1. BOSTON SEEKS VOTE ON OLYMPICS BID: In response to critics of Boston’s bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, organizers will support a public vote on whether to continue with the process. The New York Times: “Holding a vote is a high-risk proposition. Officials at both the United States Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee have strong aversions to ballot measures because they can amount to highly public rejections of something they hope to depict as prestigious. In these officials’ eyes, an unfavorable vote in Boston would be a public-relations catastrophe. But the United States Olympic Committee told Mr. Fish in advance of his announcement that it supported the referendum.” http://nyti.ms/1bsIpuL
2. MAJOR CONVENTION THREATENS TO MOVE OVER INDIANA BILL: The gaming conference Gen Con is threatening to move from its longtime home in Indianapolis if Governor Mike Pence signs a controversial religious freedom bill that opponents say will legalize discrimination against gays and lesbians. Others against the bill include Visit Indy, the city’s tourism bureau. Indianapolis Star: “’Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have a direct negative impact on the state's economy, and will factor into our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years,’ said Adrian Swartout, owner and CEO of Gen Con LLC, in a letter sent to Pence just hours after lawmakers sent the measure to his desk. … The conference attracted 56,000 people last year to the Indiana Convention Center and has an annual economic impact of more than $50 million, Swartout said in the letter.” http://indy.st/1BpAun2
3. SOUTHWEST KICKS MAN OFF FLIGHT FOR PROFANE SWAG T-SHIRT: A man returning from South by Southwest wearing a profane T-shirt that he received at a Comedy Central event for the TV show Broad City was kicked off his Southwest Airlines flight after he refused to change or cover it up. Time: “According to the footage, when a Southwest Airlines worker asked him to change the shirt or turn it inside out, he simply replied, 'Nope.' He insisted that he had freedom of speech and that the shirt wasn’t bothering anyone. Soon, though, airport police escorted him from the terminal.” http://ti.me/1COrHR2
4. JAMES BEARD AWARDS ANNOUNCES FINALISTS: Chicago, the new host city for the James Beard Foundation Awards, is well represented among the finalists that were announced Wednesday. Chicago Tribune: “Ten local names are on the list of finalists in the restaurant and chef awards categories. Many of the nominees are repeats from previous years, but several notable newcomers made the cut.” http://trib.in/1ENf6ww
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Boston ProJuice, a minibus serving pressed juices and organic snacks, will launch in April. Bus owner Paul Cunningham hopes to vend at farmers' markets and events and has already secured locations in the financial district and other areas. Eater: http://bit.ly/1Hzay0f
CHICAGO: Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel will unveil a $27 million lobby and guest room renovation at the end of April.
LAS VEGAS: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada will host its Easter party for kids on March 28.
LOS ANGELES: In addition to its Easter brunch at Hampton's, the Four Seasons Westlake Village will host an egg hunt on its Waterfall Lawn on April 5.
Indian restaurant Mint Leaf is slated for an April 1 opening in Pasadena.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The ninth annual Reid & Fiorentino Call of the Game Dinner & Celebrity Golf Classic takes place on two days, with a dinner Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the golf outing at Turnberry Isle Miami on Monday.
Ronen Rental Boutique Event Furnishings is providing furniture for the SiriusXM Lounge at the W Hotel for Ultra Music Festival.
NEW YORK: The Endometriosis Foundation of America will hold its seventh annual Blossom Ball on April 13 at Cipriani 25 Broadway. The space will have “moonlit garden” decor, and the after-party will feature DJ Miles Robbins and the Brooklyn-based band Red Baraat.
Irvington, the new restaurant at W New York—Union Square from the Gerber Group, opened Tuesday. The New American concept from chef David Nichols is located in the space formerly occupied by Todd English’s Olives.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista Resort recently completed a $13 million renovation that included upgrades to all 334 guest rooms.
TORONTO: Fitzroy Boutique will partner with Burt’s Bees for a Spring Pop-Up Shop April 1-30. An opening-night party will offer honey-infused cocktails and a DJ.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: David Bernand is the new general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC. He will oversee the hotel’s $13 million guest room renovation, which is set to begin this summer.
Thomas Kramer, C.F.O. of Opower and co-founder of Cvent, has joined social media event marketing company InGo’s board of directors.
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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, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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