February 9, 2016: Oscars Hope to Eliminate Boring Acceptance Speeches, Start-Ups Help Modernize Mardi Gras Celebrations, Ski Resorts Compete for Winter Meetings

1. OSCARS HOPE TO ELIMINATE BORING ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES: At the annual luncheon for Oscar nominees on Monday, producers unveiled a new feature to the telecast aimed at eliminating one of the most tedious parts of the ceremony: speeches that consist of a bunch of names. Instead, nominees will submit a list of names that will scroll during the winner’s speech. Mashable: “All the nominees are being required to submit a list of whom they'd like to thank in the scroll, which will be displayed beneath their acceptance speech. That doesn't mean they can't give verbal shout-outs — it just means they have an excuse to use their moment for another purpose. This could mean more entertaining moments at the dais — and certainly more political ones. Equal pay was the hot topic at last year's ceremony, which Patricia Arquette seized upon in her winning moment.” http://on.mash.to/1nV1QCl

2. START-UPS HELP MODERNIZE MARDI GRAS CELEBRATIONS: The traditions of Mardi Gras are long ingrained in New Orleans culture, but new start-ups are modernizing how people celebrate the season, which comes to a close today. From apps that locate bathrooms to maker studios for help designing elaborate costumes, Mardi Gras has undergone a tech makeover. Quartz: “A new generation of businesses in New Orleans [are] designed to help revelers save time, plan ahead, and maximize their party-going efficiency. That may seem like a departure from the traditional laissez le bon temps rouler philosophy. But it’s actually a sign of changing times for Mardi Gras, a celebration that continues to grow in tandem with the city’s population growth post-Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans lures in over a million visitors during the Carnival season, filling the city’s hotels to near-100% capacity.” qz.com/611843

3. SKI RESORTS COMPETE FOR WINTER MEETINGS: The winter has been tough on ski resorts in the Northeast, with scant snow shortening the season this year. But some ski resorts, like those in Killington, Vermont, have invested in conference and meeting space and now reliably fill rooms with corporate groups even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. The New York Times: “For Killington and other ski resorts, conferences help fill the hotel during slower periods, particularly on weekdays, when recreational skiers are working. They are also a more dependable source of revenue, often booking blocks of rooms months in advance. … Resorts are offering a range of activities, including new spa treatments, skeet shooting and meet-and-greets with Olympic athletes. A few resorts have put in zip lines, bowling lanes and rope courses, partly to hedge against warm winter weather.” http://nyti.ms/1PiAQGg

4. SUPER BOWL 50 NOTCHES HIGH RATINGS: The milestone Super Bowl 50 did not set ratings records on Sunday, but it was still the third most-watched program in United States television history. A live edition of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after the game fared well, drawing 2.1 million viewers, or three times its previous high mark. Variety: “Nielsen estimates that an average audience of 111.9 million were watching throughout the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, peaking with 115.5 million from 8:30-9 p.m. ET for the halftime show. The only telecasts to draw a larger audience were last year’s Super Bowl between New England and Seattle on NBC (114.4 million) and the 2014 matchup between Seattle and Denver on Fox (112.2 million).” http://bit.ly/1TPQGvc

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Polartec Big Air at Fenway will take place Thursday and Friday at Fenway Park. The snowboarding and freeskiing U.S. Grand Prix and International Ski Federation World Cup tour event will feature international Olympic athletes and a 140-foot-high snow ramp.

CHICAGO:  Facing History and Ourselves will take place on April 12 at Hyatt Regency Chicago. This year’s event marks the benefit’s 25th anniversary.

LAS VEGAS:  The Oyster Bar at Santa Fe Station is now open. The seafood restaurant, which is inspired by a San Francisco pier oyster bar, seats 25.

Tropicana Las Vegas has announced it will open its new pool club, Sky Beach Club, on April 8.

LOS ANGELES:  Restaurateur Yassmin Sarmadi and executive chef Tony Esnault have opened Spring restaurant in the Douglas Building downtown.

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will take place April 9-10 at the University of Southern California. Featured books and authors are expected to be announced in early March.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Pop Up Swim Shop, which produces swim and resortwear pop-up shops throughout the United States, will host its first pop-up of the year on February 21 at Hyde Beach at the SLS Hotel in South Beach.

NEW YORK:  Starbucks plans to open a giant coffee center similar to Italian marketplace Eataly in Manhattan. The space could range from 15,000 to 25,000 square feet. New York Post: http://nyp.st/1XcCfB2

Bamcinématek's seventh annual Migrating Forms festival will take place March 4-10 in Brooklyn. The festival will focus on 10 moving image artists from around the world by featuring their work, which includes art installations, films, and unique videos.

New York Live Arts has appointed Kim Cullen as executive director.

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

SAN FRANCISCO:  The 13th annual San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 10-13 at Cowell Theater in Fort Mason. The festival will feature a variety of films and Q&A sessions related to sea animals, island life, marine habitats, and more.

TORONTO:  The Notable Awards will take place on February 17. The event celebrates the professional achievements of millennials in Canada.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. announced plans to open in September, two years ahead of schedule. Located in the Old Post Office building, the hotel will have 263 guest rooms and a 12,200-square-foot ballroom.

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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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