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Call Sheet #44: New Partners Edition: Bacardi Books Live Nation, Freeman Buys Wheelhouse, Foursquare and American Express

Today's Call Sheet theme is new partnerships. (A complete coincidence, but I love a theme, don't you?) Who are you teaming up with? Tell us at [email protected].

—Chad Kaydo, editor in chief, BizBash

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #44 — Thursday, 06.23.11

Compiled today by Chad Kaydo in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html

* INCOMING *

1. BACARDI BOOKS LIVE NATION: Building on its "Like It Live, Like It Together" promotion earlier this month [http://bit.ly/lSIEc2], which drove the brand's Facebook fans to in-person concerts, Bacardi announced yesterday a partnership with Live Nation to produce a multi-platform marketing campaign this summer called "Best Shared Live."

It will use Live Nation's digital, mobile, and social media properties to reach millions of consumers as they plan summer music experiences. Live Nation will create a Bacardi-branded concert guide, and add Facebook modules to LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com. Press release:
http://prn.to/loKetu

2. BIG ACQUISITION: Freeman announced this week that it is acquiring Wheelhouse Solutions, which is made of of three companies: Champion Exposition Services will be integrated into Freeman. George Fern Company, an exposition services company, and Immersa Marketing, an experiential marketing agency, will operate as individual brands.

With 40 offices in North America, Freeman currently produces more than 3,000 expositions annually, including 48 percent of the largest 250 U.S. trade shows, and more than 10,000 other events worldwide. Wheelhouse is one of the largest event marketing and service providers in North America, with locations in more than 25 cities and more than 600 employees producing more than 1,500 events annually.

Here's a video of the announcement:
http://bit.ly/mJsNi7

3. AN ONLINE PARTNERSHIP: "Foursquare and American Express are introducing a partnership that will reward users with loyalty card-like credit when they check in," reports Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/isQbFI

4. FASHION TRADE SHOW PARTNERSHIP: The Daily Front Row: "ENK International and White, the Milan trade show producer, announced that they are joining forces. The collaboration debuts at ENK's February 2012 Coterie exhibition in NYC, where over 50 White brands running the women's accessories and apparel gamut will participate stateside, many for the first time ever, at White@Coterie. Conversely, a number of Coterie designers will show their wares in Milan next year as part of Coterie@White."
http://bit.ly/jwursb

5. MCCORMICK PLACE REFORMS STOPPED: On less cordial note, the Chicago Sun-Times: "Officials at McCormick Place had hoped to keep operating under labor-law reforms that led several conventions to re-up or commit their trade shows to the Near South Side venue. U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman nixed those plans Wednesday by ruling that McCormick Place operators cannot impose the labor reforms while legal challenges continue."
http://bit.ly/lF50OM

6. NEW MEETING BENCHMARKS: Yesterday at AIBTM in Baltimore, Meeting Professionals International released the Business Value of Meetings study, which "identifies key benchmarks in the measurement of the business value of meetings including: percentage of businesses who measure, barriers to implementation, crucial programming elements for organizational success and key skills needed for personal success."
http://bit.ly/kqZUcx

* JUST WOW *

Some, um, business travel news from The San Francisco Gate: "A man who flies US Airways in women's skimpy clothing, including little more than undergarments at times, said Wednesday that he does so to make business travel more fun, and complies with employees' requests to cover up—though they rarely ask." And there's a photo!
http://bit.ly/lpAipc

* A MOMENT OF TED *

From the desk of BizBash editor at large Ted Kruckel: "Update from restaurant row: It had been awhile since I did the 46th Street pre-theater dinner scene. I know nothing of the vicissitudes of Broadway's fortunes, but strapping on a feedbag...that I know. Orso and Esca both totally booked a week out, who knew? The street is bustling with a sense of productivity. At B. Smith, Barbara herself is greeting guests in her lounge. This show has legs.”

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO: Last week’s Association Week sponsored by the Association Forum of Chicagoland saw record-breaking attendance at the annual meeting at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Thursday’s gala drew more than 400 attendees to Navy Pier’s grand ballroom, and on Friday, professionals did community service at the Chicago House.
http://bit.ly/jYMBsS

LOS ANGELES: The Michael Alan Group executed a street-level "For Your Consideration" campaign designed to keep the U.S.A. top of mind during Emmy nomination season in L.A., targeting industry influencers at outdoor haunts around town. The programming took place the weekends of June 11-12 and June 18-19, with street teams and brand ambassadors distributing logoed bags and postcards at farmers markets, and water bottles and branded dog bones at hiking trails and dog parks.

Downtown Santa Monica is launching two new event programs next month. Cinema on the Street is a series of weekly summertime movies on Third Street Promenade. The outdoor screen will be located at the 1200 block, and attendance is free. DatingDowntown is a series of date experiences for couples in and around the area. The Saturday events run July 9 through August 27.

Island Hotel Newport Beach has named Kevin M. Sanford its new director of sales and marketing.

Planners who hold qualifying events at the Beverly Hilton with a minimum of $50,000 net revenue are now eligible to earn one million Honors Meeting Planner points—a massive haul—for events contracted by the end of 2011 and happening by December 31, 2012.

MIAMI: Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Swim starts July 14 at the Raleigh with Diesel’s runway show presented by Skyy Vodka, followed by the official kickoff party presented by Skyy at the hotel’s pool deck and Oasis. The line-up for the week includes both old and new designers. Mercedez-Benz is joined by sponsors including American Express, DHL, Make Up For Ever, TRESemme, and Microsoft.

NEW YORK: All Access Staging & Productions, Ice-World, and On Axis Productions are joining forces for new venture, Ice-America, which will provide rental ice-skating rinks that are ready-to-use and eco-friendly.
http://bit.ly/l9jxo6

Elie Tahari’s Men’s Spring 2012 Presentation is July 12 at the Standard, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the High Line Room and Terrace.

The New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show is at the Metropolitan Pavilion July 22-25. Some featured designers include Harry Winston, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Patek Phillipe, Tiffany & Co and Rolex.
http://bit.ly/m1J2u2

Carolina Herrera tapped Amy McFarland as vice president of marketing and communications, a new post. She comes from New Yorkers for Children, where she was director of development, and has also worked as Zac Posen’s director of marketing and communications. WWD:
http://bit.ly/jKrVmG

BET Networks named Vicky Free executive vice president of marketing. She most recently led strategic marketing efforts at Turner Broadcasting Systems.
http://prn.to/jTm584

Susan Magrino Agency is moving to a new office at 352 Park Avenue South  Monday.

ORLANDO: Universal Orlando Resort has released a free mobile app for iPhone and Android devices that helps guests navigate Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk. The app has check-in features that sync to Facebook and Twitter, and it provides one-click dining reservations at the park's restaurants.

In preparation for its July 18 opening, Dave & Buster's has hired several managers to lead the new Orlando location on International Drive. They include Jacqueline Reissent as a corporate sales manager and Paul Clunan as general manager.

Al Weiss, president of worldwide operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is retiring after 39 years with the company. Weiss was the company's top executive in Florida.

PHILADELPHIA: The Wanamaker Organ, which resides in the Grand Court at Macy's in Center City and is the largest in the world, is 100 years old this week. A series of related events includes a private performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the organ.

TORONTO: Luxury hotel chain Shangri-La has appointed Richard Cooke as the general manager at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto, which is under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2012. Cooke is currently general manager at Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

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.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html

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