a mounted horseback statue prominently overlooking adjacent Rodney Square.  

In the early 20th century when the Hotel opened, visitors would arrive by horse as often as they would by automobile or on foot. Finally, the du Pont family's history of horsemanship, from William du Pont Jr. and Marion du Pont Scott to Frolic Weymouth, provided further validation of the new moniker.

The team believes that the inclusion of “at the Green Room,” in the name shows ownership’s reverence for the storied dining room’s history.  The Green Room has played a pivotal role in defining the Wilmington’s dining scene over the past century. While Le Cavalier at the Green Room pays deep respect to the history of the space, the new restaurant represents a full reconcepting and is not a renovation of the existing concept.

“It is important to us to honor the Green Room’s unparalleled legacy,” said Dave Pollin, co-founder and president of The Buccini/Pollin Group and chairman of PM Hotel Group. “That said, we are actively talking to the community and are thrilled to deliver on meeting the demand for a more casual, chef-driven restaurant. We believe Le Cavalier at the Green Room will marry reverence and progress and hit those notes for our guests.”

Image courtesy of Stokes Architecture & Design

Le Cavalier at the Green Room will be a bustling and progressive French brasserie open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch seven days a week, 365 days a year. The restaurant’s cuisine pulls influences from Provençe and North Africa served up in an approachable atmosphere that is at once contemporary and nostalgic. Chef will design menus that showcase innovative riffs on French classics alongside ever-evolving seasonal offerings that showcase the vibrancy of Delaware foodways.

“Naming this restaurant was an incredibly difficult yet rewarding part of the process. With Le Cavalier at the Green Room, we honor what came before us while looking ahead to how we can bring Wilmington a restaurant that is both convivial and approachable,” said Chef-Partner Tyler Akin. Tyler is also the Chef-Owner of Stock and Res Ipsa Cafe in Philadelphia.

The restaurant, designed by Stokes Architecture & Design, will boast 125 seats with an intimate 14 seat bar, a private dining room and seasonal outdoor patio seating on Rodney Square. Director of Design, Lance Saunders, will thoughtfully update the space to create a more lively atmosphere while celebrating the room’s elegant bones. Le Cavalier at the Green Room is expected to open in Spring 2020.

Virgin Hotels Nashville Set for May 2020 Opening in the Historic Music Row Neighborhood

Virgin Hotels has announced that reservations are now live for the brand's fourth hotel: Virgin Hotels Nashville. Reservations are currently being accepted for stays starting May 3, 2020, and can be made directly on the hotel's website, virginhotels.com/nashville or by calling (800) 806-8080.

Conveniently situated at the helm of Nashville's historic Music Row neighborhood at 1 Music Square W, Virgin Hotels Nashville will deliver a one-of-a-kind hotel experience. The hotel will feature 262 Chambers, including Grand Chamber Suites, multiple dining and drinking outlets such as the brand's signature Commons Club, and a rooftop lounge with pool.

Ranging from 291 to 592-square feet, all guest Chambers (rooms) are uniquely designed to consist of two distinct spaces separated by a barn-style sliding door, complete with a peephole, ideal for working, recharging, wellness and playing. The first space, "The Dressing Room", combines the hallway and a dressing area which includes a full vanity, makeup desk with a well-lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench competed with Red Flower toiletries and a closet for two. Slide open the privacy door and guests will enter "The Lounge" with the brand's patented ergonomically designed lounge bed, a red SMEG® mini-fridge stocked with street-priced comforts, High Definition TV, yoga mat, pedestal table, and a cozy built-in window seating offers views of the Nashville skyline and Music Row. Ample outlets for their smartphone, computer or other electronic devices are found in various areas of the rooms. All Chambers feature custom lighting on sensors that automatically illuminate when guests move. Additional amenities for pets will be available in the Chambers. Chambers have integrated tech capabilities including the ability to control lighting, thermostats, TVs, and order room services directly via the mobile app, Lucy.

Commons Club will anchor the main entrance of the hotel and is designed to feel like a "members only" experience that's open to all. A specially curated entertainment and music program will add to the overall experience which evokes the feeling of a modern social club without dues, where both travelers and locals can enjoy. The Pool Club Rooftop & Bar will be located on the 14-floor rooftop of the hotel where light bites and cocktails will be served. In addition, Virgin Hotels Nashville will feature a Funny Library Coffee Shop, located on the first level of the hotel. The coffee shop is a communal workspace that will house an assortment of whimsical and funny books and games. Funny Library Coffee Shop will pour coffee by Laughing Man®, the brand co-founded by actor Hugh Jackman. The hotel will also feature a state-of-the-art fitness center, which will be open 24 hours a day, and over 9,000-square feet of flexible meeting and event space. To maximize their time on property, guests can sign up for the brand-wide guest preferences and loyalty program, The Know, to unlock member rate discounts, room upgrades, exclusive dining and event offers and a complimentary cocktail hour dubbed "The Spirit Hour."

