In Brief: Virgin Hotels Collection has appointed Jason Rochaleau as Corporate Food and Beverage Director, Americas, and Barry Vera as Director of Culinary and Beverage, EMEA.
Virgin Hotels Collection has appointed Jason Rochaleau as Corporate Food and Beverage Director, Americas, and Barry Vera as Director of Culinary and Beverage, EMEA, as part of its efforts to strengthen global food and beverage leadership.
Rochaleau is a senior hospitality operations executive with more than 20 years of experience leading multi-unit restaurant and hospitality concepts across luxury hotels, resorts, and standalone dining destinations. He currently serves as Corporate Director of Food & Beverage. Previously, he spent 13 years as Vice President of Operations at Mina Group, overseeing concept development, new openings, P&L management, staffing, and guest experience strategy. Rochaleau has partnered with hospitality brands including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and MGM Resorts International.
Vera is a culinary and hospitality executive with more than 35 years of international experience spanning hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and events. He has led culinary operations, concept development, and large-scale hospitality openings across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Vera previously served as Culinary Director Europe for The ONE Group, where he helped develop and launch concepts including ME London and Milan, STK London, STK Ibiza, Radio Rooftop, and Heliot Steak House. He has also managed hotel food and beverage operations, luxury events in London, and pop-ups at Royal Ascot. Vera hosted the Discovery Channel series “Feast,” filmed in India, Syria, Morocco, and Greece and broadcast in more than 80 countries.
Rochaleau will oversee food and beverage operations for the Americas, while Vera will lead culinary and beverage programming for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.
