Richard Branson on The Simple Item That He Always Travels with

This guy is really cool.

As I watched Richard Branson enter his new hotel, I thought only one thing. Virgin Hotel London-ShoreditchWearing the “it guy’s” uniform of jeans, a tee-shirt in white, a jacket in black, and some nondescript shoes. While he is as timeless as they come, it is important to keep in mind that he has 74 years, which is almost a decade older than the UK retirement age. Branson, who aptly wrote the book “How to be Rich”, is not a person of his age.Screw It, Let’s Do It“Slowing down isn’t an option.” Especially when it comes to filling his life with adventure and travel—something he has no plans to stop anytime soon. When asked why he continues to work so long into his career, he replies, “I feel no different,” before adding, “unless I see my face in the reflection.” 

“I enjoy life enormously. I enjoy challenging myself. Branson told a group of guests on the roof terrace patio that he loves to challenge them. It’s equally as hip as its owner, with a pool, plush seating, and plenty of spots for those looking for a bite to eat at Marlin’s, which serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Branson has admitted that despite spending most of his time on his non profit ventures, he still enjoys the opportunity to “open a hotel in the U.K.” or to “fly to Saudi Arabia via Virgin Atlantic” or to “fly to Toronto using our new route”. Branson’s travel businesses allow him to travel the globe and immerse himself in the Virgin brand at every turn.

Branson will be in town for a launch Virgin Hotel London-ShoreditchIt’s a new Hidden Grooves Listening bar filled with vinyl including bands that he signed during his early days as Virgin Records. Branson, as he gazed up at the ceiling-to-floor shelves of the biggest hits in the U.K., said aloud: “Maybe it’s time to reopen Virgin Megastores.”

Travelers may be surprised to learn that the Virgin Hotel is the first Virgin Hotel ever built in London. Branson said, “I think we should have picked London 40 years ago but we did not have the money to do so after the music business and the airline.” Branson said that all of that is changing as the Virgin Atlantic team tries to open several hotels around the globe “so that Virgin Atlantic passengers can continue the Virgin Atlantic experience once they arrive.” 

That’s the thing about Branson—he’s a true travel connoisseur who knows exactly what travelers need and want out of an experience from takeoff to landing and beyond. And he’s always looking for ways to improve the Virgin travel experience—even if that means stealing from the airline.

As Branson shared with a laugh, years ago, a flight manager at Virgin Airlines begged him to ditch the cabin’s constantly pilfered mini salt‑and‑pepper shakers as it was costing them too much money to replace them. Instead of getting rid of them “we stamped underneath them”: Stolen from Virgin Atlantic,” he said, transforming that line‑item loss into the ultimate travel souvenir. 

Branson has visited almost every country. Branson has been everywhere. Space. He is always learning and listening to feedback from not only the Virgin executives, but from the crew onboard the aircraft, cabin stateroom attendants, etc. Virgin VoyagesThe front desk staff of his hotels. Branson is always traveling with a notepad.

“I keep a notebook at all times, listening to suggestions and writing them down,” he said. He remembered a flight where a cabin crew shared that the shoes selected as part of the uniform was causing him blisters. Branson said he took note of the comment, and ordered the shoes to be changed the next day.

Branson is known for his unique travel habits. While he devotes much time to perfecting the experience of guests and crew, he has also developed his own. Branson doesn’t stay in his hotel rooms for long. As soon as his bags arrive, he is ready to explore the area on foot, by bike or kiteboard.

“I love active holiday,” he said, rattle off a long list of activities to do. These ranged from paddle and pickupleball in Morocco to hiking the Atlas Mountains and swimming the warm Caribbean Sea in Necker. He says that this allows him to meet “all sorts of people in all kinds of different countries”, feeding his natural curiosity, and his notebook.