Richard Branson

Is Richard Branson’s high-speed train in a pneumatic tube pie in the sky?

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First airlines, then spaceships. Now the Virgin boss wants to build Hyperloop One – a high-speed, pneumatic maglev railway. But engineering experts doubt that it will ever leave the station

Richard Branson – the first international investor to commit to Saudi Arabia’s luxury Red Sea project

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Saudi Arabia to launch an international tourism project called The Red Sea. Project will be established across a lagoon of untouched natural islands, mountains and coastline. Envisioned as an exquisite resort destination established across a lagoon of 50 untouched natural islands,The Red Sea project in Saudi Arabia will be situated on the site of one … Read more

Virgin’s Lodge in Verbier promises a Summer of Sustainability

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Paragliding anyone? Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier.

This summer promises to be the most sustainable yet at Virgin’s Lodge in Verbier. Perched high in the Swiss Alps, The Lodge is a luxury mountain chalet in Verbier, perfect for visits in both summer and winter.

Virgin Limited Edition is Sir Richard Branson’s collection of unique retreats and luxury hotels.

Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier -Thinking of summer..

The Lodge re-opens for the summer season on 2nd June 2017 and to celebrate the return of Verbier’s sunnier side the team of chefs reveal a sustainable new menu featuring locally sourced meat, ingredients picked fresh from the mountain and an inventive approach to bread making.

Head Chef Hugh Millard and his Michelin-star trained kitchen team will be focusing on vegetarian dining, as well as ensuring a nose-to-tail approach to meat, with some of the more unusual cuts being smoked and slow-cooked on the mountain side for an exciting twist on a summertime barbecue. Beer lovers will be thrilled to learn more about The Lodge’s bread making process, as the chefs recycle grains used by a local brewery for the loaves that are baked each day. From breakfast to dinner and everything in between, dishes at The Lodge will also feature ingredients that have been foraged from the valley, including wild garlic and the blueberries that are turned into The Lodge’s signature jam.

In summer meals are served communally, giving you a chance to share what you’ve been up to during the day with other guests. You can dine al fresco whilst enjoying the fresh mountain air on the terrace where there is a BBQ and bar area.

Complete with nine stunning bedrooms and suites, an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and a friendly team of experienced staff including a spa therapist and Michelin-star trained chefs, The Lodge is a true alpine paradise, ideal for a luxury ski holiday or an active summer break.

“From the moment I saw it I knew this beautiful chalet in the Swiss Alps was destined to become my favourite mountain hideaway. I chose Verbier because it’s an amazing year round destination and offers world-class skiing, fabulous apres-ski and everything you could wish for in a summer escape! Para-gliding, rock climbing, mountain biking… you name it! I hope you too will enjoy your experience at The Lodge as much as I always do,” says Sir Richard Branson.

Verbier Lodge Switzerland - The hills are alive with the sound of clinking glasses and munching food Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier -restaurants Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - The Pool Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - The perfect place to soak up the Verbier sunshine Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - summertime ready Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - Summer loving Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - Happy cows in Verbier. These cute guys supply the milk Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - Feeling adventurous Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - cuisine Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - Afternoon tea Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - a little treat for the summer season Summer of Sustainability at The Lodge in Verbier - a little gourmet treat for the summer season- Sit back and take in the fresh Verbier air Ain’t No Mountain High Enough in Verbier Switzerland

 

First Look at Richard Branson’s new Son Balagueret resort

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Virgin Limited Edition shared first images of its newly-opened villa, Son Balagueret Virgin Limited Edition shared the first images of its newly-opened villa, Son Balagueret, situated on the Son Bunyola Estate. Son Bunyola is a large private estate located in between Esporles and Banyalbufar on the Northwest coast of Mallorca. The new villa is Son … Read more

Richard Branson unveils villas on the picturesque Spanish island of Mallorca

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Richard Branson’s vast estate on the island’s northwest coast covers 680 acres of stunning landscape and includes two villa. Last December, Richard Branson announced he has bought back an iconic estate in Majorca he sold 13 years ago. Now, the villas Sa Punta De S’Aguila and Sa Terra Rotja situated on the Son Bunyola Estate are … Read more

Richard Branson fronts nail-biting campaign against rhino poaching

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richard branson rhino horn

Powered by Guardian.co.ukThis article titled “Richard Branson fronts nail-biting campaign against rhino poaching” was written by Jessica Aldred, for theguardian.com on Wednesday 13th January 2016 11.20 UTC

Sir Richard Branson is leading a new campaign against the sale of rhino horn that features the Virgin founder, along with Chinese celebrities and global wildlife ambassadors, chewing their nails.

The campaign, a series of English and Chinese-language billboards and videos from conservation groups WildAid and the African Wildlife Foundation, aims to highlight how rhino horn is made primarily of keratin, the same protein that makes up human fingernails and hair, which has no medical benefits.

In one advert, Sir Richard is shown biting his nails next to the words: “Keratin. That’s all it is. No different or more a medical remedy than your fingernails. So with a dwindling rhino population, why kill off one of our planet’s greatest species for no reason?”

Rhino horn is considered a status symbol in Vietnam and China, where the growth of the middle class has led to an explosion in demand for the horn, which is ground down and used as a traditional medicinal cure and recreational drug. International criminal syndicates are known to charge £60,000 a kilo for an illegal substance that is worth more than gold but is actually no different from human fingernails.

“Rhino horn’s luxury cache among a privileged few is the root cause of the poaching crisis raging in Africa,” said WildAid chief executive, Peter Knights. “This campaign seeks to deflate rhino horn’s allure and expose it for what it is: fraud.”

The most recent official figures show that 749 rhinos had been poached by 27 August last year in South Africa, where most of the animals are concentrated. The rate had further intensified after a record total of 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014.

The adverts will be displayed on billboards in Beijing airport, Chonqing’s Central Square and around Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Videos will be broadcasted on several national TV networks and onboard bullet trains, and heavily promoted on Chinese social media networks.

Also featuring in the “nail biters” campaign is Vietnamese-American actress and WildAid wildlife champion of the year Maggie Q, Chinese actor Li Bingbing and Chinese celebrities such as actor and singer Jing Boran, fashion photographer Chen Man and actor Chen Kun.

A Vietnamese version of the “nail biters” campaign is also underway, as part of a drive to educate consumers in the world’s largest rhino horn market and persuade them not to buy, gift or consume rhino horn.

“Rhino horn won’t cure cancer or a headache, but the rhino poaching epidemic in Africa does have a cure, and it involves people not buying rhino horn,” said Dr Patrick Bergin, African Wildlife Foundation chief executive. “Sir Richard and other campaign celebrities are delivering the message, and now we need citizens in China and Vietnam to be part of the solution.”

Earlier this week England cricketers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn followed in the footsteps of Prince Harry by learning about the plight of rhinos at the Shamwari wildlife rehabilitation centre ahead of the third test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

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