“Virgin is all about fun, entertainment, not taking ourselves too seriously,” said Sir Richard, who was knighted by the UK’s Prince Charles in 2000. Among those is Los Angeles-based investment firm Juniper Capital Partners. Financial terms of the purchase have yet to be released, and despite Branson’s appearance, Virgin Hotels has yet to issue a formal corporate statement regarding the acquisition. ‘Hundreds of millions’īranson’s Virgin Group was joined by several investment partners in the acquisition from Brookfield Asset Management. At least eight more Virgin Hotels properties are in the planning stages, including efforts in New York, Dallas, Washington, D.C, and even outside the U.S., such as Edinburgh in Scotland. Though yet to be renamed, the Vegas Hard Rock becomes the second property in Branson’s growing Virgin Hotels chain. Renovations at the property, which will remain open for business throughout, are expected to run into 2019, and it will remain Hard Rock-branded until renovations are complete. The 1,500-room venue was acquired as part of Branson’s Virgin Hotels corporate entity and will be renamed Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The purchase of the off-Strip Hard Rock was revealed by Branson in his typical showman style at a press conference held at the hotel-casino on Friday, March 30. Global entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson has announced the purchase of Las Vegas’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
