August 5, 2016: Viewers Question NBC's Tape Delay of Olympics Opening Ceremony, Top Hotel Brands Named in Harris Poll, 'Game of Thrones' Fans Search for Clues About Mystery Event

1. VIEWERS QUESTION NBC'S TAPE DELAY OF OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY: With TV networks facing more competition from Internet streaming services, many viewers are questioning NBC's decision to show a prerecorded delay of the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, which the network will begin airing Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, about one hour after the event begins at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. NBCUniversal has the U.S. TV rights to televise the Olympics on its subsidiaries such as NBC, USA Network, NBC Universo, and NBC Sports Network, but many social-media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been touting their services so people can react to the Olympics in real time. Mashable: "It's even worse for West Coast viewers, who will have to wait for the opening ceremony to air at 8 p.m. PT, four hours after the event starts. (West Coast viewers will face the same issue with primetime coverage on NBC throughout the Olympics, though cable coverage and competition streams will be shown live across all U.S. time zones.) Adding to the viewer anger is the decision to also stream the opening ceremony to online viewers on an hour delay." http://on.mash.to/2aCiofc

2. TOP HOTEL BRANDS NAMED IN HARRIS POLL: Hilton Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels & Resorts, and Microtel Inn & Suites were named among the top hotel brands in the Harris Poll 2016 EquiTrend Study. More than 97,000 U.S. consumers participated in the survey, which had three main factors that determined the rankings: familiarity, quality, and purchase consideration. Hilton was ranked in the top spot for full-service hotels, W got the highest ranking for luxury hotels, and Microtel was ranked first for economy hotels. Meanwhile, two Hilton-owned brands took the top spot in other categories: Hampton Inn & Suites (mid-market hotels) and Homewood Suites by Hilton (extended stay hotels). Press release: "Most hotel brands demonstrate stronger brand equity than airline, cruise, and online travel service brands, according to the Harris Poll 2016 EquiTrend Study ... Harris Poll's study shows that Hilton brands demonstrate the strongest brand equity in three of five hotel categories: extended stay, full service and mid-market. Additionally, Hilton ranks high on loyalty, and within the full service category, is highest in purchase consideration, most loved, and most trustworthy. Hilton, along with Courtyard by Marriott, places among Harris Poll's top 10 percent of all brands assessed." http://prn.to/2aZyf6y

3. 'GAME OF THRONES' FANS SEARCH FOR CLUES ABOUT MYSTERY EVENT: HBO's Emmy-winning fantasy series Game of Thrones has developed a reputation for keeping fans guessing about which characters are going to die and other plot twists. And now, fans of the show have been creating social-media buzz to look for more clues about a mysterious Game of Thrones event that takes place Monday at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The free event will reveal details about how the Game of Thrones universe will be extended beyond the series, which is scheduled to end in 2018. The Los Angeles Times: "According to a press notice, the event will feature a full orchestra performance of music from the show, a display of costumes from Season 6, an interactive 'Hall of Faces' exhibit, a 'holographic experience' involving the character Melisandre and Arya Stark’s sword, Needle ... Details are so far sketchy, but a 12-second trailer offers clues. 'Live in concert. Music is Coming,' reads text in the clip, followed by a title card that says, 'Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience featuring Ramin Djwadi.'" http://lat.ms/2aEVcdv


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The National Association for Catering and Events has announced its board of directors for 2016-2017. The board members will serve a one-year term, as of July. They are president Joe Mahoney of Hospitality Staff; president-elect Donnell Bayot of the International School of Hospitality; vice president Kate Patay of Creative Coverings; treasurer Ed Di’Antonio of Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort; secretary Doug Quattrini of Feastivities Events; and past president Lisa Hopkins of Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa.

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  The 10th annual Global Mixx Music & Film Forum will be held on August 20-21 at SAE Institute. The event will include panel discussions, speed-mentoring sessions, and a workshop for actors.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH:  The inaugural BassFace Music Festival for electronic dance music will take place August 20 at the Air Hogs Stadium (formerly QuikTrip Park) in Grand Prairie. The event's performers will include Alison Wonderland, Infected Mushroom, Fatman Scoop, Gladiator, KRNE, Tasty Treat, and Lady Kate.

Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones will headline the Oaktopia Music & Art Festival, which takes place September 22-24 in downtown Denton. Other performers at the event will include Beirut, Rae Sremmurd, Andrew W.K., and Best Coast. Dr. Dog and Erykah Badu will perform a DJ set.

