July 13, 2016: How the Circus Will Continue Without Elephants, Airbnb Proves a Popular Hotel Alternative During Political Conventions, Why Fashion Week Attracted a Black Lives Matter Protest

1. HOW THE CIRCUS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT ELEPHANTS: To the delight of animal rights activists, elephants were phased out of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in May. The banning of the traditional American circus symbol left show producer Feld Entertainment to decide how to modernize its shows—and whether new editions including a smartphone app and an ice floor will still be a hit with audiences when its new Ringling show “Out of This World” premieres in Los Angeles on Thursday. The New York Times: “Work on ‘Out of This World’ began roughly two years ago, long before Feld Entertainment announced in March 2015 that it would phase out elephants nationwide because so many cities (Los Angeles among them) had banned the use of related training equipment. ‘We saw this as an opportunity to evolve the Ringling Brothers brand,’ Ms. Feld said in an interview. ‘We have always changed our show, adding new themes and bringing in new performers. But this was about doing something drastic.’ Modernization efforts are never easy, especially when the product being updated relies on nostalgia for a great deal of its appeal. Ringling’s customers tend to be parents wanting to pass along a rite from their own childhoods—the smell of the sawdust, the drippy snow cone, the booming voice of the ringmaster. Too much change too fast could upend a form of live entertainment that remains an enormous draw, particularly among working-class families. About 10 million people go to a Ringling circus each year. … The show, which requires 56 railroad cars to transport, incorporates technology in new ways. A free app has features like push notifications designed to engage the audience before the show and during intermission. Toy swords, telescopes and blasters sold in the arena aisles and corridors before show time change colors during the performance, based on the story line. Sensors that create computerized spotlight effects are sewn into costumes, in particular those worn by stunt skaters from China, who zoom across the ice on stilts. ‘Nothing can replace the elephants,’ Ms. Feld said. ‘This wasn’t about trying. This was about creating a new genre of circus, with acts seamlessly transitioning from floor to air to ice.’” http://nyti.ms/29P6h0g

2. AIRBNB PROVES A POPULAR HOTEL ALTERNATIVE DURING POLITICAL CONVENTIONS: Hotels are expecting to lose a lot of money to Airbnb during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, which take place next week in Cleveland and July 25-28 in Philadelphia, respectively. The trend of cheaper home-sharing service options may lead to hotels lowering rates, which are usually high during convention weeks. Reuters: "Airbnb, which expects 5,400 rentals for the two political conventions, is also helping people find lodging in Brazil in August for the Summer Olympics, the next big event to watch. Hotel rooms are still available in Philadelphia, albeit at those higher rates Adkison sought to avoid. The Marriott Courtyard Philadelphia, for example, is advertising rooms for $989 a night, triple its normal rate. This is not out of the question for what the trade calls a "compression" period. These times of peak demand, typically associated with a nearby event, contribute 25 percent to 30 percent to hotels' annual profits. … 'Airbnb is hurting the ability of (hotel) companies to collect on high-priced nights,' said C. Patrick Scholes, managing director of lodging and leisure equity research at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. The impact is difficult to quantify, however, he added. Research firm TravelClick found hotel rates in Cleveland and Philadelphia had risen 20.7 percent for the 2016 convention months from a year earlier. That is solid, but well below the 34.75 percent increase in Tampa, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, during the 2012 convention months, according to CBRE Hotels, another research firm." http://reut.rs/29UXVDP

3. WHY FASHION WEEK ATTRACTED A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST: Black Lives Matter activists staged a silent protest outside New York's Skylight Studios, which is the venue for New York Fashion Week: Men's. Protest organizer Hannah Stoudemire, along with many other supporters, explained that the significance of the Fashion Week protest was to acknowledge how a majority of the fashion industry has stayed silent on the movement. Mashable: "Since the #blacklivesmatter movement was birthed, the fashion industry has, by and large, stayed mostly silent. From designers to editors, there's been little social media engagement with the movement, and virtually no support for the black community. 'Fashion loves controversy, for sure, but it has to be the right kind,' said an anonymous editor to Mashable. 'It's not chic right now to stand up for the movement and for many, they're afraid to lose their jobs or clout in this industry.' This sentiment has certainly forced many to stay neutral on the divisive movement. But for Hannah Stoudemire, who works at a high fashion brand and is cousin to NBA player, Amar'e, enough was enough. 'I work in the fashion industry and I noticed none of the designers cared about it,' she told Mashable. 'I'm the only black employee for a major house on Madison and everyone seems not to acknowledge what has happened. There's no condolences. There's nothing. When it comes to a matter of life or death, a dollar sign shouldn't come into play.' So to signal to the industry they, too, needed to care, Stoudemire picked New York Fashion Week as the perfect place to shine a light on this issue. http://on.mash.to/29V71R1


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Hotels & Resorts have merged to create a portfolio of 58 properties. Press release: http://bit.ly/29OOJy2

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  The Bud Light Party Convention has announced the lineup for its 13-city campaign story, which runs August 5-27. The concerts, which will also have interactive onsite experiences, include Flo Rida and the White Panda in Phoenix on August 5, Jason Derulo and Brett Eldredge in Dallas on August 11, Justin Moore and Lil Jon in Chicago on August 25, and Big Sean in New York on August 27.