Virgin Hotels Nashville is being developed by the Buccini/Pollin Group and operated by Virgin Hotels. The new build property is located in the heart of Nashville at the corner of Division Street and Music Square W. The hotel will join the city's iconic Music Row neighborhood, which is home to some of the most famous recording studios in music history, shops, restaurants, and other attractions.

Learn more at virginhotels.com/nashville

CRE Team Grows With Two New Procurement Specialists

As Christina River Exchange continues to grow and develop new client relationships, we recognized the need to grow our team as well. Please join us in welcoming Courtney Miller and Sabrina Matheson to the CRE team as Procurement Specialists!

Meet Courtney Miller

Prior to joining Christina River Exchange, Courtney worked at Bear Creek Arsenal as a Supply Chain Associate. She comes to us with prior experience in supply chain, export and import logistics, and customer service. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management at Wilmington University.

Her interest in and knowledge of the industry will advance her ability to successfully work with Clients throughout the entire FF&E cycle of a project, from the design phase to installation. Courtney is thrilled to join the distinguished CRE team and assist on a number of projects.

To get to know Courtney a little better, we asked her a few questions…

• What led you to Christina River Exchange? I wanted to further my career by pursuing a position in procurement and also work for an amazing company. CRE holds values that match everything I was looking for.

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of? I created an organized structure of reports for items that needed to be ordered and items that we were waiting to arrive. This system reduced production meeting time, and I was able to send out the appropriate spreadsheets that increased efficiency on our team.

• What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day? Happy hour or watching The Office!

• Are you an early bird or a night owl? Early bird! I am most productive in the morning.

• What was your first job? I worked as a party attendant at an inflatable party place.

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Meet Sabrina Matheson

Before Cristina River Exchange, Sabrina previously worked as a Bid & Purchasing Manager for the artwork manufacturer, Kaleidoscope Design Factory. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Florida State University.

Her experience in the manufacturing industry gives her a unique perspective on the FF&E procurement cycle, specifically relating to approvals, lead times, and schedules. Given her knowledge of manufacturing, Sabrina looks forward to assisting the team in all aspects of the FF&E Cycle.

We got the chance to learn more about Sabrina…

• What led you to Christina River Exchange? I was looking for a new adventure in the Pennsylvania / Delaware area and this position came up. It was an ideal opportunity for me to learn new skills and apply my current skill set from my previous position purchasing raw materials.

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of? Any time I can make a process more efficient. For example, when all the complicated formulas finally work out in Excel, it’s a major accomplishment.

• What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day? It’s 50/50. Going for a run or sprawling out on the couch and binge watching TV.

• Are you an early bird or a night owl? Early bird! I like to wake up early to get a head start on my to-do list.

• What was your first job? Executive Assistant

We welcome Courtney and Sabrina to our team & look forward to their contributions!

Virgin Hotels New Orleans Breaks Ground

Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, marks a new milestone as Virgin Hotels breaks ground with The Buccini/Pollin Group on Virgin Hotels New Orleans. The groundbreaking ceremony marks Virgin Hotels’ seventh property, behind the current locations open in Chicago and San Francisco, the soon-to-open Virgin Hotels Dallas, and under construction Virgin Hotels Nashville, Virgin Hotels New York, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. Virgin Hotels New Orleans is slated to open its doors in 2021.

“I’m incredibly happy to announce that Virgin will now have a home at Virgin Hotels New Orleans, a home for both visitors and locals alike,” said Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “It’s going to have all the signature offerings of our hotels including the exceptional customer experience that Virgin is known for. New Orleans is a truly special city and a melting pot of cultures and traditions. We will certainly make sure to celebrate the local character of The Big Easy throughout our hotel. I’m very much looking forward to the rise of Virgin Hotels New Orleans in 2021.”

“We’ve had our eyes on New Orleans for a while, so we’re thrilled to be kicking off construction today,” commented Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal. “We were extremely diligent in ensuring we tapped the right partners to develop, design and curate the best hotel product for this extraordinary market. Today’s groundbreaking means we are one step closer to seeing our vision come to life!”

Located in the Warehouse District at 550 Baronne Street, Virgin Hotels New Orleans sits directly next to the Central Business District close to a growing number of new restaurants, galleries and shops. The property will feature over 200 chambers, multiple dining and drinking outlets such as the brand’s signature Commons Club and the recently announced Funny Library Coffee Shop, a rooftop pool and lounge, gym and dedicated meetings and event spaces. Virgin Hotels New Orleans will be completed by Mathes Brierre Architects, CallisonRTKL Architects, and Broadmoor Construction and will be managed by Virgin Hotels.

