BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #270 — Wednesday, 05.23.12
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Compiled today by Chad Kaydo in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. NATO ENDS PEACEFULLY: The Chicago Tribune: "Chicago's turn as host of the NATO summit could be declared a success. Protests got rowdy but not wildly out of hand. Security was tight but the city wasn't on lockdown, allowing the business of the summit to proceed. Commuters were inconvenienced but by and large could get where they needed to go—and many decided where they needed to go was nowhere near downtown. In the end, the summit proved a one-weekend blip on the radar of a major urban metropolis used to crowds, conventions, dignitaries and hoopla. Mayor Rahm Emanuel hailed it as a 'milestone' for the city on par with other history-making events." http://trib.in/JBBZE1
Speaking of which: Crain's Chicago Business has a roundup of the parties: "Sunday evening might go down as the busiest party night of the year, but most of Chicago was shut out of the festivities held in conjunction with the NATO summit." http://bit.ly/JG8Ehx
2. MORE LIVE EVENTS ON TV: Mark Cuban told The Hollywood Reporter about his plans to remake the cable TV channel he launched in 2001, HDNet, as AXS (pronounced access). Cuban: “We want to be a virtual studio driven channel that links people to what’s live anywhere in the world. Think of it as a sports center for music and pop culture and you will see what we want it to be.”
How this came about: “We started testing more and more live events. That’s why you saw HD Net start to do a lot of live concerts, start to do of a lot of live events. Anything we could do live, even if it was Dan Rather holding a live roundtable, we wanted to do live because we found the best events with the highest ratings are live.” http://bit.ly/KobPIS
3. NBC'S OLYMPICS PLAN: Speaking of live TV: L.A. Times: "Recognizing that many viewers want to watch key events live, in prime time, rather than tape-delayed, NBCUniversal plans to bolster its coverage of the Summer Olympics in London in August by putting 3,000 hours of programming online.
"NBC's push to put more content online—more than 3,000 hours from the London Olympics this summer—contradicts the previous school of thought at the network, which once feared that such a move might hurt the prime-time audience. [Gary Zenkel, president of NBC Olympics] subscribes to the opposite theory and believes that the more content that is available online, the better the promotion and potential for a bigger audience in prime time." http://lat.ms/KmkkUB
4. BOUGHT & SOLD: Wall Street Journal: "A private-equity firm plans to buy Benihana Inc., allowing the operator of Japanese-themed restaurants to focus on turning around its profitability outside the pressures of the public market." http://on.wsj.com/JA69Yr
Bloomberg Businessweek: "Blackstone Group LP, the New York- based private-equity firm that manages $48 billion in real estate assets, agreed to buy the Motel 6 lodging chain from Accor SA (AC) for $1.9 billion, adding to its hospitality holdings." http://buswk.co/JN9g5A
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* INTERNAL NEWS: BIZBASH TORONTO READERS' CHOICE AWARDS *
Here are the winners of our first Toronto Readers’ Choice Awards, which were presented Tuesday night:
* Caterer of the Year (In-House): Duff Lampard, Westin Harbour Castle
* Caterer of the Year (Off-Premise): Edgardo Spano, Seventh Heaven Event Catering
* Corporate Event Planner of the Year: Joanna Cody, Bell Canada
* DJ of the Year: Jian Magen, Magen Boys Entertainment
* Entertainment Act of the Year: God Made Me Funky
* Event Designer of the Year: Jeffery Crawford, Mode Function Event Design
* Event Producer of the Year: Page Magen, Magen Boys Entertainment
* Fund-Raising Event Planner of the Year: Dayna Bleeman, Princess Margaret Hospital
* Publicist/PR Executive of the Year: Debra Goldblatt-Sadowski, Rock-it Promotions
* Social Event Planner of the Year: Kathleen Nakonechny, McNabb Roick Events
* Venue Manager of the Year: Mary Patrick, Dave and Buster's
The full story: http://t.co/r59qcqEt
* INSPIRATION MOMENT *
Have you seen the Great Gatsby trailer yet? http://bit.ly/JHhYlk
* ON THE ROAD *
From editor in chief Chad Kaydo: I had a great time speaking about event trends at the City and Regional Magazine Association's annual conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas earlier this week. Despite the challenges facing the media industry of late, many of the publishers I spoke with have vibrant event slates that make significant contributions to the bottom line.
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Legal Harborside teams up with Sommelier Journal June 14 to host the Antinori Sommelier Challenge at the restaurant’s flagship location. The event includes a wine reception and a multicourse dinner with wine pairings.
Highlights from day two of the Cable Show in Boston included a morning general session with director Edward Burns and Hardball host Chris Matthews. On the trade show floor, Rachel Maddow and Bruce Jenner appeared at booths. Sacramento Bee: http://bit.ly/L5IS50
PC Advisor: "U.S. wireless carrier AT&T today announced it has finished installation of Boston's first indoor, LTE-capable Distributed Antenna System (DAS), designed to improve cellular-network performance during Boston Celtics basketball and Bruins hockey games, concerts and other events held at the TD Garden." http://bit.ly/JmtWjG
CHICAGO: The Sales & Operations Planning Professionals for Consumer Goods Summit is at Swissotel Chicago today through Thursday.
Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell has partnered with tequila brand Dobel to launch an advertising and experiential marketing campaign that promotes the brand. Press release: http://on.mktw.net/MFYSMV
LAS VEGAS: Vegas Inc: "Today, small, home-based travel agencies have rebounded. Last week, more than 1,500 of the estimated 8,000 agents nationwide were in Las Vegas for the Home-Based Travel Agent Forum." http://bit.ly/JwtnoO
The Consumer Electronics Association announced Tuesday that 3,319 exhibitors turned out for this year's International C.E.S., a 22 percent increase over last year's show. A record number of international attendees, 35,734, came from more than 150 countries, an increase of 13 percent over last year. An independent audit performed by Veris Consulting L.L.C. confirms C.E.S. as North America's largest annual trade show of any kind. MarketWatch: http://on.mktw.net/KKtZ9q
SkyVue has completed the first phase of construction. When it opens in 2013, it will be the largest observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere and the first attraction of its kind in Las Vegas.
LOS ANGELES: ISES L.A. hosts its Spring Signature Event: Wildflower Linen's fashion show today at Elevate Lounge.
The inaugural L.A. en Vivo Block Party will include concerts at Nokia Theatre and an outdoor celebration at Nokia Plaza over Memorial Day weekend. L.A. Downtown News: http://bit.ly/KSgTmG
Lacma announced that artist Michael Heizer’s sculpture "Levitated Mass" will open to the public June 24 with a formal dedication ceremony.
Planning company Event Solutions launched a new Web site. PR Web: http://bit.ly/KMaHwr
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI: Miami Metropolitan International Fashion Week kicks off today with a V.I.P party. All events will take place at LMNT Contemporary Art Space.
The U.S. Green Building Council will award Marlins Park with a plaque May 25 for being the first retractable roof facility in the world to receive LEED Gold environmental certification.
NEW YORK: Lighting designer Bentley Meeker will open an art exhibit, "Flame to Now IV," June 4 at the Whitney Museum.
The Plaza opened its renamed Todd English Food Hall after undergoing the second phase of expansion. The space now offers an additional 132 seats, and more private event space.
The owners of New York’s Alex Hotel and Flatotel have filed for bankruptcy. Reuters: http://bloom.bg/LpSALz
The Millennium U.N. Plaza Hotel has started the first $30 million phase of renovations, which will debut a luxury West Tower in September. Press release: http://on.mktw.net/JT8ORp
The New York City Wine & Food Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary October 11-14, benefiting the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength's "No Kid Hungry" campaign. Press Release: http://on.mktw.net/Kc47k3
The TimesCenter added new lighting and audio equipment to its 5,000-square-foot banquet, meeting, and exhibition space; catering company Great Performances has also been added to the venue's preferred caterers list.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Matteo's on International Drive has closed. Scott Joseph's Orlando Restaurant Guide: http://bit.ly/JMJZIL
TORONTO: In an open letter to the people of Toronto, police chief Bill Blair admitted there were "serious deficiencies" in the force's handling of protesters at the G-20 summit in 2010. Blair published the letter Friday, in the wake of a new and critical report from the province's police watchdog. The CBC: http://bit.ly/JmvRBm
WASHINGTON: Mexican restaurant Bandolero opens Thursday from former Top Chef contestant Mike Isabella. Eater DC: "Just as advertised, this spot is putting a dark spin on its Day of the Dead theme with cemetery gates separating dining areas, animal skulls on the walls, dark lighting and tombstone-shaped arches behind the bar." http://bit.ly/JkZPZX
The House Inc. Student Leadership Center's seventh annual Cinderella-inspired ball is June 3 at the Willard InterContinental Hotel.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner is sponsoring a wedding planning roundtable June 10 featuring vendors including Debrajean Overholt of Debrajean Overholt Event Design, Miles Stiebel of MSE Production, Jill Medawar of Toulies en Fleur, Heidi Kallett of The Dandelion Patch, and Bryan Blanken of Freed Photography.
Tryst recently opened a cafe at the Phillips Museum. The coffeehouse, bar, and lounge also broke ground on a fourth location on 11th St. NW.
The Washington Business Journal reports that Entertainment Cruises is adding a fifth charter yacht, the 150-capacity National Elite, to its fleet and will berth it at National Harbor Marina. http://bit.ly/MjWIjh
The Tiger Woods-hosted AT&T National golf tournament returns to Bethesda's Congressional Country Club June 26-July 1 after a two-year relocation to Philadelphia because of a course renovation.
868 Estate Vineyards in Loudoun County has opened. The site includes a tasting room, on-site catering, and a restaurant.
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 Rose Chevalier, Beth Kormanik, 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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