AUSTIN:  Archer Hotel Austin will open in Domain Northside later this summer. The 171-room, eight-story boutique hotel will have 16,500 square feet of meeting and event space, and Second Bar & Kitchen from La Corsha Hospitality and chef David Bull.

CINCINNATI:  Hotel Covington, slated to open in Covington, Kentucky, in August, has announced plans for Coppin's Restaurant & Bar. Helmed by chef Brendan Haren, the 1,400-square-foot restaurant will serve "North meets South" cuisine with locally sourced ingredients from a shareable menu.

LAS VEGAS:  Entertainer Matt Goss is slated to perform his final show in the Gossy Room at Caesars Palace on September 24.

LOS ANGELES:  The Cary Grant Pavilion at Hollywood Park Casino will open this fall in Inglewood. Designed by JCJ Architecture, the 11,000-square-foot casino will have 25 card game tables, simulcast wagering, a sports bar/restaurant, an intimate lounge, and a gourmet cafe.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Liberty Grand has secured a $70 million loan from Madison Realty Capital to complete construction of Meliá Costa Hollywood Beach Resort, a $180 million condo-hotel at 777 North Ocean Drive. The project, managed by Meliá Hotels, is set to open next year, and will have six stories and 307 units. The Real Deal: http://bit.ly/29lZWJP

Mi9 Retail's Synergy 2016 conference has announced that its keynote speakers will be Demand Worldwide chief strategy officer Paula Levy and Demand Worldwide chief marketing officer Jerry Inman. The two speakers will lead a discussion titled "The Retail Rebels—Who Will Conquer the Connected Consumer," focusing on how to target Generation Z (people born between 1996 and 2010). Synergy 2016 will take place September 14-16 at the W South Beach Hotel.

The Washington Park Hotel has appointed Vikash Maharaj as general manager and Ken Tutt as director of sales and marketing.

NEW YORK:  Math festival Math Metropolis will take place July 26 at the 28 Liberty Plaza. The festival, which features hands-on exhibits, is presented by the National Museum of Mathematics and Fosun/28 Liberty.

The Brew Hop 5K and Craft Beer Festival will take place on Randall's Island September 18. The post-race festival will feature art installations, local food vendors, live music, and beer samples from numerous breweries including Brooklyn Brewery, Sixpoint Brewery, and Blue Point Brewing Company.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust will host the ninth annual "Mimi" Awards November 14 at Lincoln Center Theater. The event will honor one playwright with the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award.

The Specialty Food Association has elected four new board officers, who will each have a term of two years: chairperson Becky Renfro Borbolla of Renfro Foods; vice chairperson Matt Nielsen of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas; financial officer William Booker III of Smithfield Specialty Foods Group; and secretary Trish Pohonka of European Imports Ltd. In addition, 11 new board directors have been appointed. Former S.F.A. chairperson Shawn McBride of Foah International will continue to serve on the board.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Two-time James Beard award winner Art Smith opened Homecoming: Florida Kitchen & Southern Shine at Disney Springs on Tuesday. The 6,000-square-foot casual restaurant seats 200 people and is available for buyout.

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE:  Caliber Hospitality has acquired Hilton Tuscon East. The hotel has 232 rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The sixth annual San Francisco Anime Festival and Cosplay will take place Saturday at Japantown Peace Plaza and Japan Center East Mall. The free event will feature performances, games, and an appearance by popular Japanese cosplayer Reika. 

TORONTO:  An opening party for a Seinfeld-theme pop-up may be a scam, as there have been issues with the event’s legitimacy on Eventbrite. blogTO: http://bit.ly/29R6cWn

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  For the third consecutive year, the Red Bull Global Rallycross will take place July 29-30 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The event showcases fast cars and daring auto stunts.

Chef and restaurateur Mike Isabella will head up Arroz, a Southern Spanish and Tangier-inspired restaurant that will open in the Marriott Marquis in 2017. Arroz will be open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as for brunch on weekends. Arroz is also one of several concepts planned in 2017 for Isabella Eatery at Tysons Galleria.

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

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