1. INAUGURATION RESERVATIONS MAY POSE ISSUES FOR PROTESTERS: Those looking to protest President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January may have trouble due to the fact that the U.S. National Park Service guarantees space to the Presidential Inauguration Committee, which reserves space on the parade route for pre-screened ticket buyers. The Guardian: "Not very free speech, you say? Well, there’s a group of protesters that agree with you. 'For us, it’s a critical issue about whether the government will get to give the prime spot, the most visible locations on the inaugural [parade] route, to a private entity which is collecting donations from banks and multinational corporations,' said Ben Becker, a New York City-based organizer for Answer (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).The PIC, run by a president-elect’s appointees, organizes, raises money and sells tickets. As it stands, the National Park Service has set aside three-quarters of Freedom Plaza for the PIC’s 'exclusive use', and the remaining quarter for media, meaning that none of the plaza is open to the public. Parts of Pennsylvania Avenue are also set aside for PIC exclusive use. A group of protesters sued the agency to allow protesters in these areas. Because tickets to the PIC’s bleachers are not traditionally available to the public (though Obama made some available), protesters say the government is essentially supporting one-sided political speech, that of the incoming administration. The National Park Service first attempted to set aside parts of Freedom Plaza and Pennsylvania Avenue for the PIC by accepting its permit ahead of other organizations. The park service told all public groups that it only accepted demonstration permits on a first come, first served basis, and only within 12 months of the inauguration." http://bit.ly/2glg0gK
2. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP PROBABLY WON’T BE INVITED TO THE OSCARS: With diversity and inclusion a top priority for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it’s likely that Donald Trump won’t be invited to the Oscars ceremony in February, just a month after he’s sworn in as President of the United States. The Hollywood Reporter: “Don't look for a Trump appearance at the upcoming Feb. 26 broadcast — although, because he hungers for celebrity approval, he'd no doubt love to be asked. The Oscars will be taking place just a month after Trump's inauguration, and emotions still will be pretty raw. Trump's name wasn't mentioned from the podium at the Academy's Governors Awards on Nov. 12—one can only imagine that the script would have been quite different if Clinton had won—and the week's dispiriting events were only alluded to as Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said of the power of the movies: ‘In uncertain times, they can connect us, change us and unify us.’ … Now, reading the results of the election, the Hollywood studios, whose job it is to maximize profits, may have to look at their upcoming release slates to decide if they are talking to the audience of angry Trump supporters that found a voice at the ballot box, and the MPAA will have to cozy up to the Republican Congress. But that's not the job of the Academy or the Oscars. While the Academy always is tempted to lunge after ratings, for newly named Oscar show producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, as well as Academy voters, instead of trying to chase after the Trump crowd, they'd do better to shine their spotlight unapologetically on those movies that reflect the inclusive spirit of the Obama years and the Clinton campaign: female-empowerment films as different as 20th Century Women, Hidden Figures and Elle; studies of black life from Fences to Moonlight; Loving's reminder of the importance the Supreme Court can have in individual lives.” http://bit.ly/2gpY05R
3. AIRBNB DEBUTS NEW FEATURE FOCUSED ON EXPERIENCES AND RESTAURANTS: Airbnb has launched a new Trips feature that will offer user-curated experiences, restaurant reservations, and concert tickets. Bloomberg: "The updated Airbnb app and website will include tabs for experiences and places, alongside the traditional home-booking feature. Experiences will allow people to buy unique excursions like off-roading motorcycle trips in Los Angeles or truffle tasting near Florence. Places will act as a guidebook, where hosts and local tastemakers will offer their advice on often overlooked travel experiences outside traditional tourist districts. Trips will also offer audio tours of local neighborhoods, provided by Detour, a San Francisco-based startup founded by Andrew Mason, the former CEO of Groupon. Travel services could help Airbnb differentiate itself from competing home-booking websites HomeAway and VRBO, owned by Expedia Inc., and TurnKey Vacation Rentals. Airbnb’s new app would allow Airbnb hosts to give guests a more polished level of service, similar to that of a hotel concierge. It will also allow Airbnb to act as a curator of lifestyle and design content." http://bloom.bg/2fZYAlw
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: InterContinental Hotels Group has entered into a partnership with Amazon to give IHG Rewards Club members in the U.S. complimentary access to a curated list of Kindle books from Amazon Publishing and Kindle Singles. The books are available to IHG Rewards Club members via the IHG App and can be read on any mobile device using the free Kindle app.
