New Orleans at 300: Why 2018 is the perfect time to visit

In 1718, a French explorer named Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville sailed down the Mississippi River to establish a new French colony on the Gulf of Mexico. This colony would expand New France from eastern Canada all the way down to the Gulf. That colony became New Orleans. Now, New Orleans is known for celebrations, but it’s really kicking it up a notch (as New Orleans’ own Emeril Lagasse would say) for a year-long celebration of its tricentennial. So if you missed Mardi Gras this year, you haven’t missed the party.  Here’s how to "Laissez Les Bontemps roulez" all year long.  Celebrate at the tricentennial festivals, events and parades I don’t think it’s possible to visit New Orleans without catching a street festival or parade of some sort. We visited during the “New Orleans Food & Wine Experience,” with hundreds of shops and restaurants offering up their best tastes. It included an early evening Royal Street Stroll, with tents of treats, art galleries open late, and of course, a few jazz parades (with participants dressed in togas and throwing beads, naturally) thrown in for good measure.

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Hospitality Trends, Hospitality Management

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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