October 4, 2016: StubHub Debuts Apple TV Ticketing App, Netflix to Promote 'Gilmore Girls' Reboot With Sponsored Pop-Ups, How Tennessee's Tourism Board Plans to Attract Millennials

1. STUBHUB DEBUTS APPLE TV TICKETING APP: Apple TV owners will now be able to buy concert tickets through their televisions with the new addition of a StubHub app. TechCrunch: "While it may seem like an odd idea to look for concert tickets from the TV’s big screen, StubHub has worked to take advantage of the format with features like its sideways scrolling user interface, use of event imagery to attract users’ interest, and high-resolution seat maps that help you get a feel for what it would be like to watch the event from that section. The company says its goal was to inspire people looking for something to do by designing the app in a way that encourages browsing and discovery. That’s why features like the seat maps and photos from the concert or event are prioritized over more utilitarian functions like search, or even the checkout process, which you do from your phone. When you find an event you want to attend, you’ll make the purchase via an SMS link that’s texted to your smartphone. When you click the link, you’ll be taken right to the checkout flow in the mobile app, or to the App Store or Play Store to download the app if you don’t already have it installed. This may be a bit of a disjointed experience, but StubHub wants to push people to mobile, as the majority of ticket sales will take place on mobile devices in a few years’ time, it says, citing its own research and third-party data." http://tcrn.ch/2dCB8tw

2. NETFLIX TO PROMOTE 'GILMORE GIRLS' REBOOT WITH SPONSORED POP-UPS: To celebrate the return of Gilmore Girls on Netflix November 25, the streaming site will sponsor a number of pop-ups inspired by a diner in the show. The pop-ups will appear at coffee shops in the U.S. and Canada on Wednesday. Adweek: "Watching the show isn't complete unless you've got a warm cup of coffee in your hands or a belly full of 2-day-old Chinese food. To satisfy that first need, you can visit a real-life Luke's on Wednesday, Oct. 5. (Luke's being, of course, the diner the girls of Gilmore frequent). Select coffee shops across the U.S. and Canada will transform into Netflix-sponsored Luke's pop-ups and serve free coffee on this one special day.  According to Netflix, from 7 a.m. (too early for Lorelai Gilmore) until noon (the perfect time for a second cup of joe), fans can experience their own mini Stars Hollow by getting some free coffee, complete with Gilmore-themed cups and sleeves, from over 200 coffee shops. Bonus: If you're one of the lucky few to get a custom Gilmore Girls coffee sleeve, be sure to check beneath it for a special surprise, all in honor of the 'Gilmoreversary.'" http://bit.ly/2cYvjJm

3. HOW TENNESSEE'S TOURISM BOARD PLANS TO ATTRACT MILLENNIALS: The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is banking on two ideas to engage more millennials: a Snapchat account and free concert tickets. The tourism board is offering 5,500 free tickets to a Garth Brooks concert in Nashville by offering a code available on its Snapchat account. Advertising Age: "When the tourism board started looking at Snapchat, it noticed that unique experiences on the platform really resonate with millennials and Gen X, so it 'made sense to combine our assets and experiences with that group and add this to our social media channels,' said Kevin Triplett, commissioner of tourist development in Tennessee. He said bringing together Snapchat's large user base and 'an artist with the following of Garth Brooks opens the door for us to another level.' Along with giving away tickets, Tennessee Tourism will push out Garth Brooks-related content on Snapchat starting on October 3, according to Allison Pierce, group creative director at VML, which has served as AOR for the state since February 2014. The content will include segments and videos with Bobby Bones, host of iHeartMedia's 'The Bobby Bones Show,' about Mr. Brooks' seven albums as well as 'a cool piece at The Bluebird Café,' where the singer was discovered, said Ms. Pierce. She added that Snapchat will be the main content hub, but some content will live on Facebook, Instagram and the tourism website to reach a wider audience. Tennessee will also have filters at different places in the state that are meaningful to Mr. Brooks. The venue for the show, Ascend Amphitheatre, seats 7,000 people, but for those who don't get a seat and still want to watch, a viewing area with refreshments will be set up at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville, said Ms. Pierce. Budweiser is also sponsoring a pre-show party on Broadway in Nashville." http://bit.ly/2d9HFf9

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  American Hotel Income Properties has agreed to acquire for $47 million a portfolio of four Marriott-branded, select-service hotels located in Jacksonville and Lake City, Florida, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, excluding closing and post-acquisition adjustments. The acquired properties are a 109-room Residence Inn, two 89-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, and an 87-room TownePlace Suites. The deal is expected to close in late October or early November.

AUSTIN:  The Gruene Music & Wine Fest will take place Thursday through Sunday in the Gruene Historic District, New Braunfels. The event includes a wine tasting event with around 100 different Texas wines on Saturday and a beer tasting on Sunday.

CHICAGO:  Choose Chicago has appointed Marc Anderson as executive vice president. Anderson was previously the company's chief sales officer.

LAS VEGAS:  Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar is slated to open its second location at Town Square Las Vegas on October 11.

AEG Live and the Venetian have announced that Diana Ross will begin her third residency at the Venetian Theatre starting February 2017.

LOS ANGELES:  Eddie Murphy will be honored with the Hollywood Career Achievement Award at the 20th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, which will be presented November 6 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. James Corden is hosting the show, which is produced by Dick Clark Productions.  

The sixth Australian Academy Cinema Television Awards are slated for January 6 at the Avalon in Hollywood.

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

NEW YORK:  Songwriter and philanthropist Denise Rich and her Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research will host the Angel Ball Launch Party on Thursday at Tao Downtown Nightclub.

The Town Hall's annual gala will take place October 23 at the Princeton Club of New York. The event will honor Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion with the Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award, and feature a performance by jazz and cabaret vocalist Catherine Russell.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's annual "A Magical Evening" gala, which takes place November 17 at Cipriani Wall Street, has announced its honorees. Hosted by Billy Bush, the event will honor the Shepherd Center's founding family with the Christopher Reeve Spirit of Courage Award, the O'Connor family of NextSteps Chicago with the Arnold H. Snider Visionary Leadership Award, and Denna Laing with the Dana Reeve Hope Award.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Ed DiAntonio, director of catering and event management for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, has been appointed to the national board of the directors as treasurer for the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) for 2016-2017.

The Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa is now part of the Hilton portfolio and has been renamed the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace. The hotel is also unveiling a multi-million dollar renovation including updates to the 92,000 square feet of meeting space, a new restaurant, and new guest room design.

TORONTO:  The Hockey Hall of Fame's Induction Weekend and Legends Classic will take place November 11-14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Air Canada Centre.

The Broadview Hotel, which is set to reopen in 2017, will have a public ceremony Wednesday evening to unveil the property's new facade. When it reopens, the hotel will have 58 guest rooms, almost 4,000 square feet of event space, a ground floor restaurant, a lobby café/bar, and a rooftop patio. ERA Architects and DesignAgency are working on the hotel's redesign.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  MGM National Harbor will have its grand opening on December 8. The $1.4 billion luxury gaming resort will have 308 rooms and suites; 50,000 square feet of versatile meeting space; a 3,000-seat theater with events produced by Live Nation; two bars/lounges; a 27,000-square-foot spa and salon; a 125,000-square-foot casino; 18,000 square feet of retail space; and nine dining areas, including exclusive concepts from celebrity chefs José Andrés, Marcus Samuelsson, and Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.

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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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