Bon Ton (brothel)

This article is about a brothel chain in New Zealand. For other uses, see Bon Ton.
Bon Ton
Company typePrivate
IndustrySex industry
HeadquartersNew Zealand
Number of locations
1 agency
Area served
Queenstown
Key people
Jennifer Souness
ProductsEscort Agency
ServicesSexual services
OwnerJennifer Souness
Websitewww.bonton.co.nz

Bon Ton is a high-end escort agency chain in New Zealand.[1] It initially operated two escort agencies - one in the capital city Wellington and a second in the nation's largest city Auckland. It now operates in Queenstown.[2][3] Bon Ton is a French term which means "good taste".[4] The luxury escort agency is owned by Jennifer Souness,[5] a former model who modeled for various European fashion labels.[3]

In a feature story on prostitution in New Zealand, the BBC News Online described Bon Ton as "an ideal showcase for New Zealand-style liberalisation".[1] The escort agency is characterized by quality rooms resembling luxury suites and a professionally maintained office.[1] Louise Jolliffe writing in The Wellington Guide asserted that Bon Ton looks closer to "a luxury lodge than a brothel".[3]

All the women working at Bon Ton have other occupations and work as prostitutes on a part-time basis. During employment testing, applicants are asked whether they like sex. Escort agency owner Souness asserted these women like their work.[3] According to the BBC News Online, the escorts working at Bon Ton say they find the work environment respectful.[1]

Bon Ton bills itself as "a boutique agency for a select clientele" and states that it intends "to provide a tasteful and discreet haven for gentlemen to enjoy the attentions of elegant, beautifully groomed, intelligent women".[4] The website of the escort agency makes invitation calls to potential clients to come into what is described as a "safe and secret oasis where the outside world melts away".[6]

The Bon Ton website publishes biographies of their prostitutes – whom they refer to as "courtesans" – which include their age and brassiere measurement. As per the requirement by the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, Bon Ton has a safe sex policy that requires customers to wear condoms.[7] [1][5]

Two members of the United Kingdom-based Women's Institute (WI), who visited various brothels throughout the world to check their quality and were featured in a BBC documentary titled The WI And The Search For The Perfect Brothel, voted Bon Ton the world's best.[8][9]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Selling sex legally in New Zealand". BBC News Online. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Official Website of Bon Ton". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Jolliffe, Louise (Autumn 2009). "Thoroughly Modern Madam" (PDF). The Wellington Guide (24): 28–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-26.
  4. ^ a b "Brothel sues banker over bill". Stuff.co.nz. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2012.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "School's cash went on sex and high living". The Dominion Post. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  6. ^ Jane Warren (5 November 2011). "SHOULD PROSTITUTION BE LEGALISED?". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  7. ^ Tracey Tyler (29 September 2010). "Legalized brothels 'fantastic' for New Zealand, prostitutes say". Toronto Star. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  8. ^ PAUL EASTON (20 February 2010). "Legal prostitution hot topic at Oxford debate". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  9. ^ "NZ brothels get thumbs up from UK grannies". The New Zealand Herald. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2012.