Around the World in 80 Ways

From London to New York to Miami and beyond, Richard Branson’s Virgin Group immerses guests in the brand’s signature vibe in its aircraft, hotels and cruise ships. Meet the flamboyant visionary who dreamed it all

- By Laurie Brookins

On the 39th floor of the just opened Virgin Hotel in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood, Richard Branson saunters into an event space that has been designed to highlight one of Manhattan’s most iconic sites: the Empire State Building, which rises against a brilliant blue sky, and indeed seems so close that Branson might reach out and touch it. This view has occupied a corner of Branson’s mind since he arrived in New York via the inaugural flight of his Virgin Atlantic airline. On June 22, 1984, Branson leased a 747-200 and christened it the Maiden Voyager. The plane departed London’s Gatwick Airport and touched down hours later at Newark Liberty International Airport. With the 40th anniversary of that milestone on the horizon, what would he tell his 33-year-old self about opening a hotel just steps from one of the most legendary examples of American architecture? Branson smiles as he takes another look at the view: “I’d say, ‘Just keep pinching yourself, because it’s going to be a hell of a ride.’”