Virgin Hotel Collection’s executive director of sales for the UK, EMEA and APAC is to leave the company after more than 20 years. 

Vanessa Rothery first joined the company in 2003 as lodge manager for Virgin Limited Edition’s Sabi Sands Reserve camp Ulusaba, and rose the ranks to become the property’s sales and marketing manager.

Following a two-year stint away from the company between 2010 and 2012, Rothery returned to hold various roles including space agent for Virgin Group's space venture Virgin Galactic and director of sales for South Africa and regional director of sales for Virgin Limited Edition.

In 2023, when the group created Virgin Hotels Collection and unveiled a global sales team for sister brands Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition, Rothery became executive director of sales for the UK, EMEA and APAC, overseeing the sales strategy for both brands. 

Confirming her departure on LinkedIn, she said: “At the end of August, my journey with Virgin Limited Edition will be coming to an end. After more than 20 wonderful years with VLE, I am reflecting on this incredible brand and family business, with much love in my heart and passion for this incredible collection of beautiful and unique retreats which I get to call my workplace.

“So many partnerships that have grown into friendships over the years and across so many different continents, we truly are blessed to work in such an amazing industry of luxury travel and experience.

“I have been fortunate to meet incredible people in all the places I have travelled to, and I am forever grateful for my wonderful colleagues and mentors, many that feel like close family. I am extremely proud of what VLE has achieved over the past two decades and that I could be a part of this amazing adventure.

“I move on to pastures new with an exciting new challenge and opportunity and look forward to keeping in touch as always.”

Virgin Hotels Collection confirmed it would be replacing Rothery’s position “like-for-like” and was at the “very early stages of recruitment”.

It added that the current sales team structure would remain “very much the same, with [the group] naturally reviewing any opportunities for growth internally”.

Doug Carillo, chief marketing officer of Virgin Hotels Collection, said: “Vanessa has been an instrumental part of the Virgin Limited Edition family, almost from its inception.  We have been incredibly fortunate to have the immense passion and knowledge Vanessa has given us over the past two decades and she has played a huge part in the growth and success of Virgin Limited Edition.  We wish her the very best of luck in her new ventures and look forward to seeing her continued success.”