In 2018, I interviewed for a technologist role at Virgin Voyages. Three conversations, one bold company, and a letter I sent afterward that still reflects how I see the future of hospitality. I didn’t get the job—but I did get clarity.
Richard Branson once said, “Let’s have a blank sheet of paper, let’s create the kind of voyage company that we would like to go on.” That ethos resonated deeply with me. Virgin wasn’t just starting to build ships—they were scripting experiences. With design partners like Tom Dixon, Concrete Amsterdam, and Roman and Williams, they were anchoring a person-centered approach to travel: modern, sophisticated, and emotionally intelligent.
At the time, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas was making waves with its tech stack: Xbox Arcade, VR dining, robotic bartenders, and facial recognition embarkation. CIO Bill Martin called their satellite Wi-Fi “fiber from the sky.” It was impressive. But I believed Virgin could go further—with Virgin Orbit satellites, smarter beaming tech, and a Sailor experience that felt curated, not just connected.
I envisioned a future where branded apps did more than book excursions—they tracked nutrition, enabled geo-positioning, and used machine learning to suggest experiences based on past preferences. Where blockchain created transparency in farm-to-table sourcing. Where RFID bands tethered to phones delivered person-centered analytics. Where queues disappeared, and social media sharing built brand equity organically.
But I didn’t stop at the Sailor. I thought about the crew—Virgin’s “Sea Gigs.” What if they had access to the same tech? What if off-ship experiences, smart scheduling, and facility analytics empowered them to deliver meaningful service with less burnout and more joy? Efficiency isn’t just about speed—it’s about space for thought, innovation, and emotional presence.
I also pushed for “pay-for-value” models and flexible vendor relationships. Because the future of hospitality isn’t just about what we offer—it’s how we offer it.
My background spans hospitality consulting, tech implementation, and strategic sales engagement—from restaurants and retail to senior living (which, in many ways, mirrors a land-based cruise ship). I’ve always believed that person-centered design isn’t a luxury—it’s the baseline.
Virgin didn’t hire me. But they did inspire me. And this letter—now a blog post—is my way of saying: the voyage continues.
Mavrik Concepts 