Local New Orleans interior design firm Logan Killen Interiors are designing the hotel to incorporate a Southern residential feel while combining colorful, tropical architectural motifs with Virgin’s signature style of fun and smart. The hotel will feel more like one’s home away from home than another city hotel. Common spaces like the lush rooftop pool deck and the Jazz Age-inspired Commons Club inspire curiosity and exploration around every turn.

To commemorate the groundbreaking, Virgin Hotels in conjunction with The Buccini/Pollin Group hosted key members of each group for an intimate ceremony. During the event, members of the Virgin Hotels development team took the first shovels to the ground at the future hotel site. Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Hotels Chief Development Officer Allie Hope offered remarks, followed by a brief press Q&A and photo opportunity. Also, on site was brand partner Laughing Man® Coffee Company offering refreshments for guests.

The brand’s second property, Virgin Hotels San Francisco, opened earlier this year in SoMa (South of Market) just steps from Yerba Buena Gardens and the Moscone Center. The brand’s first hotel, Virgin Hotels Chicago, opened in 2015. Virgin Hotels continues to explore cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Seattle, Washington DC, and London; all locations where they are pursuing hotel and office conversions and ground-up development.

As CRE Turns 3, Co-Founder Michelle Schwandt Reflects on Past, Present & Future

Three years goes by in the blink of an eye. 15 hospitality projects (and counting), 2 restaurants and 2 multi-residential projects….the journey has been nothing short of amazing. Our most memorable projects include Renaissance Philadelphia, The Hotel du Pont, ARC.The Hotel, Canopy Pike & Rose and The National.  These projects challenged us to think differently, think smarter and apply innovative solutions to meet the needs of our Clients. But more amazing than the projects are the people we work with every day – our hospitality associates at BPGS, architects, interior designers and vendors. We thank you for your professionalism and steadfast commitment to each and every project – and for making our work enjoyable!

To our Clients  - thank you for entrusting your projects with CRE. As we look to the future, CRE remains focused on three priorities: service, schedule and budget. CRE is committed to continuously evaluating our processes and relationships to ensure these priorities are always at the forefront of our work.

And finally, to the team at CRE – I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented and dedicated group of people.  Our team is enriched by your commitment to your work and to the relationships you’ve built with each other – because of you we’ve grown as individuals and as a company. Thank you for 3 years and cheers to a bright future ahead!

- Michelle Schwandt, Co-Founder & Managing Director

Impressive Amenities Draw Residents to The National

On the site previously occupied by the iconic National Products building in Old City Philadelphia, The National thoughtfully draws from its mid-century roots while offering contemporary amenities and luxurious interiors that today’s modern renters are seeking. Amenities at The National are designed to impress at every corner, including a two-story clubhouse with a demonstration kitchen, convenient pet washing station, a full-service fitness center managed by Level 1 Fitness, and rooftop deck, complete with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace, for residents to enjoy the dramatic views of both Center City and the Delaware River.

ARC THE.HOTEL Transformation Complete

Historically owned by the iconic George Washington University and a pillar of the community, the transformation of the beloved GW University Inn to ARC THE.HOTEL, Washington, D.C. was thoughtfully crafted in tradition, with a lean toward the latest technology and purposeful service.

#ThoughtfullyLocal: Canopy by Hilton hotels highlight local neighborhoods through thoughtful design

Canopy by Hilton is the energizing, new hotel in the neighborhood offering simple guest-directed service, thoughtful local choices, and surprisingly comfortable spaces, so guests simply feel better going forward. Each property is designed as a natural extension of its neighborhood, with local design, food and drink, and delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience. Canopy by Hilton is the lifestyle hotel brand of Hilton Worldwide.

We’ve had the pleasure of working on two Canopy by Hilton hotels this year, one near Washington D.C. in Bethesda North, MD and the other in Portland, OR. With only five Canopy by Hilton branches open in the United States, we are thrilled to help bring these exciting hotels to new markets.

Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C. Bethesda North

Image Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton

As the second Canopy by Hilton location in the United States, Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C. Bethesda North incorporates design staples of the Canopy by Hilton brand, including residential-style guestrooms with a locally interpreted Canopy above the bed and open closets. This is one of the first MARKZEFF-designed locations to open with interiors that fuse authentic materials, such as rough-hewn oak wood walls, concrete floors, and locally inspired artwork, furnishings, and accessories. Mark Zeff is also the firm that collaborated with Hilton’s team to initially create Canopy’s interior design ethos at the inception of the brand.

