BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #221 — Thursday, 03.15.12
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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TODAY'S CALENDAR: SXSW continues in Austin, Texas; L.A. Fashion Week also continues
* INCOMING *
1. AMEX AT SXSW: According to Ad Age, American Express is drawing the most buzz at SXSW by debuting product AmEx Sync, which allows merchants to offer special deals that consumers can redeem by tweeting an offer. "Last year, SXSW die-hards were concerned that corporate brands were taking over Austin. This year, brand marketers were far more prominent, but no one was complaining. Next year, startups should spend less time courting major brands and more time acting like them."
http://bit.ly/yfDu16
American Express made our list of the top 10 event brands, which we announced yesterday. Here’s our look at Amex’s event efforts:
http://bit.ly/wgBb9t
All of our Event Innovators 2012 stories:
http://bit.ly/xNwZDp
2. FACEBOOK'S BRAND PAGES: The social network touts success in its revamped pages for brands, with eight million companies switching to Facebook's new Web page format just 10 days after it launched.
http://reut.rs/ziIOa8
In other Facebook news: TechCrunch explains the Web site's new events interface: "Facebook Events have become standard for medium-sized private functions like birthday parties, but Facebook wants the feature to be flexible enough to handle ad hoc get-togethers and thousand-attendee productions alike. By making small events easier to set up, large events easier to manage, and the whole product less noisy, Facebook could widen the spectrum of what Events are used for. By getting more people out of house, the Events update could quiet the claims that Facebook isolates us from live human interaction."
http://tcrn.ch/yMx6xz
3. OSCAR TIMETABLE SHIFT: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has been trying to shorten award season to cut down on burnout by the time its Academy Awards roll around, announced Wednesday that the Oscar nominations date would move up, but not the show itself. The 2013 awards are set for February 24. Los Angeles Times: "Instead of announcing nominations toward the end of January, as has been the case in recent years, selections for the 85th Oscars will take place January 15. But the awards ceremony will still come on the last weekend of February."
http://lat.ms/xWxNvg
The Oscars will stay at Hollywood & Highland: LAist.com:
http://bit.ly/xNz30b
4. AD SPENDING FORECAST: The media planning and buying firm ZenithOptimedia has projected that global ad spending will grow by 4.8 percent this year to $489 billion because large companies are investing more in marketing to drive growth. The Hollywood Reporter: "The quadrennial events of the Summer Olympics, which will take place in London, European soccer championships and U.S. presidential elections plus the Japanese recovery following last year's earthquake and tsunami will add $7 billion to global growth this year, Zenith still predicts."
http://bit.ly/xVx9qU
* ABOUT LAST NIGHT *
From BizBash news editor Anna Sekula: The Brits were out in force Wednesday night in New York. In Midtown, Virgin Atlantic Airways held court in the Bryant Park Hotel, showing off the design and amenities offered at its new clubhouse lounge inside JFK's Terminal 4. The event, which was produced by the carrier's in-house team and PR agency Susan Magrino, offered hair styling from Bumble & Bumble as well as massages from skin care company Dr. Hauschka.
Further downtown, Sir Paul Smith made an appearance at a celebration that marked the 25th year since the fashion designer opened a U.S. shop for his eponymous line. Produced by Los Angeles-based Bryan Rabin, the packed party at the Fifth Avenue and 16th Street store had music from DJs Siobhan Fahey and Harley Viera-Newton and a special birthday cake.
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The Boston Flower and Garden show opened on Wednesday at the Seaport World Trade Center, and runs through Sunday. The event offers 25 garden displays, 48 lectures and demos, and a marketplace with 200 vendors.
CHICAGO: Chicago Academy for the Arts' "Taste for the Arts" gala is May 10. It begins with a performance at Harris Theatre, and ends with a reception at Millennium Park Terrace offering tasting stations with food from chefs including Stephanie Izard and Heather Terhune.
http://bit.ly/wj6gqS
LAS VEGAS: Examiner goes inside the opening ceremonies for the 27th Nightclub and Bar Convention and Trade Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
http://exm.nr/xwMU8S
Home Accents Today: "International Market Centers, owner of the High Point and Las Vegas markets, has named Dorothy Belshaw the president of its gift division."
http://bit.ly/wWgxNW
Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel in downtown Las Vegas is undergoing a transformation and will become the D Las Vegas Casino Hotel, scheduled for completion in the fall.
LOS ANGELES: The Hotel Palomar's Blvd 16 restaurant is releaunching, with new executive chef Richard Hodge at the helm.
CBS puts the spotlight on Palihouse in its look at "out-of-the-box event spaces."
http://cbsloc.al/wtAM34
Los Angeles Times is producing a one-night-only pop-up gallery during Downtown Art Walk, presented by Ketel One April 12. The block party and exhibit will showcase The Times's visual storytelling through framed photography, digital slideshows, and a projection collaboration with Aphidoidea. There will be a photo booth and DJ sets by Darren Revell of Big Sonic Heaven.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Volvo Ocean Race is May 6-20 in Miami's Bicentennial Park. More than 200,000 spectators are expected. World Property Channel:
http://bit.ly/wq7V16
B Ocean Fort Lauderdale has appointed Ron Gebhardt as director of sales.
NEW YORK: WorldStage has promoted John Healy to director of production/lighting and Terry Jackson to director of rentals/lighting.
MA3 Agency has been chosen as the agency of record for Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak 40th Anniversary art exhibition at the Park Avenue Armory, March 20-24.
The Wall Street Journal: "Hudson River Park's Pier 26 is moving toward creation of a 200-seat waterside restaurant, as planners aim to boost the sports-centered park into a dining destination as well. In April, the Hudson River Park Trust will seeks proposals to develop a large restaurant at Pier 26, near Battery Park City. The facility, which will be the biggest full-service restaurant in the park, is still in the planning stages, but it will accommodate more than 200 people and will feature an open rooftop terrace."
http://on.wsj.com/xeyVgv
ORLANDO: The Electronic House Expo begins today and runs through Saturday at the Orange County Convention Center.
The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation's Black Tie & Tennies Gala will be held at Amway Center March 24. Fairwinds Credit Union is the presenting sponsor.
TORONTO: Annual arts and creativity festival Luminato announced its 2012 festival program at a press event Wednesday. The festival will open June 8 with avant-garde opera “Einstein on the Beach” at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. The festival returns to David Pecaut Square and runs until June 17. This will be the festival's first season under new artistic director Jorn Weisbrodt.
WASHINGTON: The D.C. outpost of New York small-plates restaurant Boqueria opens today.
http://bit.ly/wtS9pQ
Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google, and Janice Min, editorial director at the Hollywood Reporter, are co-hosting an invite-only event April 27 during the White House Correspondents Association dinner weekend.
Kim McKernan has joined BCD M&I as account executive to work on growth strategy and business development.
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 Amy Leibrock, 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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