BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #39 — Thursday, 06.16.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. BUSINESS TRAVEL COSTS UP: Budget news: Average domestic airfares jumped 10 percent in the first quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago, while hotel room rates rose 3 percent in that period, according to the American Express Business Travel Monitor. More from Market Watch:
* "Business fliers paid an average of $247 to fly domestically in the first quarter of 2011, up from $225 a year earlier. The average fare was $213 in the first quarter of 2009 and $233 in the first quarter of 2008."
* "The $150 average domestic hotel room rate in the first quarter is almost where average rates were a couple of years ago: In 2009’s first quarter, rooms averaged $153, and in 2008, the average rate was $152."
http://bit.ly/iMwPcz
2. BLOCKING IPHONE FILMING: Apple has applied for a patent for software that would help event hosts crack down on guests using iPhones to film live events they don't want recorded. Fox News: "If a person were to hold up their iPhone, the device would trigger the attention of infra-red sensors installed at the venue. These sensors would then instruct the iPhone to disable its camera."
http://fxn.ws/lmJwPu
3. ROYAL VISIT DETAILS: The official itinerary of the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge’s July visit to L.A. has been released. Prince William and Kate Middleton will hit a U.K. trade gala July 8 before heading to Santa Barbara, where William will play in a charity polo match at Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club (with production by YourBash!). Saturday night is the inaugural British Academy of Film and Television Arts' BAFTA Brits to Watch. (William is the president of BAFTA.) The final day of the tour includes a private event in support of Tusk USA, which supports conservation in Africa. The couple also plans to meet with inner-city youths, and later military families at Sony Pictures Studios, where they will assemble care packages to be sent to troops in Afghanistan. LAist:
http://bit.ly/jOpKse
4. MEASURING WORD-OF-MOUTH: Word-of-mouth research was an important topic at the Advertising Research Foundation’s Measurement 6.0 conference in New York this week. Ed Keller of Keller Fay Group and Emily Vanides of MediaVest presented a study with this info:
* Positive experiences (75 percent) are more likely to generate word of mouth than negative (25 percent).
* The vast majority of conversations (91 percent) still occur offline.
PR Newser:
http://bit.ly/jkZVT2
5. NFL VS. PORN: USA Today: "The NFL is investigating potential improper use of team property in ads for Exxotica 2011, a porn industry event…the NFL is checking whether Exxxotica improperly used photos of players in their official team uniforms when promoting an event in Miami last month."
http://usat.ly/jifivP
6. CHECK OUT, CHECK IN: Constant Contact has launched a free mobile event check-in app.
http://bit.ly/k4Cmhj
* A MOMENT OF TED *
From the desk of editor at large Ted Kruckel, re: "Rocco's Dinner Party":
"My former client and friend's big new Bravo show aired last night and BizBash's occasionally pushy editor in chief asked me to weigh in. Okay, still getting used to this super brief format. Contestant JJ, who describes himself as a pretty boy, is overly confident methinks. Overall the show is a tiny bit—okay, more than a tiny bit—boring. When Rocco asks, 'is "interesting" is a good word?' with a snide tone, I almost reach for the phone and text him (we occasionally text) '"interesting" is both a good word and, more importantly, CONCEPT! Rocco, may I suggest not to attack basic precepts of intellectualism, within which the notion of interesting is molecularly intertwined?' But I have lost his number. (Rocco!, if this reaches you, I lost my Blackberry. Text me again, XOXO!) But he gets props for telling the girl who blended the avocado (love that they showed it turn brown), he's not sure if she can 'heat a pan and cook something,' then fires her. Stopped watching at that point because I had enough for this item."
What did you think? Tell us at [email protected].
* LOCAL NEWS *
CHICAGO: Dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming acts, the BMI stage at Lollapalooza will offer performances from Christina Perri, Ceci Bastida, and Kids These Days. The festival takes place in Grant Park from August 5 to 7.
"Summer Lovin'," a cocktail party with Chicago Magazine's "most outstanding singles" for 2011, takes place on Friday at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Fig Media DJ Megan Taylor will spin, and sponsors include Absolute Production Services and Auction and Event Solutions.
http://bit.ly/iJA2Ou
DETROIT: General Motors has named Jack Morton Worldwide agency of record for brand experiences. This encompasses work for GM that Jack Morton has traditionally been responsible for in events and communications for key audiences and constituencies, including consumers at auto shows, the Chevrolet and Cadillac dealer bodies, and GM corporate employees, as well as national, regional, and local sponsorship program selection and consumer activation programs.
LOS ANGELES: The Hollywood Fringe Festival kicks off today and runs through June 26. In its second year, it has grown to include about 230 shows—"artists of all disciplines will set up shop on street corners, in coffee shops and in fully equipped theaters for performances." The Artworks Theatre and Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard is Fringe Central. L.A. Times:
http://lat.ms/iJh7IY
The W Los Angeles Westwood was recognized with a Stars of the Industry Award for a Special Ongoing Event at the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Summer Summit in Atlanta. The W's "Chill" event for 10 weeks in the winter turned an otherwise unusable outdoor swimming pool area into "a money making, winter wonderland."
http://bit.ly/kilaJU
NEW YORK: CCK Events produced the the second annual NYC Pet Show with the American Pet Products Association May 21-22 in at the Metropolitan Pavilion, with nearly 100 exhibitors and more than 4,000 attendees.
ORLANDO: Caesars Entertainment will again partner with Encore Productions and Hilton Worldwide to produce "The Big Deal" at the MPI World Education Congress in Orlando, benefitting the Meeting Professionals International Foundation.
PHOENIX: The Venue Excellence Awards will be presented during the International Association of Venue Managers’ annual conference and trade show VenueConnect July 25.
http://bit.ly/ayut9F
SAN FRANCISCO: Also at the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Summer Summit, W San Francisco was honored with a Good Earthkeeping award for such green initiatives as its green meetings, where all food is organic, biodynamic, and or local, and its "Zero Waste Events."
TORONTO: La Société opened its hand-painted doors on Tuesday evening. The large, Parisian-style bistro has custom tiling, leather furnishings, and an intricate stained-glass ceiling. It can accommodate about 400 people and is the only restaurant on Bloor with a patio (let alone two).
WASHINGTON: The Hill has hired Nicole Rodgers as its manager of events and external relations. FishbowlDC:
http://bit.ly/k8AhPu
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Erica Petri, Anna Sekula, and Courtney Thompson in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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