Sir Richard Branson is heralding the US as a key expansion market for his collection of unique retreats, Virgin Limited Edition.

Virgin Limited Edition's current portfolio of properties includes Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Ulusaba in South Africa, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco and, coming soon, The Lodge in Verbier and Natirar in New Jersey. Since its inception in 2000, the group has achieved phenomenal success globally, leading to unprecedented demand for future expansion worldwide.

Virgin Limited Edition are proud to announce that they will be opening their first dedicated Sales and Marketing office in the United States in 2007. An opening that will no doubt be seen as a statement of just how seriously Sir Richard Branson is viewing the US market.

This establishment will open imminently and be housed within the Virgin Management offices in Manhattan, NY.

The move signals a confident and significant step change for management of the American operation of the group. Jon Brown, Managing Director of Virgin Limited Edition, explains:

"We have been fortunate to enjoy many years of fantastic support from our loyal US representation company, Sanctuare. Awareness of our properties has grown significantly in recent months and we are proud to welcome an increasingly high number of guests from America. Therefore, we feel that in order to now meet our American guests needs, as our portfolio continues to expand, we need to offer them a dedicated US sales office".

This demand from US customers has been driven by a number of prestigious accolades achieved by Virgin Limited Edition throughout 2006. The group was awarded four highly regarded Conde Nast Traveller awards, including Best Hotel in Morrocco for Kasbah Tamadot and Best Leisure facilities for Ulusaba Private Game Reserve*.

But it is not just the acclaimed facilities that each of the retreat's guests can enjoy, they are looked after by an award winning team as well. Industry accolades for Virgin Limited Edition personnel in 2006 include a top 4 ranking in the Catey's 2006 annual marketing award and The Caterer's Group title of 'best place to work in hospitality for an individual unit' for The Roof Gardens, London*.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group, concluded:

"American business to each of our Limited Edition properties has grown substantially and we are hugely excited for the future. We are proud to begin 2007 with the opening of our first US office and will continue this ambitious announcement with the imminent opening of our first US property, Natirar, in Somerset County, New Jersey. We look forward to bringing the award winning Virgin Limited Edition ethos to the United States and welcoming many more American guests to our unique properties around the world".