BRANSON KEEN TO SET UP VIRGIN HOTELS IN ASIA

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- British tycoon and Virgin Group founder,
Sir Richard Branson, is interested to set up Virgin hotels in Asia as part of
the group's plan to create a Virgin City Hotel chain.

Branson said hotels in Asia would offer top-notch quality services and would
be located in beautiful ambience.

Recently, Branson announced his Virgin Group planned to invest around €320
million (€1=RM4.12) to set up a a string of new luxury hotels.

"We are going to create a Virgin City Hotel .. it is very much in the spirit
of Virgin I am sure, nothing specific. We will have some Virgin hotels in this
region," Branson told Bernama after visiting Selangor Economic Development Corp
(PKNS) booth at the ongoing global finance forum entitled "Dawn of the New
Decade: Alternative Investments in Asia".

Branson said he also has visions to set up hotels in space, which the
well-heeled tourists could use as a base for shuttle flights to the moon.

"We are looking at hotels in space. We love the moon," said Branson, who
owns
more than 200 companies in over 30 countries.

He said he was also interested in launching "small satellites into space"
for the benefit of schools and universities.

Branson is one of the speakers at the two-day forum organised by the
International Herald Tribune and the London Speakers Bureau.

Among the speakers are corporate leaders like Branson, Mary Buffet and Dr
Anil Gupta.

During his visit to booth, PKNS chief executive officer, Othman Omar,
briefed Branson on the potential projects offered by the corporation.

PKNS, the investment arm of Selangor government, is the only exhibitor that
displays multi-bilion high-profile property projects to attract potential global
investors.

-- BERNAMA