"When I saw Necker for the first time, it was from above - I just looked down at this beautiful, pristine sea and beaches. It is like a perfect jewel. It's got a reef the whole way around the island - the sea is turquoise, you can see a hundred feet down to the bottom. You could see rays, you could see turtles. There's no pollution at all. It's just exquisite and it's full of wildlife and it is virgin territory through and through."
"Long story short, I managed to buy the island, and slowly we created this very special place,"
"It taught me a lot about what people love [to see in travel], and that's where the idea came from. We could find pristine places around the world - bits of land that needed protection - and then create small, boutique-style places on them."
Richard Branson purchased Necker Island and used the experience to launch Virgin Limited Edition in 2000. The approach focuses on locating pristine, wildlife-rich parcels and converting them into small, boutique properties that prioritize conservation and distinctive guest experiences. The model favors shared, actively used retreats over private family houses that remain empty and deliver little economic benefit. Initial properties included Necker Island, Ulusaba in South Africa and London's Kensington Roof Gardens, each designed as intimate escapes that protect land, employ local people and offer guests rare, environmentally sensitive travel experiences.
Read at CN Traveller
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