BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #386 — Thursday, 11.08.12
Compiled today by Melissa Ward Schorsch in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. NEW YORK VENUES AND VENDORS MOVE FORWARD: From news editor Anna Sekula: After Hurricane Sandy, New York's event and meeting sector was left scrambling in the early part of last week. Venues and vendors faced last-minute cancellations, water damage, electrical outages, and transportation delays to deliveries, while the city struggled to restore its infrastructure. This week, while some area residents are still dealing with the loss of property and power, most of the industry is back on track, with just a few still unable to resume operations.
Venues in neighborhoods including the financial district, west Chelsea, and Dumbo faced the biggest challenges. Downtown, the Glazier Group's 27,000-square-foot South Street Seaport venue Bridgewaters is still without power, and hotels including the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, W Downtown, and Andaz Wall Street remain closed. The closures are expected to be temporary, with the properties looking to reopen later this week and over the weekend, depending on when heat will come back on and supply deliveries can be made.
Read the full story: http://bizba.sh/Umjuyq
2. MARATHON CRITICISM CONTINUES: Mary Wittenberg, the chief executive of New York Road Runners, is still getting flack over waiting until Friday to cancel the New York City Marathon on Sunday, after Hurricane Sandy. But the group's board is standing by her. The New York Times: "The broader challenge for Road Runners and Wittenberg will be how to recover from the weeklong debacle. [Board members] said Road Runners was still figuring out what impact the cancellation would have on its bottom line. But they were confident the organization’s cancellation insurance and the millions of dollars it had in reserve would provide a buffer.” http://nyti.ms/XlFB8W
The marathon organizers are probably the most high-profile people facing a set of challenges common among many New York-area event pros this season—managing vendors, ticket buyers, and sponsors who didn't get what they were expecting from an event. Are you handling these challenges? Tell us: [email protected].
3. SEAT UPGRADES: Sporting events typically let fans score better, unsold seats upon arrival. But sometimes, after doing so, they get booted. New app Pogoseat was started to prevent those situations. Mashable: "Here’s how you’d use it at a game: First, notice a slew of empty seats and decide to see what’s out there. Then, fire up the app and sign in using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or a separate Pogoseat account. Peruse the app for available upgrades...and pay the difference between your new seats and the old ones using PayPal, Amazon, or credit card. Your new ticket will be delivered electronically, giving you the green light to prance down to your new location. Pogoseat and the team split the money you pay for the upgrade."http://on.mash.to/RYgySo
4. RESTAURANT REVISIONS: The New York Times looks into how Hurricane Sandy may change how New York restaurateurs run their businesses. The New York Times: "Even small design changes could make a big difference, [Danny Meyer] said. North End Grill was 'the first of our restaurants to install electrical outlets underneath the lip of the bar, and suddenly, all our customers were coming in to recharge their equipment—something we never envisioned.'” http://nyti.ms/SYE1EP
In other restaurant news, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain started the Twitter hashtag #EatDownTipUp as a campaign to remind people to support hurting restaurants after the storm. Mashable: http://on.mash.to/RGE61y
++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++
* DEPARTMENT OF COMPLAINTS *
Here's potter and designer Jonathan Adler to New York magazine's Daily Intel blog, answering the question "What do you hate most about living in New York?":
"I hate that most socializing is done for business reasons. I grew up in a farm town, and when my parents had or went to a party it was because they were seeing friends, not business associates. New York socializing is too agenda-encrusted." http://bit.ly/TLliim
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Catered Affair has acquired a liquor license for the Courtyard Restaurant and Boston Public Library's Copley Square event spaces.
75 on Liberty Wharf opened in the Seaport District. The 1,500-square-foot bistro serves New England-style fare; its cocktail program includes homemade infused vodkas.
CHICAGO: Pivotal Chicago is looking for a venue manager for a new event space in Uptown. The job description is here: http://bit.ly/T47wFs
LAS VEGAS: Calgon will take part in the Latin Grammy Gift Lounge November 12 to 14.
LOS ANGELES: Rolling Stone will host an after-party following the American Music Awards November 18.
Local event listings from Masterplanner:http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: DoubleTree’s Hilton Little Things Project will hold an event at the Miami Bayside Marketplace November 15. For everyone who makes the Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry pledge, DoubleTree will donate $1 to the No Kid Hungry campaign.
NEW YORK: Kevin Hichour has been appointed head of sales for North America at Kuoni Destination Management.
The WWD Apparel & Retail C.E.O. Summit has been rescheduled for January 7 and 8, 2013.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Orlando Museum of Art's Festival of Trees opens with a gala Friday night. The exhibit will be open to the public Saturday through November 18 and includes dozens of decorated trees, a gingerbread village, a holiday boutique, and café.
TORONTO: The Whole Life Expo is November 9 to 11 and will feature more than 200 exhibitors showcasing sustainability-focused products.
WASHINGTON: The Newseum will host a daylong inauguration event January 21, 2013.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job:http://jobs.bizbash.com
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Lauren Matthews, Anna Sekula, Ellen Sturm Niz, and Melissa Ward Schorsch in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
