Victory Cruise Lines Announces 2019 Miami-Cuba Sailings

Victory Cruise Lines has announced a series of 13- and 14-night circumnavigations of Cuba in 2019. The cruises will take place between January and April aboard the 202-passenger Victory I. A special spring three-day sailing will close the winter season. Itinerary highlights of the circumnavigation cruises include Santiago de Cuba, where guests will visit the El Morro Fortress and Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, the resting place of Jose Marti and Fidel Castro. The call also includes a performance by the Ballet Folklórico Cutumba. In Trinidad/Casilda, guests will visit a sugar cane plantation, mountain coffee farm and take a walking tour of Old Colonial Trinidad. In the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cienfuegos, guests will also enjoy a walking tour plus a musical performance. In Havana, activities include a walking tour of the Old Town, Malecon, University of Havana and a craft market. Guests will attend a performance by the Buena Vista Social Club and Afro-Cuban All Stars. And, they’ll ride in classic cars to Ernest Hemingway’s Cuban home, among other activities.

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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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