LAS VEGAS:  Country singer John Rich will open a Redneck Riviera bar at Grand Bazaar Shops by the end of 2016. The bar will offer a menu from Wahlburgers, which is located beneath Redneck Riviera. Bob Durkin of Charlotte-based Bar Management Group is the principal in the operating team.

LOS ANGELES:  Grammy-winning rapper Nelly will headline Face Forward's seventh annual gala, Havana Nights, which takes place on September 26 at Vibiana. Face Forward is a charity that provides free reconstructive surgery for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Dick Clark Productions and ABC have announced that the 2016 American Music Awards will be held November 20 at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live. Nominations for the fan-voted award show will be announced sometime in late October.

Lily Tomlin has been named the 53rd recipient of SAG-AFTRA's SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. She will receive the prize at the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will take place at the Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017, and will be televised on TNT and TBS. The nominations for the award show will be announced December 14.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  This year's CanesFest will take place on August 13 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables. At the annual event, fans get to meet University of Miami Hurricanes players and coaching staff. 

Marlins Foundation and Miami Marlins are hosting their annual Fish ‘N Chips Casino Party on Wednesday at Marlins Park. Guests are invited to join Marlins players, alumni, and coaches for the event, which will include casino games, an array of hors d'oeuvres, signature cocktails, live entertainment, a silent auction, and a raffle. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Marlins Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program.

The inaugural Red Bull Select Presents: 3 Days in Miami will take place September 1-3 at the Hangar in downtown Miami. The performers at the festival will include ASAP Ferg, Jazz Cartier, 070 Shake, Cashmere Cat, Tennyson, AlunaGeorge, and Xaviar Omar.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is having a 10th anniversary party on October 8. The all-day event will have performances and family-friendly programming.

NASHVILLE:  Country singer John Rich will open a Redneck Riviera bar in the Lower Broad neighborhood, at 208-210 Broadway, by the end of 2016. Bob Durkin of Charlotte-based Bar Management Group is the principal in the operating team.

NEW YORK:  Sony Square NYC, a showplace for the latest in Sony entertainment and technology, opened Thursday at Sony Corporation of America's headquarters at 25 Madison Avenue. The space will be also used for consumer events, such as photography classes, movie screenings, and invitation-only performances by Sony Music artists.

Ariana Grande and Flo Rida are set to perform at Macy’s Presents Fashion’s Front Row, which will take place September 7 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The event will also have a runway show with designs from Calvin Klein, I.N.C. International Concepts, Rachel Rachel Roy, Tallia, Tommy Hilfiger, and William Rast, as well as a world-exclusive debut of Betsey Johnson’s collection inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature film Trolls.

The Broadcasting Hall of Fame has announced its 2016 inductees, who will be honored at its 26th annual ceremony at the Walforf Astoria on October 18. The inductees are Turner Network Television's Inside the NBA, Monica Gadsby of Publicis One, Robert Kraft of the Kraft Group/New England Patriots, Peter Liguori of Tribune Media Company, Deborah Norville of Inside Edition, Mark Pedowitz of the CW Television Network, Michael Powell of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Kevin Reilly of Turner Entertainment, Jay Sures of United Talent Agency, Keith Turner of Univision Communications, and Jeff Wachtel of Universal Cable Productions & Wilshire Studios.

This fall, Kimpton Ink48 Hotel in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood will unveil extensive and design-driven renovations of its guest rooms, suites, and lobby. The renovations were led by designer Anna Busta of Busta Studio and include bespoke furnishings, customizable in-room workspaces, and extra USB ports and outlets.

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

PORTLAND, OREGON:  Topgolf, a chain of golf-oriented entertainment centers, opens its first Oregon location today at 5505 NW Huffman Street in Hillsboro. The 65,000-square-foot venue celebrated the opening with a V.I.P. party on Thursday.

SALT LAKE CITY:  Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek has named Jason Gray executive chef for the hotel's restaurants Elevations and Destinations Lounge. He was previously senior sous chef at Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  W Washington D.C. is selling a $500,000 package for the 2017 U.S. presidential inauguration. The package, available as of August 15, includes three nights in the E-WOW Suite (W’s take on a presidential suite), along with catered dinners at Pinea, spa treatments at Bliss, a private shopping session at Saks Fifth Avenue, first-class round-trip airplane fare to Reagan National Airport from anywhere in the continental United States, and the buyer's own private, hotel rooftop inaugural ball that includes a sit-down dinner and cocktails for 250 guests.

Virtual-reality software developer NotionTheory and co-working communities creator MakeOffices have teamed up to launch a virtual-reality arcade called NotionVR, which will open to the public this month, on a date to be announced, at MakeOffices' Dupont Circle location.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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