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Call Sheet #90: MTV VMAs Ratings Record, Burning Man Criticism, Luxury Hotel Bookings Return

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #90 — Tuesday, 08.30.11

Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html

* INCOMING * 

1. MTV VMAS RATINGS RECORD: Sunday night's award show saw its largest audience ever, with 12.4 million viewers tuning in to MTV. The network set a record in the 12- to 34-year-old demographic. The online show also did well, with 2 million visitors on the site and more than 10 million page views. Billboard:
http://bit.ly/pn4IK8

2. LUXURY HOTEL BOOKINGS RETURN: Corporations are booking rooms and meetings at luxury hotels again after the scrutiny of business travel has somewhat lifted. The New York Times: "Now upscale hotels have shed some of that stigma, although vestiges of the downturn remain. Business travelers and corporate event planners say they are trying to define the limits of acceptable luxury, and may even have to retool it a little again given the recent market turmoil."
http://nyti.ms/pj2QLI

3. BURNING MAN SPECULATION: The annual art festival in the Nevada desert, which opened Monday and runs to September 5, is stirring up some controversy. The for-profit company at the forefront of the festival has brought on a new group to run it, changing its financial structure. Festival-goers, also known as "burners," are worried about the transition. The New York Times:
http://nyti.ms/rsBIDA

4. TRADE SHOW IPHONE APP: Inova Technology and Trakkers have unleashed a new app for lead retrieval for trade shows, allowing the iPhone to read badge barcodes. Reuters:
http://reut.rs/qP9EeK

* NEW CLASS *

The Event Leadership Institute is releasing a new on-demand class tomorrow, "Producing an Effective Fund-raising Event or Gala," taught by Liz Glover Wilson, founder and president of Elizabeth Rose Consulting LLC.
http://bit.ly/fRY7Yq

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: The N.A.A.C.P. Boston Branch Centennial Celebration Gala is at the Westin Copley Place September 17. Tickets range from $60 to $175.
http://bit.ly/r9LDEF

CHICAGO: On Wednesday, Macy's on State Street will host a launch event for the Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse collection. The evening will include a fashion presentation, specialty cocktails, and catering from Crumbs bakery.
http://bit.ly/mW5Z66

The Grey Goose Chicago Beach Polo World Cup is October 1-2 on North Avenue Beach in a custom-built arena. The weekend's activities will include fashion shows, matches, pop-up shops, and V.I.P. suites.
http://bit.ly/cPmZr2

Carnivale's sixth-anniversary celebration on September 28 will involve stilt walkers, break dancers, fire breathers, and funhouse mirrors. The Latin restaurant has seven event-friendly spaces, including the 200-capacity Flamenco room.

Meals on Wheels has announced the chef lineup for its October 14 Celebrity Chef Ball. Participants include Stephanie Izard, Chris Pandel, and Paul Virant along with mixologists Charles Joly and Lynn House.
http://bit.ly/cZebB

LAS VEGAS: Rod Stewart kicked off his new residency at Caesars Palace to a sold-out crowd. Tickets are on sale for performances August 27-September 11 and November 2-20.

Las Vegas Review-Journal: "As the giant Magic apparel show concluded on Wednesday, exhibitors reported widely differing results as retail store buyers tried to calibrate orders to expected customer demand."
http://bit.ly/qsig0K

LOS ANGELES: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles announced Monday that its annual gala will be November 12 at MOCA Grand Avenue. Marina Abramovic will serve as the evening's artistic director, choreographing a participatory evening of performance and music.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the area has seen 20 consecutive months of tourism growth. July had the highest hotel occupancy since 2006 and March and April saw double-digit growth.

NEW YORK: Since Marc Jacobs and his design and sample room staff were interrupted this past weekend by Hurricane Irene while preparing for the designer's show for Fashion Week, the designer is rescheduling the event from September 12 to September 15. The Marc by Marc Jacobs show will take on the Monday night slot. WWD:
http://bit.ly/pl4ISj
 
ORLANDO: H.G.T.V.'s "Design on a Dime" host Frank Fontana will appear at the Orlando Home & Garden Show, September 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center. Sponsors include Walgreen's, Home Depot, and BMW.

SAN FRANCISCO: Flip camera founder Jonathan Kaplan is opening the Melt, a fast casual restaurant that uses location-based mobile technology allowing guests to order food remotely. Kaplan is planning to open several locations around the U.S. VentureBeat.com:
http://bit.ly/pVjnHU

TORONTO: The Fan Expo, the comic book, science fiction, and horror convention, began on Sunday and will continue until Wednesday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Celebrity guests this year include William Shatner, Eliza Dushku, and Robert Englund.
http://bit.ly/9jJcE8

The official state funeral for N.D.P. opposition leader Jack Layton took place on Saturday at Roy Thompson Hall with 1,700 invited guests and 600 members of the public in attendance. A large crowd gathered to watch a live broadcast of the ceremony from large screens. Photos from The Globe and Mail:
http://bit.ly/pUTB1X



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 Jana Schiowitz, Anna Sekula, and Courtney Thompson in New York.

BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: http://info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html

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