The Virgin Experience – Virgin Hotel Dallas
The posh Virgin Hotel opened in December of 2019. Located in the Design District Area of Downtown Dallas, it is conveniently nestled just off 35E. Upon walking in, we were greeted by chic mannequins dressed to impress. The hotel explained that they brought them in to add a little life to the property for their guests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After saying hello to the front desk and meeting the Sales Manager, we made our way to the Funny Library which is their coffee shop. This great communal space is perfect for working, chatting with friends or reading a great book.
We wondered along into the The Kitchen at Commons Club which is their restaurant and bar. The Commons serves brunch daily. Woo Hoo who doesn’t love the option of brunch every day!?!?! They also have fantastic bar bites if you are grabbing a drink (the Uncommon Burger and Boujee Bites are not to be missed), and a full Dinner menu served beginning at 6pm. The Shag Room is a curtained off area that would be great for a small group gathering, birthday party or a business think tank.
Shag Room The Commons Bar
Next up were the Chambers (aka hotel rooms). The Virgin Hotel has 268 rooms, 20 suites and 10 corner suites. The décor is simple, clean, and elegant. My favorite feature is the sliding door between the bedroom and bathroom that can be locked and even comes with its own peep hole. Perfect for privacy when ordering room service or getting ready in the morning when others are sleeping.
My second favorite item was the stylish mini fridge! Located in every room, this is super convenient for left-overs, bottled waters, and breast milk storage for us moms! 🙂 This really does need to be the norm in all hotel rooms. The mini-bar situation is also on fire! With street level pricing, there is not a $20 pack of M&M’s to be found. They feature in-room pour over Laughing Man Coffee which is owned by none other than Mr. Hugh Jackman.
The hotel’s Rewards Program “The Know” is a great resource to join before coming to the hotel. Perks include room upgrades, complimentary drinks during the daily spirit hour, personalized stays and daily offers throughout the hotel and Commons Club.
All room features can be controlled hands free by downloading their Lucy App. Wi-Fi is complimentary in every room and COVID-19 protocols are being strictly followed. You can find more on that here.
Now since I am a Meeting Planner the event/meeting space they offer is always at the forefront of my mind. I kind of geek out over things like ceiling heights, standard room chairs and sound absorption. The Virgin didn’t disappoint. They offer four different indoor spaces for events and meetings, as well as some great outdoor spaces for special events.
The Giant – Indoor meeting or event space is a large (3735 sq ft) blank canvas that can be used for your typical business meeting or turned into a magnificent ballroom for dinner, receptions, weddings and much more. This room may also be broken up into three breakout spaces.
The Giant Pre-function – A great place for a cocktail hour, grab and go meals or breaks for all-day meetings. (3072 sq ft)
The Manor – Indoor space with an outdoor terrace. Great for Welcome Receptions, Weddings and Fun Activations. (2051 sq ft)
The Manor The Manor Patio
Rushmore – Perfect location for a board meeting, breakout space or executive lunch. It boasts floor to ceiling windows and beautiful bright walls with stunning art. (517 sq ft)
Just for the true geeks of meeting planning, here are their standard chairs for all events. All conference tables are linen less with a wood topped finish.
Now let’s get to the outdoor space. Who wouldn’t want to plan something in the Secret Garden or Adult Play ground?
Secret Garden – This tree-lined garden is a flawless location for a small birthday party, shower, rehearsal dinner or a corporate executive lunch. Did I mention there is a hot tub? This of course can be covered for events.
Adult Playground – Located right outside the pool area, the Adult Playground includes ping pong tables, cornhole and other games. A great outdoor seating area with a walk-up bar that serves food and drinks.
All together The Virgin has 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. So many possibilities!
Our last two stops were the gym and the much-anticipated pool area. We were graciously invited to spend a little time at the pool that day and boy were we ready!!!
We were greeted by this sign as we entered the gym.
Let me tell you, I think I need this sign in my own house. It might just be my 2021 Moto! 😊
The gym overlooks the pool so you have a great view while sweating out last night’s dinner.
So the time had come for some R&R. We were shown to the changing rooms near the pool and then directed to our loungers for the day. It was an absolute lovely day outside with a few guests enjoying the weather as well. We enjoyed a few Mimosas, Ceviche, the Uncommon Burger and a drink I thought was a Pina Colada but turned out to be a tad bit stronger!
I can’t wait to work with the Virgin on a future event. This is definitely not just a hotel, but a true experience.
