1. ACADEMY SUES MARKETING FIRM OVER GIFT BAGS: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is suing the marketing firm Distinctive Assets to prevent it from promoting a $200,000 gift bag as the official swag of the Oscars. The Hollywood Reporter: “The organization that puts on the Oscars says it has no affiliation with gift bags said to contain hundreds of thousands of dollars of merchandise including vapes and vibrators. But according to its complaint asserting trademark infringement, the defendant is nonetheless confusing consumers with slogans such as ‘Everyone Wins At The Oscars®! Nominee Gift Bags,’ and ‘Everyone Wins Nominee Gift Bags in Honor of the Oscars®.’ Quite a few big media outlets including Glamour, The Telegraph and TMZ have fallen for the promotional stunt.” http://bit.ly/1Q20el6
2. WARREN BUFFETT TO LIVE STREAM SHAREHOLDER MEETING ON YAHOO: Investor Warren Buffett announced that Yahoo Finance will live stream Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, a high-profile win for the struggling tech company. New York Post: “Buffett’s annual meeting draws an estimated 40,000 visitors, but he wants to make it accessible to people who can’t make the spring pilgrimage to Omaha. … Yahoo Finance will webcast the event starting at 10 a.m. April 30 with a replay available for 30 days. The company said it plans to sell video and display advertising against the live stream, as well as sponsorships.” http://nyp.st/20XT6gF
3. DELTA’S PLAN FOR HIGH-END AIRPLANE FOOD: Delta Air Lines has brought on Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to redesign the menus for its premium fliers with the goal of serving dishes inspired by restaurants such as Union Square Cafe, Blue Smoke, and Gramercy Tavern. The New York Times: “The goal is to serve food in its Delta One cabin on international flights from Kennedy International Airport that is as just as good as the food set on the table in Union Square’s restaurants. … It will not be easy. Galley space on most airplanes has shrunk. Plates and containers are small. Altitude dulls the taste buds, so recipes must be adjusted. ‘There certainly were hurdles — but none that made me throw up my arms and say, “Why am I doing this?”’ said Carmen Quagliata, the Union Square Cafe chef who did the menu for Delta One.” http://nyti.ms/1SU4s11
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will host Oscar viewing parties for its East Coast and European members on February 28 at Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York and Soho's Ham Yard Hotel in London.
AUSTIN: Hotel Van Zandt, a Kimpton Hotel that opened in November 2015, has appointed Chuck Moses as director of sales and marketing.
BOSTON: The 66th annual New England Home Show will take place February 26-28 at the Seaport World Trade Center.
CHICAGO: American Airlines will begin construction on a new flagship lounge slated to open in spring 2017 above its existing Admiral's Club at O'Hare International Airport. Chicago Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1U8HlPk
LAS VEGAS: The WPPI Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference & Expo will take place March 3-10 at MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
LOS ANGELES: Fashion and basketball aficionado James Goldstein has promised his John Lautner-designed home and surrounding estate to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The house, which was featured in The Big Lebowski, is the first gift of architecture to the museum.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Ocean Drive magazine will be celebrating its February cover star, supermodel Shanina Shaik, February 25 at Kuro at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
NEW YORK: Macy's Flower Show will take place March 20-April 3 on the ground level of Macy's Herald Square. The event has an "America the Beautiful" theme.
National education organization GLSEN's Respect Awards will take place May 23 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event will honor George Stephanopoulos, Ali Wentworth, Ilene Chaiken, and Optimedia.
Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association has selected Scott Tripoli, general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, as its lodging member of the year.
Disney executive Sharon Siskie has been named senior vice president of sales for Walt Disney parks and resorts in the United States. She also will head the Walt Disney Travel Company.
PHILADELPHIA: The 36th annual Broad Street Run, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, will take place May 1.
SAN FRANCISCO: The 59th annual San Francisco International Film Festival will take place April 21-May 5 at the Castro Theater and Sundance Cinemas, Kabuki.
TORONTO: Field Trip music and arts festival has announced its lineup, which includes the National, Robyn, and Santigold. The event is slated for June 4-5 at Fort York: Garrison Common.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Events DC announced substantial expanded complimentary Wi-Fi services across the 2.3 million-square-foot Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Smart City Networks is working on the project.
Mary V. Murray has been named manager of the Black Olive Bar & Grill at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia. The restaurant recently underwent a renovation and has a new menu.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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