August 5, 2013: Ellen to Host the Oscars, Big Sponsorship Change for Tribeca Film Festival, 'Politico' Expands Event Division

1. ELLEN TO HOST THE OSCARS: Ellen DeGeneres will host next year's Academy Awards, bringing a shift in tone from Seth MacFarlane's schoolboy-style comedy. DeGeneres hosted the Oscars in 2007, and in the Academy's official statement Friday joked: "I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time. You know what they say—the third time’s the charm.” As a likable presence on television, she delivers a marketing bonus to the ratings-obsessed Oscars. Entertainment Weekly: "DeGeneres also has the strategic advantage of hosting a popular daily talk show, which will provide a bully pulpit for promoting the March awards telecast." http://bit.ly/18RDoW6

2. TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL MAKES BIG SPONSORSHIP CHANGE: AT&T is replacing American Express as presenting sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival. The move is the culmination of an increase in presences for AT&T over the years. American Express, which has been the presenting sponsor for 12 years, will continue to sponsor the fest in a lesser role. New York Times: "Cathy M. Coughlin, [AT&T] senior executive vice president and global marketing officer, said the festival was another way to connect with things 'that are important to New Yorkers, not only the tourists and visitors.' The company, she said, expects to create a mobile app to track festival news and events. It will also host a day of free public screenings, something that has not been done in the past at Tribeca." http://nyti.ms/19HSkJB

3. 'POLITICO' EXPANDS EVENT TEAM: Politico is expanding its event presence and has named senior political reporter Lois Romano as editor of Politico Events. Mediabistro: "In this newly created position, she’ll help conceive, promote, and plan events in conjunction with the rest of the newsroom, and serve as an events point of contact for the business side." http://bit.ly/1c2sxxm

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is now offering a $22,000 Louis XIII Rare Cask bottle of cognac. Befitting the first time the spirit is available at an American hotel or restaurant, the decanter was delivered in a Rolls-Royce Ghost. Tastings are available at the hotel's Windows Lounge starting at $1,000 a pour. The cognac soon will be available by the glass at Ago in Los Angeles, the New York Palace, Café Nuovo in Providence, the St. Regis Atlanta, Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, and Villa Azur in Miami.

CHICAGO:  Tasting Tale will host the Ultimate Chicago Summer Party at BellyQ on Wednesday. The event will offer a whole-hog feast, cocktails, and the chance to meet BellyQ chef Bill Kim.

LOS ANGELES:  Star Wars Celebration will meet at the Anaheim Convention Center April 16-19, 2015. Reed Exhibitions, which organizes Star Wars Celebration, anticipates around 35,000 people will attend the event. Tickets  go on sale Wednesday.

Alyssa Jones Dominguez of Filter Creative Public Relations has left for a position on Honda's communications team.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Palme d’Or, the restaurant at the Biltmore hotel, named Gregory Pugin as the chef de cuisine. Most recently, Pugin was the executive chef at Le Cirque Las Vegas.

The Bath Club is hosting a Luxury Bridal showcase August 15 from 6-9 p.m.

NEW YORK:  The Affordable Art Fair, where the majority of work costs less than $5,000, returns to the Tunnel building in Chelsea October 3-6.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

TORONTO:  Momofuku Daishō is adding a terrace to its complex adjacent to the Shangri-La Hotel. Toronto Life: http://bit.ly/17ts7Z2

WASHINGTON:  Kevin Reilly, a local Hyundai dealership owner and member of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association, will chair the 2014 Washington Auto Show.

James Horsman has been named managing director at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia. Horsman previously was managing director and vice president of operations at the Madison Hotel in Washington.

The National Conference Center is building a new 158,000-square-foot parking space for the 65-acre facility in Loudoun County, Virginia. It will include reserved prime spaces for commuters and hybrid-fuel cars.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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