March 21, 2016: Starwood Announces Deal to Operate Hotels in Cuba, Microsoft Apologies for Xbox Event with Dancers Dressed as Schoolgirls, Mega Expansion Planned for Popular Canadian Event

1. STARWOOD ANNOUNCES DEAL TO OPERATE HOTELS IN CUBA: Continuing the process of opening Cuba to Americans, Starwood announced it will operate three hotels in Havana, becoming the first American hotel company to do so in nearly 60 years. It will convert two properties to its Luxury Collection and one to a Four Points by Sheraton. The deal came just before President Obama’s historic trip to the country. USA Today: “All Cuban hotels are state-owned. But [Jorge Giannattasio, Starwood’s senior vice president and chief of Latin America Operations] says Starwood will have enough latitude to be able to convert the hotels to meet their standards of quality. In addition to renovating the properties, Starwood will train the staff.” http://usat.ly/1TZCIbp

2. MICROSOFT APOLOGIES FOR XBOX EVENT WITH DANCERS DRESSED AS SCHOOLGIRLS: An after-party hosted by Xbox at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco featured sexy dancers dressed as schoolgirls, a look that prompted Microsoft to apologize after irate guests tweeted about the entertainment. Business Insider: “Having the dancers, who were also said to have been paid to socialize with attendees, undercuts Microsoft's efforts to be more inclusive toward women in technology. … Given that women already have a hard-enough time breaking in to the technology industry, events like this only make things more difficult—it reinforces the notion that gaming is an industry by men, for men.” http://read.bi/1MrTCrn

3. MEGA EXPANSION PLANNED FOR POPULAR CANADIAN EVENT: Calgary Stampede, a Western-theme festival that attracts more than 1.1 million people, is pushing forward with a plan to nearly double the size of its home at the BMO Centre. The expansion would bring in more tourists for the event as well as open the venue as a site for larger trade shows and conventions. Calgary Herald: “The existing BMO Centre, formerly the Roundup Centre, opened in 1981 and is billed as Calgary’s largest and most versatile venue. … [But] the centre is considered a tier-two facility, meaning massive international events pass over Calgary because the space isn’t large enough for their needs. The proposed expansion would bump the facility into tier-one alongside the biggest convention centres in North America.” http://bit.ly/1pWLc6J

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  The Party in the Park luncheon will be held on May 11 at Pinebank Promontory at Jamaica Pond. Known as “the hat lunch,” the event supports the maintenance of the Emerald Necklace Park system.

CHICAGO:  The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum will present designer Bob Mackie with the Designer of Excellence Award at the Chicago History Museum on April 19. The evening will include a champagne reception, a silent auction, and a seated dinner.

LOS ANGELES:  The third annual U.S. China Film & TV Industry Expo will take place November 2-3 at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Pastry chef Antonio Bachour will open Bachour Bakery & Bistro in the Brickell World Plaza building Friday. The 1,700-square-foot space will have indoor and outdoor seating for about 70 total and will serve breakfast and lunch, with plans to offer catering in the coming months.

NEW YORK:  Event designer and producer Bronson van Wyck will launch his new company Workshop this month. The full-service experiential agency will specialize in executing brand projects.

Spring Taste NYC will take place May 13 at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The event will feature more than 50 booths from city restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

SAN FRANCISCO:  The Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport will renovate its guest rooms and dining facilities; the hotel will also get some 10,000 square feet of additional meeting space. San Francisco Business Times: bit.ly/22rxQgx

TORONTO:  New talent on The Idea Hunter’s roster includes 3-D chalk artist Sonny Tran, artist Claire Hall—who paints on black canvases—and interactive art performer Aquil Virani.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Cherry Blast, an event celebrating Japanese pop culture that is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will take place April 16 at Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC is presenting the event, which will feature gaming, manga, cosplay contests, Japanese fashion, a cherry blossom-theme art show, Japanese street food, and a dance party.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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

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