The president's battle with Beijing and visa policies on Gulf nations are taking a brutal toll on the tony retail zone, with sales down double digits and no relief in sight.
Peak summer travel season has arrived in Beverly Hills, usually a prime time for tourists from China and the Gulf. But hospitality and shopping destinations are seeing notably fewer Ferraris with Arabic plates cruise Rodeo Drive as many well-heeled travelers bypass Los Angeles. At the same time, Chinese travelers to the U.S. dropped for the first time in 15 years, by 5.7 percent in 2018, according to the International Trade Administration.
Rys Edwards, executive director of marketing for the luxury Beverly Hills car dealership O'Gara Coach Co., says that he's noticed "a little dip in our Chinese and Arabic clients this year," adding, "I presume it has something to do with the travel visa issues.
A sales associate at the Coach store on Rodeo Drive estimates that purchases by Chinese clients are down "maybe 40 percent" this summer compared with last year, while a counterpart at Salvatore Ferragamo pegged the decrease in both Chinese and Saudi business at "maybe 30 percent." At luxe Italian menswear brand Ermenegildo Zegna, an employee noted a "significant" decrease in Chinese and Middle Eastern customers.
Those shoppers who do make the trip to L.A.'s tony retail zone increasingly are seeking experiences and personalization: The free Louis Vuitton X pop-up exhibition and shop on Rodeo is "on everybody's list," says Pollard Bayme. L.A.-based luxury business consultant Ann Shatilla estimates that it draws 5,000 to 10,000 visitors a day.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Showmance or Real Deal: The Hills New Beginnings EditionJust like Justin Bobby once said: 'Truth and time tells all.' And if TheHills: New Beginnings told us anything, it's that the on-and-off romance drama between Audrina and Justin isn't over just yet.
Read more »
Brody Jenner Sweetly Supports Kaitlynn Carter in 'Hills' Sneak PeekWhile Brody Jenner and Kaitlynn Carter called it quits, the pair still appear to be very much in love in the upcoming episode of TheHills New Beginnings.
Read more »
The Billie Eilish and Siberia Hills Clothing Collection Was Cancelled After Artwork Plagiarism ClaimsThe clothing brand has apologized to the artist.
Read more »
Inside secrets of Beverley Hills 90210: The fist fights, breakdowns and sackingsThe return of the original cast for BH90210 has given an opportunity to look back to when they ruled the small screen back in the early 1990s
Read more »
Asia shares tumble as Hong Kong unrest, Argentine peso crash unnerve investorsAsian shares slumped on Tuesday as fears about a drawn out Sino-U.S. trade war, ...
Read more »
As U.S.-China tensions mount, Huawei releases its operating systemThe new OS was launched on Friday amid uncertainties over whether Huawei, caught in the trade war between the U.S. and China, can continue using American technology in its products.
Read more »