Hello again! Happy 2012. We’re back after a nice long break, and one of our goals for the year is to get readers more actively involved in the Call Sheet. So let’s start this way: Email us one of your goals for 2012, and we’ll run some answers later this week. Send them to [email protected].
—Chad Kaydo, editor in chief, BizBash
BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #169 — Tuesday, 01.03.12
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
* INCOMING *
1. FOLLOWING THE BALL: Social media helped people ring in the New Year in New York and beyond. Mashable reports that Twitter users followed tweets from the New Year's Eve ball (@timessquareball) to keep track of news throughout the evening and visitors sent Instagram photos to the FeedMagnet billboard and to the Toshiba billboard, which stood directly below the ball. Those who couldn't be there tuned in to the festivities through Livestream's app for Apple and Android devices with commercial-free coverage streamed from a webcam.
http://on.mash.to/vP1JoZ
2. POSSIBLE OSCAR MOVE: The Hollywood Reporter: "After nearly a decade at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood...the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences exercised a clause in its contract and notified the CIM Group, which owns the venue, that it may move the Oscars elsewhere after the 2013 show."
http://bit.ly/uVl2Bs
3. FACEBOOK AWARDS: The social network announced its Facebook Studio Awards, where brands and agencies can enter their best Facebook marketing campaigns. Judges will include Stephen Goldblatt, executive creative director at Evolution Bureau, and Jeff Benjamin, chief creative officer at CP+B. The deadline has been extended to January 15. Adweek:
http://bit.ly/vbcmUZ
4. TECH TRENDS: The Washington Post's list of this year's big technology trends and storylines:
http://wapo.st/vaR3AW
5. BUSINESS TRAVEL PROSPECTS: The New York Times: "Many airlines will continue shrinking overall capacity and trimming domestic routes in 2012, and the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, will merely exacerbate the situation. In 2012, American will ‘ground some planes and resize our network,’ the company’s chief executive, Thomas W. Horton, recently told employees."
http://nyti.ms/rSi86Q
6. NIKE JOINS TWITTER: The brand opened its first account under the Nike name this past Friday, just in time for New Year's. By the afternoon it had 14,000 followers, and within 24 hours Nike had more followers than competitor Adidas. Nike does already have Twitter feeds for sports like baseball and football. Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/utVG40
7. ROYAL CELEBRATION: Pippa Middleton threw a New Year’s Eve bash inside a large reindeer herder's tent made of animal skins and erected in her family’s back yard in Berkshire, England. Inside, 100 guests, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, sat at tables illuminated by candlelight. New York Post:
http://nyp.st/sq7Y3J
8. POST-HOLIDAY PARTIES: Forbes: "Niya Bajaj, an event planner, has seen more people opt to have parties in January instead of now. She says, 'I do think people are holding more post holiday celebrations. I know I was invited to at least five last year, and will be hosting a few this January.' Part of the reason behind having parties in the new year according to Bajaj is time."
http://onforb.es/sPYpIt
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Ames Hotel and Lolagrace Events is hosting a wedding vendor showcase January 12. Participating vendors include Jenny's Wedding Cakes, Rentals Unlimited, and Dogwood Floral Design.
http://bit.ly/tRvcUV
Georgetown Cupcakes plans to open an outpost in Back Bay this spring. The cupcake bakery offers catering, and doles out treats in such flavors as salted caramel, cherry blossom, lava fudge, and coconut.
http://bit.ly/aYOh0
Boston will have its strongest year for convention business since 2007, with bookings at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center expected to give the local economy a $625 million boost. The Boston Herald:
http://bit.ly/vOOP02
CHICAGO: The Bubble Ball is March 10 at the River East Arts Center. The event raises funds for Between Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating domestic violence.
http://bit.ly/hsfkY4
Chef Charlie Trotter is closing his namesake restaurant in August to travel and attend graduate school. The New York Times:
http://nyti.ms/sRnTst
KANSAS CITY: John Heeney has joined Missouri's Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association as vice president of convention sales.
LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Review-Journal has a report on how the city's nonprofits are being lifted by corporate volunteerism.
http://bit.ly/vDHfx9
The Economist: "Microsoft just made the announcement that its chief would—after 2012—no longer deliver a keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), an event staged in Las Vegas every January."
http://econ.st/sFvkIU
LOS ANGELES: Red Carpet Systems was selected for the 2011 Los Angeles award in the entertainers category by the U.S. Commerce Association.
The R.T.C. Group launches a new conference in Santa Clara. The MEDS—Medical Electronic Device Solutions Conference is January 17.
http://bit.ly/uyVAa6
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Cb5 Restaurant Group plans on opening a South Florida location of Mexican restaurant Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar this year. New York Post:
http://nyp.st/sNhpEF
Rock Concerto at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens is January 27.
http://bit.ly/vGWmxQ
Hersha Hospitality purchased the Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront Hotel. Future development plans include building an additional 93-guest room tower with meeting space. Meeting Focus:
http://bit.ly/v5K9SC
Organizers of the January 29 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon believe that for the first time since the race was created in 2003, this year's event will be a sellout. Miami Herald:
http://bit.ly/tgWEbS
NEW YORK: The New York Boat Show begins tomorrow at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.
The Winter Jazzfest begins Friday at Sullivan Hall. More than 60 jazz groups will take part during the Arts Presenters conference.
http://bit.ly/7GqwAr
The city saw a record number of tourists, 50.2 million, in 2011, breaking the record one year ahead of schedule. Visitor spending generated another record at $32 billion.
Former New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton's top 10 new restaurants of 2011:
http://nyti.ms/sBAqOe
Lady Gaga threw a New Year's Eve after-party at Joanne Trattoria, an Italian restaurant the singer co-owns with her father. New York Post:
http://nyp.st/s257A3
ORLANDO: A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa will hosted the Gridiron Gala December 30. The cocktail party was one of the activities that led up to the Outback Bowl, which was played yesterday. Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse provided food.
TORONTO: This year, the Green Living Show will have more than 400 booths, including a new Eco-Innovations exhibit. The show will be at the Direct Energy Centre April 13-15. Courtesy of Samsung Canada, entry is free with a donation of e-waste.
WASHINGTON: The Mandarin Oriental is hosting a gala, January 25, in honor of the Chinese New Year.
Brian Knapp has been named president of meeting management company IMN Solutions.
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.
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