November 23, 2016: Amazon to Expand Online Ticket Platform, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Debuts 360-Degree Live Stream, James Corden to Host 2017 Grammy Awards

1. AMAZON TO EXPAND ONLINE TICKET PLATFORM: Amazon plans to widen its online ticket sales in various international markets, and will possibly launch Prime Tickets as part of the company's Prime membership program. Recode: "Amazon launched its online ticketing business just last year, but it already has plans to expand it in Europe, Asia and potentially the U.S., according to a series of job listings posted recently.  The hiring efforts are part of a new initiative to 'position Amazon Tickets as the world’s premier destination for purchasing tickets,' according to one posting. The job listings also hint at plans to integrate ticket sales into the Prime membership program with something Amazon is calling Prime Tickets, the details of which were not laid out. ... An Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment. The initiative is being led by a vice president, Ian Freed, who has been with Amazon for more than a decade and once served as CEO Jeff Bezos’s technical assistant." http://on.recode.net/2f2KELC

2. MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE DEBUTS 360-DEGREE LIVE STREAM: For the first time, this year's Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York will have a 360-degree live stream, available on Verizon’s YouTube page. NBCUniversal, Verizon, and Macy’s made the announcement in a joint statement. Advertising Age: "The stream, on Verizon's YouTube page, begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, hosted by Marlon Wayans and Olivia Culpo. NBC will air traditional coverage of the parade on TV as usual. While there won't be any commercials interrupting the stream, it will mention Verizon's sponsorship throughout. There will also be demonstrations of the Google Pixel phone, which is only available with a Verizon connection, and Google's new virtual reality headset Daydream. The 360-degree stream will be promoted during NBC's parade telecast, in ads running across NBCU's portfolio of TV networks and digital outlets and on social media." http://tinyurl.com/glmowzm

3. JAMES CORDEN TO HOST 2017 GRAMMY AWARDS: James Corden, host of The Late Late Show on CBS, will emcee the 59th annual Grammy Awards, which CBS will televise live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12. He takes over hosting duties from LL Cool J, who emceed the Grammys from 2012 to 2016 to steadily declining ratings. Corden also hosted the CBS-televised Tony Awards this year, which had the show's highest ratings in 15 years. Variety: "Corden earned stellar reviews for his work hosting the Tony Awards on CBS in June. His Late Late Show, which he joined as host in 2015, earned an Emmy Award in September for outstanding interactive program. 'Carpool Karaoke,' which features Corden side by side with well-known artists, singing hit songs while driving, has been a record-breaking segment on YouTube, garnering nearly 2 billion views and boosting the show’s YouTube channel to more than 8 million subscribers. Apple in July bought a spinoff series based on the segment to distribute through its Apple Music platform." http://tinyurl.com/h3talbw


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

The National Restaurant Association has partnered with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance. As part of this new partnership, association members will have full access to M.F.H.A.'s Cultural Intelligence solutions, webinars, conferences, roundtables, and consultation services.

Hilton Worldwide has named Katie Beirne Fallon senior vice president and global head of corporate affairs. She previously served as a senior advisor at the White House and a top aide in the U.S. Senate.

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Boston Pops orchestra and David Mugar, longtime executive producer of Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, have announced that, starting in 2017, the Boston Pops will produce the July 4th Esplanade events. The orchestra will also assume management responsibility of Boston 4 Productions, which produced the event for 43 years.

CHICAGO:  The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort will host Breakfast with Santa events on December 11 and 18.

LOS ANGELES:  The 2017 Independent Spirit Awards will take place February 25 inside a tent on the Santa Monica beach. The event will air live on IFC.

Shade Hotel has opened at 655 North Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach. The hotel has 54 guest rooms and is adjacent to a tri-level, 9,034-square-foot events building that houses Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge and a grand ballroom.

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

MADISON, WISCONSIN:  The 2017 Reebok CrossFit Games will be held August 1-6 at the Alliant Energy Center. After seven years at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, the event moved to Madison, where it will be held for the next three years.

MAUI, HAWAII:  Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, has made several new appointments: Tiare Horner is group sales manager, Brenda Swain is leisure sales manager, Jennifer Miller is resort sales representative, and Gina Rausch is conference services and catering manager.

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE:  Elvis Presley’s Graceland has set opening dates and a new name for its 200,000-square-foot, $45 million entertainment complex that will be located across the street from Graceland Mansion. Elvis Presley’s Memphis (formerly named Elvis: Past, Present & Future) will have its grand-opening weekend March 2-5, 2017. The new venue will include a 20,000-square-foot Elvis: The Entertainer museum, a 20,000-square-foot Graceland Soundstage, and an Elvis Presley Automobile Museum. The new facility will also have two themed restaurants named for Elvis’s parents, Gladys and Vernon; Gladys’ Diner will feature classic American fare, while Vernon’s Smokehouse will serve Memphis-style barbecue. A coffee bar and ice-cream shop will also be located within the complex, along with new retail stores offering Elvis merchandise. A separate phase of the expansion is Guest House at Graceland, a 450-room resort hotel that opened in October.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Tide by Side, the cultural and culinary parade presented by Faena Art, will take place Sunday between 32nd and 36th Streets and Collins Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.

MINNEAPOLIS:  Radisson Red has opened at 609 3rd Street South in the East Town neighborhood. The hotel has 164 guest rooms; the brand's signature food and beverage outlet, OuiBar & Ktchn; a 24/7 fitness center; and an Events and Games Studio with a ping-pong table and games.

NEW YORK:  The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards will take place December 6 at the New York Hilton Midtown. The event will honor Vice President Joe Biden, Starbucks president and C.E.O. Howard Schultz, and Guggenheim Partner's Scott Minerd.

Hilton Brooklyn New York in the Boerum Hill neighborhood will hold an opening ceremony on Tuesday. The hotel has an on-site restaurant as well as three meeting rooms: the 686-square-foot Brooklyn Heights Room, the 900-square-foot Boerum Hill Room, and the 1,740-square-foot Brooklyn South Room. The latter can hold 120 for receptions, or seat 100 banquet-style.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester, has appointed William Yahr as general manager.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Sean Riebau has been appointed director of food and beverage at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace.

TORONTO:  DJ Skate Nights will take place every Saturday at Harbourfront Centre from December 17-February 18.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Great American Inaugural Ball commemorating the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States will be held on January 20, 2017, at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Attendees at the all-inclusive gala can choose from three ticket options: Main Event (all-inclusive food and beverage); V.I.P. (even more food and beverage options and separate V.I.P. event areas); and the Velvet Rope level that has all the features of Main Event and V.I.P., but also gives access to MGM's private elevator, balconies, and a party suite that overlooks the main entertainment. Dedicated corporate/private suites with separate catering are also available.

The 11th annual MetroCooking DC will take place December 3 and 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Celebrity chefs who are scheduled to participate in the event include Jacques Pepin, Tom Colicchio, Carla Hall, and Duff Goldman.

Brunchwork, a networking organization for young professionals, is hosting a brunch December 4 at MakeOffices at Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia. Contactually founder Zvi Band and Groundwork Ventures founder Jason Towns will be among the guests.

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 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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