November 30, 2018: Massive Marriott Data Breach Could Affect 500 Million Guests, How Payless Tricked Influencers With a Fake Luxury Pop-Up Store, Golden Globes Reveals New Trophy for 2019

1. MASSIVE MARRIOTT DATA BREACH COULD AFFECT 500 MILLION GUESTS: Marriott International on Friday said information of as many as 500 million guests may have been compromised in a breach of the Starwood guest reservation database. NBC News: "The world's largest hotel chain said it first received an alert in September from an internal security tool that there was an attempt to access the database. As part of an investigation, the company discovered there had been unauthorized access since 2014, and that an 'unauthorized party' had copied and encrypted information. On November 19, Marriott said it determined that information was from its Starwood database. 'The company has not finished identifying duplicate information in the database, but believes it contains information on up to approximately 500 million guests who made a reservation at a Starwood property,' the company said in a statement. For about 327 million of the guests, it added, the information includes some combination of a name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest account information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information, reservation date, and communication preferences. There are some customers who may have also had their credit card information taken. While that data would have been encrypted, Marriott said, it can't rule out the information may have been decoded. ... The breach could potentially be one of the largest in history, behind the hacking of about 3 billion Yahoo accounts. Earlier this year, Under Armour Inc. said that data from about 150 million MyFitnessPal diet and fitness app accounts was compromised." https://nbcnews.to/2TYK3vb

2. HOW PAYLESS TRICKED INFLUENCERS WITH A FAKE LUXURY POP-UP STORE: Payless is known for selling affordable footwear, but the brand recently found out that some people are willing to pay more than $600 dollars for a pair of shoes. In Santa Monica, the brand recently opened a fake luxury pop-up, Palessi, where it asked influencers their opinions on "designer" brands. Adweek: "Partygoers, having no idea they were looking at discount staples from the mall scene, said they’d pay hundreds of dollars for the stylish shoes, praising the look, materials, and workmanship. Top offer: $640, which translates to an 1,800 percent markup, and Palessi sold about $3,000 worth of product in the first few hours of the stunt. Payless, or 'Palessi,' did ring up those purchases but didn’t keep the money. Influencers got their cash back, along with free shoes. Their reactions caught in the short- and longer-form ads—those shocked 'gotcha' moments—are fairly priceless. The retailer 'wanted to push the social experiment genre to new extremes, while simultaneously using it to make a cultural statement,' said Doug Cameron, DCX Growth Accelerator’s chief creative officer. 'Payless customers share a pragmatist point of view, and we thought it would be provocative to use this ideology to challenge today’s image-conscious fashion influencer culture.' Payless C.M.O. Sarah Couch says the chain aimed to tackle the brand’s perception issues head-on at a time when retailers are feeling more heat than ever from giant ecommerce sites." https://bit.ly/2FObR2g

3. GOLDEN GLOBES REVEALS NEW TROPHY FOR 2019: The Golden Globes unveiled a new trophy that will be given to winners during the 76th annual ceremony on January 6. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on Thursday revealed a new model, which no longer has a marble base. The Hollywood Reporter: "One of the primary changes made to the trophy is the absence of a square marble base, replaced instead with a cylindrical metal one. The new trophy consists of zinc, brass, and bronze and weighs 7.8 pounds, 2.3 pounds more than last year's trophy. It's also slightly larger—last year's edition was 10.75 inches tall with a base width of 3.5 inches, while this year's trophy is 11.5 inches tall with a base width of 3.75 inches. This isn't the first time the statuette has gotten a makeover. In 2009, the HFPA gave it a new marble base and a more durable, accurate metal globe on top. Composer Alexandre Desplat observed the change during his Shape of Water win last year, noting that it had a 'different color' than the trophy he won in 2007. This year's Golden Globe nominations will be announced December 6." https://bit.ly/2Q0EjCK

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  BMW is the new worldwide partner of the Ryder Cup for the tournaments at Whistling Straits in Wyoming in 2020 and Rome in 2022. 

ATLANTA:  The Lodge at Sea Island resort has opened enhancements as part of its $25 million renovation. New additions include six guest cottages, an 18-hole putting course, and an oceanfront pool and pool house. 

LOS ANGELES:  The 71st annual Directors Guild of America Awards will take place February 2 at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. The event will honor FX Networks with the 2019 Diversity Award. 

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The ILEA South Florida and Caribbean Chapter will host Avant Garden – the South Florida Industry Holiday Party on December 11 at the Venue Fort Lauderdale. 

NEW ORLEANS:  Tales of the Cocktail will open its own bar and event space, Storyteller x Tales, downtown in 2019. The New Orleans Advocate: https://bit.ly/2BDIfkk

NEW YORK:  The Prostate Cancer Foundation will host its annual New York Dinner on December 6 at the Restaurant Daniel. 

Long Island-based marketing agency A.P. Keaton has acquired digital agency Meyvyn. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

TORONTO:  The annual SociaLight conference will take place December 1 at the Winter Elgin Theatre. The event will host some 1,000 bloggers and social media influencers. 

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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