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BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #26 — Wednesday, 05.25.11
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. POW WOW TO L.A.: LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Tuesday that the city will host U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow, April 21 to 25, 2012. Larry Kurzweil, president and C.O.O. of Universal Studios Hollywood, will chair the host committee. Sponsors include Los Angeles World Airports, the California Travel and Tourism Commission, Iris from Cirque du Soleil, and the Hollywood & Highland Center.
Organizers expect an immediate economic impact of $6.5 million as a result of hosting the convention, and another $350 million two to four years later from international travel business.
Here's our report from Pow Wow's closing night party in Orlando last year:
http://bit.ly/iuuosF
Related news from The L.A. Times: "Los Angeles has overtaken Miami as the U.S. city with the second-highest number of overseas visitors, behind only New York. The latest statistics from the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries show Los Angeles had a 33% increase in overseas visitors in 2010 compared with 2009."
http://lat.ms/jt3obI
2. BLOG WORLD LESSONS: Senior editor Anna Sekula headed to the Javits Center yesterday for the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, which co-located with this year's Book Expo America to make its East Coast debut:
"Heard some helpful tips at a couple of sessions. David Griner and Dave Peck's talk on social media disasters offered insights into EA's controversial 2009 event and marketing campaign for game Dante's Inferno. 'Fail is the scarlet letter of the modern marketing world, but it's only a fail if you refuse to learn from it,' said Griner, who explained how the video game company changed its approach following an offensive stunt at Comic Con."
For more on how BlogWorld has grown since its inception in 2007, see our recent feature on the 14 most innovative meetings:
http://bit.ly/lvzwv8
3. TALKING TO COKE: Anna also checked out Assouline and Coca-Cola's gathering at the IAC Building last night, which previewed the book chronicling the global beverage giant's 125-year history as well as the accompanying iPad app:
"Chatted with Coca-Cola spokesperson Hugh John Gordon about the brand's 125th anniversary year-long series of events. These included an impressive a 360-degree, 210,000-square-foot 3-D projection on the facade of Coke's HQ in Atlanta, a concert for 15,000 employees, and a joint celebration with the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. 'The idea is that it's not about us, but about [the consumers] that helped us get to where we are and the events are our way of thanking everyone. We want it to be inclusive, not exclusive,' said Gordon. Don't expect any lavish or overly flamboyant events. 'It's not like Coke to be gratuitously splashy...Coke is not elite and I don't think you'll ever see us do a black-tie event.'"
Coca-Cola also made our list of the 10 most innovative event brands:
http://bit.ly/itMFMC
Also spotted: MKG founder Maneesh Goyal, who produces Diet Coke sponsor activations at events like the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
4. LYNCH TO HOST EMMYS?: Hollywood Reporter: "Jane Lynch, who stars as Sue Sylvester in Fox’s hit musical comedy series Glee, is talking with the TV Academy about hosting the Emmy Awards, which will air on Fox on Sept. 18."
http://bit.ly/mMVF1J
* INTERNAL BUSINESS *
Registration is open for the 2011 BizBash Chicago Expo & Awards August 18 at Merchandise Mart. Floor passes are now just $40.
http://bit.ly/jZnWaw
* REGARDING OPRAH *
What did you think of her big event shows Monday and Tuesday? Anybody taking a half-day to watch the finale live today? And you're totally obsessed with "Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes," right? Or is that just me?
* LOCAL NEWS *
CHICAGO: Chicago Dramatists is rebranding with new classes for corporate groups and a renovated theater that includes a full bar. The new space will be available for rental in June.
http://bit.ly/mOcexN
The Chicago Dancing Festival marks its fifth anniversary August 22 to 27. Originally a one-night performance, the event and has expanded to a week of programming at such institutions as the Chicago Cultural Center and the Auditorium Theatre; it also includes a gala. The Sun-Times:
http://bit.ly/jNSWkC
LOS ANGELES: LA Inc. worked with NewFilmmakers Los Angeles on a new project at Sunset Gower Studios on Saturday. “On Location: The Los Angeles Video Project” was a competition that challenged filmmakers to showcase attributes of L.A. The premiere of the films sold out, with a crowd of more than 500. Event sponsors included Revelry Event Designers, Flowers in Beverly Hills, ATS Audio Visual, W Hollywood, Film L.A., Fresh Bites, Malibu Family Wines, Castex Rentals, and others.
Big names in sports and entertainment came together on Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza for the 26th anniversary of Sports Spectacular to benefit the Medical Genetics Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Hosts John Salley, Samantha Harris, and Jim Hill kept guests entertained, and Jordin Sparks sang the national anthem. More than 1,800 guests raised $1.3 million.
New hotel brand Mr. C, from the fourth generation of the Cipriani family, has plans to debut next month in Beverly Hills. The 12-story property will include an event space on the 12th floor, which will offer 360-degree views of the city, a private elevator entrance, and outdoor capabilities. There's also a garden, a pool and deck area, lobby lounge, and restaurant.
MIAMI: Cort will open its new furniture rental showroom at 2200 Biscayne Boulevard with a Brazilian-theme celebration Thursday. The company will give away a trip for two to Rio de Janeiro.
Miami Science Museum will open the "Stingray Sea Lab" exhibit on Friday, as part of the inaugural Miami Underwater Festival, which runs Friday and Saturday and is sponsored by Everest Capital. "Stingray Sea Lab" will serve as a prototype for the new Miami Science Museum’s aquarium, scheduled to open in Museum Park in 2014.
NEW YORK: Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Moderne (marking its 10th anniversary) and Esquire are hosting a "State of the Hamburger" lunch and panel June 3, sponsored by butcher DeBragga. Tix are $110.
Fingerprint Communications is representing Axe Lounge in Southampton, which will be operated by Paige Management. It opens this weekend.
ORLANDO: Visit Orlando announced Tuesday that the destination is the first to break the 50 million visitor mark with a record-breaking 51.445 million visitors in 2010. That number can be attributed in part to increased group bookings and rising meeting attendance.
New York, meanwhile, contests the achievement. NYT:
http://nyti.ms/kR13vL
Dave & Buster's announced it will open its new International Drive location near the Orange County Convention Center July 18. The 40,000-square-foot dining and entertainment complex will accommodate more than 1,000 guests and offer more than 170 interactive games and dozens of flat-screen TVs. The facility will also have more than 3,100 square feet of meeting space for group events and corporate teambuilding.
ON TOUR: Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism will hold the “Ecuador Travel Expo” with 16 exhibitors and workshop for travel professionals and media in June. Stops are Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Boston, Toronto, Montreal.
http://bit.ly/jUgKIm
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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