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Call Sheet #213: Olympic Sponsors, Highlights from the TED Conference, QR Code Blunders

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #213 — Monday, 03.05.12

Compiled today by Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html  

TODAY'S CALENDAR: Exhibitor 2012 continues in Las Vegas, the Miami International Film Festival also continues

* INCOMING *

1. OLYMPIC GAME SPONSORSHIPS: NBC Universal is seeking new ways to approach advertisers for the summer Olympic Games in London. NBC has already sold more than $900 million of advertising. Ad Age: To help get advertisers interested, NBC has broken up sponsorships for certain ad categories. A smaller pact can be especially attractive if budgets are tight or public scrutiny is intense."
http://bit.ly/zhVJ9h

2. TED CONFERENCE RECAP: The annual event wrapped up Friday in Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center and simulcast at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs. Here are 13 ideas from the conference and TEDActive:
http://bit.ly/Av91vj

3. WPP'S DIGITAL FOCUS: The global advertising agency, parent company of firms including Ogilvy & Mather, JWT, and Young & Rubicam, plans to spend $400 million with Facebook this year, doubling the amount spent in 2011. However, WPP will make a more significant investment in Google, spending $2 billion. Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP's C.E.O., on the difficulty of monetizing social media: '"Facebook is a social network.…If you interrupt that social communication with commercial messages…is it as potent as search or indeed as display or indeed as mobile? I don’t think so."' WWD:
http://bit.ly/AAxLrQ

4. CODE BREAKING: A new Tumblr called W.T.F. QR Codes pokes fun at the glyphs and the creators choose 10 of the funniest codes for Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/wsBBBb

5. BIEBER'S BIRTHDAY: Colin Cowie tells MTV how he would have planned Justin Bieber's 18th birthday bash. '"I wouldn't serve a sit-down dinner, I wouldn't serve a buffet, but have a series of stations showcasing some of his favorite foods," he said. "We know he loves spaghetti, so I'd have a spaghetti bar with six different spaghettis. We know that he loves tacos, maybe do a taco bar with five different margaritas, maybe do virgin ones for those who can and those who can't. Of course, [there would be] an amazing, over-the-top birthday cake."'
http://on.mtv.com/yEILlB

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: Yahoo Sports: “The weekend's M.I.T. Sloan Sports Analytics conference drew more than 2,200 guests, around double the size of last year's crowd. ‘Everything about Sloan seems to be gearing toward playing to larger audiences, from its ESPN-headlined roster of sponsors to its progressively nattier digs—last year's conference was held at the larger but more remote Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in South Boston; this year, we're at the much more centrally located Hynes Convention Center...The bigger-better-faster-more thrust even extends to the quality of attendee swag bags.’"
http://yhoo.it/xARPjw

The city has begun construction of a $115 million office and retail complex in Roxbury’s Dudley Square. Set to open in 2014, the project includes retail spaces, green rooftops, spaces for art exhibits and other events, and an atrium that will host meetings and events. Boston.com:
http://bo.st/A5w853

CHICAGO: The city of Chicago marked its 175th birthday Sunday and in celebration of the occasion, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events launched the "175 Days to Love Chicago" campaign. Running through August 26, the initiative includes events, festivals, dining and shopping promotions, and guided tours.
http://bit.ly/zhSKfB

LAS VEGAS: From U.K.-based Exhibition World: "Plans for a new 372,000-square-meeter venue in Las Vegas have been buoyed by the city's second highest recorded visitor count."
http://bit.ly/xz7KNp

TimeWise launched a new Web site for Las Vegas events geared at locals. PR.com:
http://bit.ly/yzTDrU

SkyVue, slated to become the largest observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere, set its foundation Thursday with a convoy of more than 100 trucks filling approximately 1,300 cubic yards of concrete. The attraction is scheduled to open July 4, 2013, and it will be available for private events.

The Academy of Country Music announced Friday the concert lineup during its awards weekend on Fremont Street Experience on March 30-31. The weekend will include performances by Luke Bryan, Eric Church, and others.

Confirming buzz that has been circulating for months, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino announced Friday that Cee Lo Green will be its newest resident headliner with his new show, "Cee Lo Green Presents Loberace." The August 29 premiere in the resort's 1,400-seat showroom will mark the first of 28 performances this year.

LOS ANGELES: Concert promoter Insomniac promised local residents quieter times going forward. Contra Costa Times: "A smaller tent and a scaled-down sound system. That's what Insomniac...will change for its next event coming to the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino on March 17."
http://bit.ly/z1E3XR  
 
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Acqualina Resort & Spa received the AAA Five Diamond Award for the third consecutive year, as well as awards from TripAdvisor, Spas of America, and U.S News & World Report.
http://bit.ly/x8ZvXV

NEW YORK: Fran Drescher is officiating a same-sex marriage ceremony March 6 at XL Nightclub at Out, New York's first "gay-friendly" hotel. Vendors include Sylvia Weinstock, Blush Designs, Kitchin, M2M, and the Sugar Factory
http://bit.ly/y6H2Yp

Chef Daniel Boulud is hosting his annual Citymeals-on-Wheels gala March 25 at Daniel.

ISES New York Metro launched its redesigned Web site with faster navigation, cleaner layouts, new events, news, content on sustainability, and more. Upcoming events include the Lunch and Learn, a joint program with the MPI Greater New York Chapter, which is being held March 23 with keynote speaker Barbara Kellerman at Le Parker Meridien.
http://bit.ly/hFao8P

The 58th annual Neal Awards ceremony is March 16 at the Mandarin Oriental.
http://bit.ly/w3eOKg

Upcoming music events: Trisha Yearwood, Paul Simon, and Josh Grobin are scheduled to perform at a benefit for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall camps April 2 at Lincoln Center. Sting, Elton John, and Meryl Streep are expected to appear at a concert benefiting the Rainforest Fund April 3 at Carnegie Hall. CMT.com:
http://on.cmt.com/zybzBN

ORLANDO: Universal Orlando Resort will reopen the “Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man” ride Thursday. The updated ride includes 4K digital high-definition animation, a new original music score, and new 3-D "Spider-Vision" glasses.

SAN DIEGO: Hotel news: Legoland California Resort will open in Carlsbad in summer 2013 with 250 guest rooms, a pool, and restaurant. This summer, the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa opens with 25,300 square feet of indoor, outdoor, and pre-function meeting space. Hotel La Jolla is undergoing a full renovation after its management was taken over by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.

WASHINGTON: Former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer will be the keynote speaker at the U.L.I. Washington's 15th annual Washington Real Estate Trends conference April 17 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

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 Jana Schiowitz and Anna Sekula 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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