Image Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton

The entrance of the 177-room hotel features two impressive design elements: a two-story, living moss wall that from a distance looks like a map of the area and a massive chandelier draped with opaque acrylic reproductions of pages from a 1933 National Geographic Magazine. An early resident of the area, Gilbert Grosvenor (a nearby Metro stop, Grosvenor, bears his name) was the editor of that 1933 issue, dedicated to the birds of his Bethesda country home.

The feeling of the hotel lobby seating area is electric and eclectic. Its materials consist of velvet and leather, glass and wood. A combination of enveloping couches and hard surface chairs creates a comfortable cross between shabby chic and industrial. The lobby area also includes 48 colorful pop art portraits of other local notables

Floors throughout are high gloss, painted concrete with bright area rugs, and sliding barn doors define the bathroom in an homage to the area’s farming roots.

Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District

Image Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton

True to theme, Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District incorporates the revitalized industrial neighborhood and its indie boutiques, art galleries, microbreweries, and green spaces throughout the hotel, designed by locally based firm ZGF Architects and New York-based interior designer MARKZEFF.

Image Courtesy of Canopy by Hilton

The 153-room hotel features industrial finishes such as hot rolled steel metal beams, brick walls and concrete floors in parts of the lobby, café & reception area. The check-in desk, as well as other furniture pieces, are fabricated by local vendors. Throw pillows throughout the hotel feature fabric from Pendleton Woolen Mills, a sixth-generation family-owned Portland business.The guest rooms also feature an interpretation of a “canopy,” which extends over the front of the bed and is made of timber resembling the Oregon state tree, a Douglas Fir, creating a direct connection to the beauty and natural wonder of the Pacific Northwest.

Even the hotel’s exterior acts as a symbolic bridge between the Pearl District’s old and new structures, thoughtfully incorporating materials that reflect and complement the neighborhood’s past and future. The oiled bronze-inspired facade of the building – which is an art installation itself – changes its golden hue in synchronicity with the passing phases of daylight. Casement windows at street level allow activities in the hotel to carry out onto the sidewalks of Glisan Street, creating outdoor seating and an inviting setting for both guests and passersby.

Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District’s art curator, Elizabeth Leach of Elizabeth Leach Gallery located next door to the hotel, selects works from local artists to showcase around the hotel in both the property’s permanent and rotating art collections.

Virgin Hotels coming to Nashville & New Orleans

Richard Branson brings the iconic Virgin brand into new markets around the world to shake up the status quo. Virgin Hotels is positioned as the much-needed bridge between the current landscape of lifestyle and legacy hotels. With a focus on the fantastic, the global hotel lifestyle brand combines comfort and innovation with a unique mix of cultural influences, from fashion to music and everything in between.

Once ready for business, Virgin Hotels properties will feature the brand’s charismatic and contemporary style alongside innovative functionality, ample communal space and a signature restaurant, all wrapped in an efficient, personalized experience.

Christina River Exchange is thrilled to be able to assist in bringing this new hotel experience to two locations: Nashville and New Orleans!

Virgin Hotels Nashville

Located in the historic Music Row area of the city, Virgin Hotels Nashville will deliver a one-of-a-kind hotel experience. The hotel will feature 240 chambers, the brand’s take on guestrooms, which will include both “The Dressing Room” featuring a full vanity, make-up desk and well-lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench, and his and hers closets designed by Poliform®, and “The Lounge”, which consists of Virgin’s patented designed bed, ideal for working, recharging, wellness and playing.

Virgin Nashville will also include multiple dining and drinking outlets such as the brand's signature Commons Club, a rooftop and pool, and - fitting for Music City - a speakeasy.

The design for Virgin Nashville is inspired by local musical influences and will maintain the brand’s innovative style.

Judi Crook, Interior Designer for MARKZEFF, says “Virgin Nashville’s design fuses modern industrial with a sleek, playful, and sophisticated style, aiming to create a unique and timeless design in which guests are sure to find endless visual variety and luxurious comfort at every moment.”

Virgin Hotels Nashville is expected to open in 2019.

Virgin Hotels New Orleans

Virgin Hotels New Orleans is situated in the city’s Warehouse District. The up-and-coming area sits directly next to the Central Business District and is home to a growing number of new restaurants, galleries and shops. Similar to Nashville, the new-build hotel will feature 225 chambers, the brand’s flagship space, Commons Club, a rooftop pool and lounge, gym, and dedicated meeting and event spaces.

The hotel’s design concept is to create a unique and immersive experience for guests, mirroring the history, food and music in New Orleans. Virgin Hotels’ Vice President of Design Teddy Mayer has tapped a local design firm, Logan Killen Interiors, to bring an authentic New Orleans flair to the project.

Virgin Hotels New Orleans is expected to open in 2020.