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Call Sheet #206: The Giants' Media Strategy, Brands Boost Marketing Budgets, High Demand for Knicks Tickets

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #206 — Thursday, 02.23.12

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: Canadian International Autoshow continues in Toronto, South Beach Wine and Food Festival begins in Miami

* INCOMING *

1. HOW THE GIANTS TACKLE MARKETING: Ad Age's interview with New York Giants C.M.O. Mike Stevens explores the team's social media strategy including Google+ hangouts and the integration of fan tweets into the telecast of preseason games. "We now have true two-way communication that allows fans to touch the Giants brand in ways they were never able to do before. People are seeking out ways to get more involved with us and we are trying to give them that, which is a great thing."
http://bit.ly/zOeFgC

2. N.B.A.'S EVENT CHIEF ON ALL-STAR PLANNING: Orlando bureau chief Mitra Sorrells interviewed Gail Hunter, the N.B.A.'s senior vice president of events and attractions, about Sunday night's All-Star game at Amway Center. Hunter discusses producing the game, what fans want, and the lockout.
http://bit.ly/ycswKu

3. MANAGING MARKETING EFFORTS: At the Consumer Analyst Group of New York in Boca Raton, packaged-food marketers like Kraft and General Mills assert they will maintain their marketing initiatives despite the flaky economy. "Even as it dealt with inflation, Kraft said it increased its advertising and consumer spending by about $355 million in the past two years, with total spending as a percentage of revenue remaining flat at about 6.3% of revenue in the last year" Ad Age:
http://bit.ly/ApWbCu

In related news: Plenty of other big companies are investing more marketing dollars in their brands. “Reckitt Benckiser, which competes with Procter and Unilever, said it would increase worldwide ad spending this year by £100 million, or almost $160 million…The bump in the Reckitt Benckiser ad budget, hefty as it may be, pales in comparison to those announced by the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo.” The New York Times:
http://nyti.ms/zAsgIm

4. NEW YORK KNICKS' TICKET DEMAND: In the two weeks since player Jeremy Lin has become a media star, tickets for the team's games have been outselling much more high profile events, like Madonna's 2012 global tour and Bruce Springsteen concerts.
http://bit.ly/AzARsP

5. HOTEL PERKS: Properties like the Carlyle in New York and the Ritz Carlton are providing new and rather unusual perks like fragrance butlers, guacamologists, or dog surfing instructors to attract customers away from their competitors. USA Today:
http://usat.ly/zLdY9D

6. LUXURY BRAND-FINANCED MAGAZINES: In a growing trend, more brands like Blk Dnm, are publishing their own magazines as a way to build trust and engagement with consumers. The New York Times:
http://nyti.ms/xUSNkk

7. GROWING HOTEL OCCUPANCY: According to TravelClick's January 2012 North American Hospitality Review, hotels are seeing strong growth in group occupancy rates, which bodes well for the coming year.
http://bit.ly/Aem93O

* SUSTAINABLE STANDARDS *

In partnership with the Convention Industry Council, the American Society for Testing and Materials International published seven of nine sustainable meeting standards Thursday. The guidelines cover all facets of event planning and management and include standards for exhibits, communication and marketing materials, and meeting venues.
http://bit.ly/6Fm3Ne

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: Pop-up ramen nights are a current trend on the Boston dining scene. The Boston Globe:
http://b.globe.com/AlMDxv

CHICAGO: More than 30,000 dentists and dental professionals are expected at the Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting at McCormick Place taking place today through Saturday. The meeting offers more than 120 speakers, 190 courses, and 38 hands-on courses.
http://bit.ly/xnh0l

SodaStream, an at-home carbonating system, will exhibit at this year's Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place in March. Its exhibit area will include a so-called "Tunnel of Bottles" with an environmental 3-D movie and more than 10,000 bottles and cans.

The Chicago Tribune: "American Craft Beer Week runs May 14-20, but it won't be enough for Chicago. That's why the third annual Chicago Craft Beer Week will be spread over 11 days, from May 17-27."
http://trib.in/wAdCJT

Chicago Red Dress Party will host its second annual event at the Joffrey Ballet Studios April 21. Sponsors include Event Creative, Grey Goose, and Service is Us.
http://bit.ly/9gKUTK

LAS VEGAS: Street King will serve as a sponsor and 50 Cent will make an appearance at the 27th annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, which will run March 12-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

LOS ANGELES: Harrah’s Las Vegas headliner and comedy-magician Mac King will host the 44th annual Academy of Magical Arts awards show April 1 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Solita on Las Olas is hosting "Fashion Forward," a runway fashion show and party in Fort Lauderdale March 8. The restaurant will serve Italian dishes and Michelle Forte will perform. Sponsors include John Casablancas Modeling & Career Centers and Mora Boutique.

NEW YORK: The 15th annual Diffa Dining by Design tour launches March 22 running alongside the Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94. On March 26, Diffa will honor Alfredo Paredes, vice president and chief retail officer for the Ralph Lauren Corporation, at a gala.

Instead of focusing on the usual white tablecloth restaurant, The New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells reviewed Danny Meyer's burger chain Shake Shack, giving the joint a one-star rating. "I ate at the Shake Shack in Brooklyn and others around the city more than a dozen times recently. After about a third of those trips, I walked away thinking, “Wow, that was an awesome burger. The other times, the food generally wasn’t worth the wait. Finally I understood that the people in line were looking for something that doesn’t come in a wax-paper wrapper."
http://nyti.ms/wxcex5

ORLANDO: The city of Orlando will host a viewing party for the N.B.A. All-Star Game, Sunday night, at the Lake Eola Park amphitheater.

Los Angeles-based Night Vision Entertainment is producing a private party hosted by Adidas Friday night at Orlando Executive Airport.

TORONTO: The Grand Metropolitan of Mississauga hosts its official grand opening party February 23. The new venue offers more than 30,000-square-feet of event space spread out over two floors.
http://bit.ly/y35cdY

WASHINGTON: On Wednesday, President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others attended the groundbreaking of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Washington Post:
http://wapo.st/xV1boH

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]
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