AUSTIN: Grand Lux Cafe, owned by the Cheesecake Factory, has opened in the Domain. The eatery has an internationally inspired menu and an in-house bakery.
CHICAGO: The event center at McCormick Square will be named Wintrust Arena.
A new 9,000-square-foot Portillo's opened Tuesday in Deerfield. This Portillo's restaurant is only the second of their 46 to have a 1970s theme, complete with a flowered "peace" bus on display.
LAS VEGAS: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are slated to perform at "A Very Intimate Acoustic Evening" at the Pearl Concert Theater inside Palms Casino Resort on March 24.
Electric Daisy Carnival 2017 will take place June 16-18 at Motor Speedway.
LOS ANGELES: Kelly Osbourne will be named Trevor Hero Honoree at the Trevor Project’s TrevorLive Los Angeles gala, which will take place December 4 at the Beverly Hilton.
Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort has refreshed its public spaces. The welcome center's check-in desks have been relocated to allow easier access to the elevators. The hotel also debuted a remodeled meeting room that can accommodate 40 for receptions.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens will kick off its 100-year anniversary at its annual gala on Saturday. The event will support fund-raising for the 1900s home of James Deering. This ticketed event is by invitation only.
The newly rebranded Hyatt Centric Key West, a 120-room hotel in historic Old Town, now has refreshed guest rooms, an upgraded Jala Spa, and a renovated Blue Mojito Pool Bar and Grill.
NEW YORK: The 16th annual Tribeca Film Festival, slated for April 19-30, has announced that Barbra Streisand and Alejandro González Iñárritu will speak at the Storytellers series and Directors series, respectively. Kathryn Bigelow and Imraan Ismail's virtual-reality documentary The Protectors: Walk in the Ranger's Shoes also will premiere at the festival.
The Seaport District will kick off its holiday event season with its 33rd annual tree lighting ceremony on November 29. Other activities will include Hallmark Channel's 3-D light show on November 29-30, the Taylor Swift Experience on Fulton Street, and holiday movies at iPic Theaters throughout December.
Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi will host the second annual Be a Good Cookie Family Fun Day on December 3 at Metropolitan Pavilion. The event will have holiday gift-making stations, chocolate-pretzel making, and treats from 10 pastry chefs and bakers.
London-based Japanese restaurant chain Wagamama has opened its first New York location overlooking Madison Square Park. The bi-level restaurant's seating consists of long benches that can each seat 18.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2017 on a new $1.8 billion south terminal at Orlando International Airport. When it is completed in 2020, the new terminal will add 16 gates and increase the airport's passenger capacity to 55 million. The project will also involve renovation of the existing airport facilities.
SAN FRANCISCO: Macy’s 27th annual Great Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place November 25 in Union Square. Aloe Blacc will perform at the event.
The Scarlet Huntington hotel has appointed Salvador Abaunza as general manager.
TORONTO: Sears Canada will preview its spring and summer collection with a barbecue-theme bash on December 6 at the Fifth Event Space.
SAN DIEGO: Lynn Lee, global sales director of destination management company AlliedPra, has been named to the Financial and Insurance Conference Planners Hospitality Partners Advisory Committee, effective January 1.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: MGM National Harbor is now accepting reservations for Fish by José Andrés, Marcus by Marcus Samuelsson, the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, Tap Sports Bar, and Ginger.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee for the 58th Presidential Inauguration has been announced. Thomas J. Barrack Jr. has been named the committee chairman, while the finance co-chairmen are Roy Bailey and Lew Eisenberg. There are 17 finance vice-chairs, including Woody Johnson, Gail Icahn, Laurie Perlmutter, and Anthony Scaramucci. Donald Trump will officially become the 45th President of the United States at the inauguration ceremony, which will take place on January 20.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
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