Chinese tourists panic on visiting New Zealand

Majority of the Chinese tourist agencies explained that they have noted obvious drop in bookings to New Zealand after the incident of Christchurch’s mass shooting at the mosques in the midst of growing worries in terms of security of the country on Chinese social media.Wang Huabei, brand department director of Chinese tourism website Lvmama.com, informed the Global Times on Sunday that there is no such information on drop in the number of bookings to New Zealand after Friday’s shooting incident.“Bookings for New Zealand are done in advance, and most of our customers booked their tickets two months before the shooting,” Wang said.Air New Zealand called off 17 of its regional flights out of Christchurch, with at least a dozen more arrivals are cancelled, as per the airport’s website, the ABC News reported on Saturday.Wang did not verify if their trips had been impacted by the cancellations. However, he mentioned that they had issued safety warning and rescheduled the trips of their New Zealand customers.Also, Ctrip informed the Global Times on Sunday that they did not witness any kind of decline in bookings to New Zealand as of Sunday. “Since the New Zealand government has already done all that they could to maintain safety, I think there won’t be a big change in the number,” a Ctrip employee said.

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Auberge Resorts Collection Announces Strategic Partnership with Bdt & Msd Partners

PR Newswire | February 02, 2024

The Friedkin Group announced today that the company has entered into a strategic partnership with BDT & MSD Partners ("BDT & MSD"), a merchant bank built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. BDT & MSD, through its affiliated hospitality investment vehicle, will make a minority investment in Auberge Resorts Collection, the manager of the award-winning portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs set in some of the world's most desirable locations. In addition, BDT & MSD's hospitality vehicle intends to invest significant capital towards acquiring and developing luxury hotel and residential assets that will be branded and managed by Auberge Resorts Collection. The partnership reflects BDT & MSD's belief in Auberge Resorts Collection's unique brand positioning and focus on creating one-of-a-kind luxury hospitality experiences. The investment will support Auberge's continued strategic growth in the Americas, Europe and beyond, with a focus on gateway urban markets and high-profile experiential destinations. "This partnership further solidifies Auberge Resorts Collection's position as the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality and marks a new and exciting era for our world-class portfolio," said Dan Friedkin, chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection and chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group. "BDT & MSD's differentiated, long-term capital and expertise in luxury hospitality investments makes them a perfect strategic partner and will allow us to further grow the strength of the Auberge brand." "Auberge is a world-class manager of distinctive luxury hotel properties, with an exceptional track record of delivering curated guest experiences in the world's leading hospitality markets. We are excited to be a part of its future and look forward to partnering with Auberge's talented team to build on its differentiated strengths and accelerate further growth," said Coburn Packard, partner & head of real estate at BDT & MSD. Since becoming part of The Friedkin Group in 2013, Auberge Resorts Collection has grown into the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality, comprising 27 unparalleled properties across the U.S., Latin America and Europe, with a development pipeline of over a dozen hotels and two additional hotels planned to open in Florence and South Carolina this year. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the essence of the location to life through one-of-a-kind design that reflects the destination, exceptional cuisine and dining experiences that attract both the local community and global traveler, innovative spas and wellness retreats and highly personalized service.

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