BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #368— Thursday, 10.11.12
++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++
Compiled today by Melissa Ward Schorsch in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. IMPRESSIONS FROM IMEX: From West Coast editor Alesandra Dubin: The second edition of IMEX America, billed as the largest trade show in the U.S. for the global meetings, incentive travel, and events industry, kicked off Tuesday at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. The show floor feels buzzy, lively, productive, and crowded, and there's the palpable sense that business is really getting done here, with ideas and innovation the focus more so than budgets at many education sessions. Perhaps summing up the mood on site, Joint Meetings Industry Council's Rod Cameron told a crowd assembled for a U.S. Travel Association panel, "The reality is this is an industry that’s driving the new economy.” The event is 28 percent larger than its first edition in 2011, with 77 new booths and 2,413 exhibiting companies. IMEX America wraps today.
2. SOLD-OUT COMIC CON: New York Comic Con kicks off today at the Javits Center, and for the first time in the seven-year run of the convention, tickets are sold out in advance of day one. More than 115,000 people are expected to attend, and demand for tickets is so high that $50-value tickets are being sold on ticket-hawking site StubHub for $450. New York Post: http://bit.ly/Rc2pRt
3. CONFERENCE NO-GO: At the very last minute National Weather Service employees' travel budget was cut, barring them from attending the National Weather Association annual meeting this week. Some of the to-be attendees were to give upwards of 100 presentations, not only causing agenda holes but slashing attendance by almost 20 percent. The requested travel budget for the conference wasn't disapproved until one day before the conference by the Department of Commerce. In the wake of the extravagant G.S.A. travel budget back on 2010, the department is "committed to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars, including when it comes to participating in conferences." The Washingon Post: http://wapo.st/Ts9y5p
4. BEHIND THE MAN: In a continuation of its successful Most Interesting Man in the World campaign, Dos Equis launched a competition that will give five consumers the opportunity to be attache to the mysterious spokesperson at a masquerade ball to be held in New York in November. Press release: http://sacb.ee/SKmEt4
5. PEOPLE POWER: Old Navy scored 5 million Facebook fans this week, and to celebrate the milestone, the brand posted a photo of a 120- by 60-foot coupon made up of hundreds of people and photographed from the sky. The barcode is scannable and will give customers 30 percent off at stores. AdWeek: http://bit.ly/VPr7xk
++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++
E.L.I. Masters Program: Getting Your Event Business to the Next Level | Interactive workshop for business owners and managers | Boston 10/14; NY 10/23; Chicago 11/14.
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: In an election-year promotion, Legal Sea Foods will serve Red Plate and Blue Plate specials from October 24 to November 5. The dishes pay tribute to MItt Romney and Barack Obama's adopted home states, Massachusetts and Hawaii.
CHICAGO: The Weizmann Institute Midwest Regional gala dinner is October 27 at the Fairmont Chicago. The theme of the dinner is "Then, Now, and Tomorrow," and Kehoe Designs will handle decor.
Pivotal Production, a Benefit Corporation, has been recognized as a "Best for the World" company in a list of businesses with fewer than 10 employees creating positive social and environmental impact. The list was created by the nonprofit B Lab.
LOS ANGELES: The American Film Institute announced yesterday that acclaimed director and screenwriter Bernardo Bertolucci will serve as guest artistic director at AFI Fest 2012.
Rocktoberfest will take place at L.A. Live starting October 15. The festival will be hosted by musician Gene Simmons and chef Wolfgang Puck.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Sanitago Rodriguez founded the Vassili Group after 15 years with restaurant group Nobu. He is focusing his efforts on the opening of three restaurants in Miami: The Hoxton, Boxpark, and Harvey Wolf.
NEW YORK: The third annual IDENTITÀ New York culinary festival will take place at Eataly from October 12-14.
VH1 Save The Music Foundation is hosting a Halloween-themed event on October 31.
Spider-man’s birthday will be celebrated at New York Comic Con on October 14.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: The Southern Women's Show opens today at the Orange County Convention Center. Sponsors include Chevrolet and Walgreens.
TORONTO: The seventh annual Municipal Communications Conference is scheduled to take place November 26-27.
WASHINGTON: Turning the Page is hosting its sixth annual gala and silent auction tomorrow.
Snallygaster, a beer festival from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, will be on Saturday with more than 100 brews to taste, in addition to live music, food, and kids’ activities.
Windows Catering Company has revealed its new Catering.com Web site and lookbook.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Melissa Ward Schorsch and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
