1. WHY SUPER BOWL SECURITY IS SO DIFFICULT: The logistical challenges of planning security at this year’s Super Bowl—with events in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and several cities in New Jersey—are tougher to solve. The Super Bowl Boulevard fan experience, for instance, will spread over 13 blocks in Midtown like a massive street fair that everyone from office workers to tourists can stream in and out of. New York Times: “Compared with other Super Bowls, ‘there are things that are more complex than we’ve been looking at,’ said Jeffrey Miller, the league’s chief security officer. ‘There are a number of private events, N.F.L. events, and we look how they fit together. It’s all a bunch of dominoes, and when you move one thing, it affects others.’” http://nyti.ms/1gPtbwL
2. PERKS OF BEING A MEETING PLANNER: At the Professional Convention Management Association, meeting in Boston this week, tourism executives are working hard to woo meeting planners to their cities with creative promotions. The Boston Globe catalogues a few: “The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau put on a cooking demonstration: French onion soup, coq au vin, and apple tart, complete with a Julia Child impersonator. The Toronto Convention & Visitors Association constructed an elaborate Imaginarium lounge, decked out with curvy white couches, a bar, and Katy Perry on the stereo, where planners were invited to paint pottery and create Lego jewelry. Tourisme Montreal hosted a spa day on Newbury Street with facials, massages, pedicures, and manicures.” http://b.globe.com/1eUzJsH
3. SEE WHO MADE THE GUEST LIST AT DAVOS: The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, isn’t an event anyone can sign up for: It has an exclusive guest list of the world’s elite that changes each year. The New York Post previews the invitees and entertainment: “The event is one of the most sought-after junkets on the planet, with some 2,800 attendees expected to descend on the tiny Swiss village, including Matt Damon, whose key issue is clean water, and actress Goldie Hawn, with the pro-kids’ Hawn Foundation. … After the serious talk, a host of events are planned for serious elbow-bending at the bar. Google is hosting a huge second-night party at the Davos Intercontinental Hotel with singer Mary J. Blige; McKinsey is also throwing a big bash.”
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
The Convention Industry Council released highlights from a report on the economic significance of meetings to the United States during the Meetings Mean Business press conference at the P.C.M.A. Convening Leaders event in Boston. Among the findings, compared to 2009 participant volume at meetings and events increased by 10 percent, and meetings’ contribution to G.D.P. increased by almost 9 percent, providing more than $115 billion to fuel the economy. A full report will be released in the coming weeks.
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Michael Schlow's Barrio restaurant in Fenway has closed. Boston.com: http://bo.st/1dN15yQ
CHICAGO: Billed as the nation's largest indoor sailing event, Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Chicago will hit Navy Pier January 23-26.
LAS VEGAS: N9NE Steakhouse at Palms Casino Resort has reopened following a makeover and menu revamp.
LOS ANGELES: Here's a look at Saturday's Screen Actors Guild awards by the numbers. The event will have 17,100 square feet of red carpet in the arrivals area, edged by 12,500 lineal feet of hedges; 21,500 square feet of tenting on hand to protect the carpet in case of rain; 15,000 square feet of black drape on the walls to create a neutral background and block sunlight; more than 25,000 linear feet of silver beads (that's a half million individual beads) to make up the chandeliers and surrounding curtains; and a 30-foot giant frame floated at center stage with rear projection and LED-illuminated surround.
Caroline Lett is leaving her position at Warner Bros. Special Events January 24 to become the director of Campaign Events at the University of Southern California.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Think Hotel Group is opening South Beach Hotel, a 51-room boutique property, in March. The outdoor Sweetwater Beer Garden—which began as a pop-up concept at its property Ansonia Hotel—will move to South Beach Hotel with a capacity of 175 seated guests or 250 for receptions.
NEW YORK: The day before the Super Bowl, DirecTV's Super Saturday Night concert will feature a performance from Jay Z. The event is February 1 in a custom tent at Hudson River Park Pier 40. Mark Cuban’s AXS TV and Eli Manning will co-host.
Storefront for Art and Architecture will host its annual spring benefit March 11 at Capitale New York honoring Meredith Monk and Olafur Eliasson.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Spice Road Table, a new restaurant in the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot, is now open. The menu offers small plates and specialty beverages from the region. The restaurant has seating for 120 people outside and 60 inside. Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/1coGXlK
SAN FRANCISCO: SF Sketchfest kicks off its 13th annual festival next week with nearly 700 performers and more than 200 shows happening in over 20 venues from January 23-February 9.
TORONTO: Carly Rae Jepsen drew a crowd of just 20 fans at a recent event at Davids Tea in Toronto. Daily Mail: http://dailym.ai/L4RT2i
WASHINGTON: The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington continues its "Industree" series with a networking event focusing on culinary entrepreneurs under 35. The event, January 21 at the Atlas Theater, features a panel of chefs Spike Mendelson, Steve Salis, Erik Bruner-Yang, Brandon Skall, and Marjorie Meek-Bradley. Robert Wiedmaier will moderate.
Destination Hotels & Resorts has tapped Shawn Jervis, general manager of Terranea Resort, to join the Embassy Row Hotel and lead a one-year $16 million renovation.
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 Beth Kormanik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily
Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]
More in BizBash Lists
Most Popular
