April 20, 2018: Airbnb Launches New Tool for Event Planners, Festivalgoers Report Sexual Harassment at Coachella, Lars von Trier to Return to Cannes Film Fest After Ban

1. AIRBNB LAUNCHES NEW TOOL FOR EVENT PLANNERS: Yesterday, Airbnb launched Airbnb for Events, a new tool designed to allow event organizers to offer attendees more choices for accommodations. Organizers can create an interactive map of Airbnb listings near venues and embed the map directly on their event website. Airbnb also will create a personalized landing page for the event on its website, which event organizers can share with attendees and use to market their event. PhocusWire: "The idea is to give conference attendees a greater selection of nearby accommodations and to allow them to see cities from a local perspective–the Airbnb mantra around all its endeavors. It’s also designed to mitigate the effects of large crowds that events typically draw–harkening back to the creation of Airbnb by its founders who wanted to provide accommodation for attendees at events in their hometown of San Francisco." https://tinyurl.com/y7wj4v7v

2. FESTIVALGOERS REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT COACHELLA: During the first weekend of Coachella, which took place from April 13 to 15 in Indio, California, Teen Vogue spoke with more than 50 young women, all of whom reported experiencing some form of sexual assault or harassment during the music festival. Coachella organizers did not respond to the website's requests for comment about the incidents, but this year isn't the first time such conduct has been documented at the two-weekend event. Teen Vogue: "Sexual misconduct is unfortunately a common experience at festivals, with one survey finding that more than 90% of female concertgoers have been harassed at a music event. In 2015, a photo of a man wearing a vile 'Eat, Sleep, Rape, Repeat' shirt at Coachella went viral, a literal analogy for rape culture, which the Marshall Project describes as 'an environment where rape is prevalent and sexual violence against women is normalized and excused.' Not only did festivalgoers tell Teen Vogue multiple stories about older men preying on young women, but a festival environment and setup feels like an invitation for men to behave this way, sometimes in groups. Do men see a woman's presence at a music festival, particularly a dancing woman, as a substitute for consent?" https://tinyurl.com/yawfrng8

3. LARS VON TRIER TO RETURN TO CANNES FILM FEST AFTER BAN: Organizers of the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place May 8 to 19, announced an updated lineup on Thursday that includes controversial Danish director Lars von Trier after a seven-year ban. The director was banned in 2011 because of comments he made about Hitler during a news conference for his film Melancholia. The New York Times: "The festival’s artistic director, Thierry Frémaux, had indicated earlier this week that Mr. von Trier would be back in Cannes. Speaking in an interview on French radio, he said that the festival’s president, Pierre Lescure, had worked hard to change the Danish director’s status as persona non grata 'in the belief that it was time to make a place for him again as a filmmaker.'" https://tinyurl.com/ybc68hol

* LOCAL NEWS *

LOS ANGELES: The NoMad Los Angeles's Rooftop Café is now open to the public for reservations only. The space can also be booked for private events.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The 30th annual AIDS Walk Miami 5K walk-a-thon is Sunday at Soundscape Park in Miami Beach. The event's grand marshal is Jorge Bernal, television presenter for La Voz Kids, Suelta La Sopa Telemundo, and NBC Universal.

NEW YORK:  Jennifer Lopez and Shawn Mendes will perform at the 14th annual Time 100 Gala, taking place April 24 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. 

The 25th annual Wildlife Conservation Society benefit, the Explorers' Party, will take place May 16 at the Central Park Zoo.

Social Media Week New York takes place April 23-27 at the Sheraton Hotel.

The Red Bull Music Festival New York takes place May 3-25 at venues across the city.

Storefront for Art and Architecture's spring benefit "Lit" will take place at the New York Public Library May 7.

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

SAN FRANCISCO: Experiential marketing agency George P. Johnson announced new hirings and appointments. In the San Francisco office, they include Nicole Feldman, vice president of client services; Christopher Lisotta, senior director of strategy and planning; and Traci Sussholz, senior account director. The agency also announced Cynthia Cunniff as Account Director, who will be based in Los Angeles, and Ryan Hove as director of strategy and planning, based in Dallas.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Brightline Interactive announced the launch of the D.C. chapter of the Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Association. The company will host a launch party on April 30 at the Wharf’s new music venue, Pearl Street Warehouse.

The Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC will host a Royal Wedding Tea & Viewing Party on May 19, starting at 7 a.m.

The Washington Ballet will host its annual spring gala "Raising the Barre" at the Anthem on May 11 at 7 p.m.

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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