Saint Regis Club members recently returned from a trip to China, and plans are already in the works for more trips to foreign locations in the future.
As part of Saint Regis Club’s travel club, eight club members traveled to China from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6.
St. Regis Club founder Dave Gustafson and Director of Operations Tim Hori traveled to China as part of a missions trip in 1994 and lived there for several months.
Since then they both have made trips to China with Gustafson nearly visiting a dozen times.
Miles Wynn was one of the St. Regis club members to make the trek.
During the 10-day trip, Wynn was struck by the size and scope of Hong Kong as a leading metropolitan city.
On a nearly 30-hour train ride to Beijing, Wynn befriended a group of Motorola employees from China. Wynn was able to talk to them about their perceptions of Americans and Wynn even taught them Texas Hold ’Em.
Wynn has also since become a pen pal with one of them.
“They had a lot to say about Americans,” said Wynn. “They perceive us as outspoken.”
But Wynn said in general they had a good opinion of Americans and were especially interested in the Occupy movement going on across the United States.
“A lot of the arguments Occupy people are making are true in China,” said Wynn.
Wynn said a lot of preconceived notions Americans may have about China and the people there are off.
China’s embrace of capitalism can be found in the rapid building of skyscrapers and businesses throughout Hong Kong and the mainland.
But Hori said China may struggle in upcoming years as the government has tried to devalue its currency during boom times.
For St. Regis Club members, since Gustafson and Hori were familiar with China, all they had to do was write a check.
“We almost served as a sort of travel agency,” said Gustafson. “We booked everything, took care of visas and were able to get deals.”
Within the St. Regis Club, there is a travel club where interested members can come together and take trips to different places.
But these trips aren’t designed to be cookie-cutter sight-seeing trips, but rather a way to get a full sense of the culture that surrounds them.
Future trips sites may include Havana, Belize, Montreal and Vancouver.
Members who made the China trip are: Greg Kitchen, Greg Winn, Dave and Matt Gustafson, Joe Gough, Jose Espinzoa, Dave Porter and Miles Wynn.
The trips are for members only.
The travel club at St. Regis Club shows how the social club in Warsaw is expanding what it offers.
The club, located at 114 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, is a social club open to both men and women.
The club offers events like speakers from a wide range of disciplines, hold events like a recent international film festival and membership allows full access to the club.
The club recently was approved for a liquor license and a new bar with high-end liquor and craft beers is being stocked.
The fitness center, with a sauna, is currently undergoing a renovation and will offer more machines and free weights.
For more information on the club and about membership, visit www.saintregisclub.com
