June 25, 2018: New York Pride March Changed Route to Prepare for Next Year's International Event, Tech Companies Had Increased Event Presence at Cannes Lions, U.S. Open Overhauls Seeding Approach to Consider Pregnancy Leave

1. NEW YORK PRIDE MARCH CHANGED ROUTE TO PREPARE FOR NEXT YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL EVENT: The 49th annual NYC Pride March drew around two million attendees on Sunday, and those familiar with the march's route probably noticed a major difference—this year, the march started in Chelsea, went to Greenwich Village (where it usually ends), and then went up Fifth Avenue. The route change was made to speed up the march and prepare for the city hosting World Pride next year. The Wall Street Journal: "The change, said Heritage of Pride spokesman James Fallarino, was to speed the flow of the march by keeping it moving largely along major thoroughfares that could better accommodate the throngs of participants. The previous route included narrower streets that 'caused a choke point,' he said. Another key advantage to the new route, he said, is that the end point at 29th Street and Fifth Avenue is near a host of transportation options, including Penn Station. In many ways, the moves were made with an eye to preparing for next year’s march, when the city will simultaneously play host to WorldPride, a global gathering of the LGBTQ community, to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the uprising at Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn, which is considered a defining moment in the gay-rights movement. Mr. Fallarino said attendance at the 2019 march is expected to soar. 'We are preparing for five million people.' Still, not everyone considered the new route a plus. Ken Kidd, a gay-rights activist who lives in Manhattan, said it was important that the march end in Greenwich Village because of that neighborhood’s historic significance. The new route is 'a march to nowhere,' he said. Regardless of the routing, the march continued with its tradition of welcoming a wide range of participants. Among the groups who led the way were the Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club and Scouts for Equality. Also at the front: Tennis great and gay-rights advocate Billie Jean King, who was one of the grand marshals of this year’s event. Ms. King, who has a home in New York City, said she had always wanted to attend the event in the past, but the timing usually conflicted with the Wimbledon tennis championship." https://on.wsj.com/2KiSAau

2. TECH COMPANIES HAD INCREASED EVENT PRESENCE AT CANNES LIONS: This year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity saw an increase in events, activations, and suites from tech companies and sponsors including Google, Spotify, and Facebook—symbolizing the tech industry's growing influence of the media and ad industries. CNBC: "The top awards event for the advertising and marketing industries, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is held each year to celebrate the best work from the industry. And whether it's accurate or not, who has sponsored what has become a barometer of a company’s success. In past festivals, advertising holding companies sponsored the beaches. Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Spotify hold the most prominent areas, with Comcast’s ad tech platform Freewheel and CNN also holding down their own sand spots. Facebook and Pinterest even had their own piers. An advertising executive, who had also seen the Wall Street Journal ship proudly sailing, pointed out Google had many more 'moving' boats. Advertising agencies do have large sponsored meeting areas—especially in the hotels, while the lavish private multi-course dinners for clients at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and helicopter rides to St. Tropez still exist. Media companies and consulting firms brought in entertainers like Jon Bon Jovi and Kylie Minogue. However signs that agencies and media companies are cutting back from the excesses of past Cannes were clear to veteran attendees: Some noted the event seemed less crowded this year, with more smaller events instead of few large lavish ones. The rise in invite-only yacht parties also indicated there more newcomers poised to take a larger role in advertising. Ad tech companies like The Trade Desk, Media Math, OpenX and Rubicon are increasingly taking over sponsorship of the penthouses and yachts. Amazon, which was officially attending Cannes Lions for the first time this year, had a suite at the InterContinental Carlton Cannes and sponsored a 'hackathon' with digital agency Huge." https://cnb.cx/2MlH0sd

3. U.S. OPEN OVERHAULS SEEDING APPROACH TO CONSIDER PREGNANCY LEAVE: The U.S. Open will change the way it seeds players who come back from pregnancy leaves, after tennis officials were criticized for how they handled Serena Williams's return to the court at the French Open. The New York Times: "Katrina Adams, the president and chairwoman of the United States Tennis Association, said players coming back from pregnancy should not be “penalized” for starting a family. 'It’s the right thing to do for these mothers that are coming back,' Adams said in a telephone interview on Friday. Adams made no specific promises about where Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion who gave birth to a daughter in September, would be seeded. But Adams said the U.S. Open would 'revise the seedings if pregnancy is a factor in the current rankings of a player.' The decision could have a ripple effect on other tennis tournaments. The French Open did not grant Williams a seed, but Wimbledon, which begins on July 2, has traditionally been the only Grand Slam tournament to consider factors beyond a player’s ranking in its seeding process. Wimbledon will announce its seedings for this year’s tournament on Wednesday and could give Williams a seed, perhaps in the top eight. She is currently ranked No. 183 in the world, but has won the Wimbledon singles title seven times. Discrimination involving women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth is widespread in many industries. In professional tennis, debate over the issue escalated when Williams, the sport’s most dominant player, was not given a seed for the French Open. (She withdrew with an injury before her fourth-round match.)" https://nyti.ms/2KlEoxc

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  The fifth annual Great American Lobster Fest will take place August 31-September 2 at Navy Pier. 

LOS ANGELES:  BOLD, Beverly Hills’ evening event series, kicks off on August 2 and will run every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night in August. 

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Coterie: Pop-up will take place July 11-18 at Faena Bazaar. The pop-up will showcase luxury designer, beauty, and home goods from more than 30 brands including Caroline K, Place Nationale, and Jacquie Aiche. 

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched Miami Begins With Me, a destination training and customer service program. The online program, which is free for community members, highlights the economic impact of tourism, the city’s history and neighborhoods, and attractions. 

NEW YORK:  The Dominick hotel has appointed Nico Fournier director of MICE and travel industry sales international and Ece Bayram travel industry sales manager. 

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

TORONTO:  The Toronto Fringe Festival will take place July 4-15. The event will have more than 155 shows in venues across the city. 

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

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

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

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