November 10, 2015: How New Wi-Fi Pricing Rules Affect Meeting Planners, SeaWorld Announces Major Changes to Killer Whale Show, Russia Faces Olympics Ban After Report Alleges Widespread Doping

1. HOW NEW WI-FI PRICING RULES AFFECT MEETING PLANNERS: Meeting planners who balked at the high cost of Internet connectivity at hotels and convention centers had thought they had found a solution in bringing their own Wi-Fi hot spots—until venues started blocking them or significantly slowing them down. But meeting planners got a boost after the F.C.C. ruled that blocking hot spots was illegal. The conflict is far from settled, though, as venues decide whether to challenge the ruling or lower their prices. The New York Times: “Hospitality industry experts predicted that the F.C.C.’s recent actions would force event facilities to become more competitive in their pricing, so as not to lose out entirely on the Internet revenue stream. … ‘ think the long-term solution is going to be that convention centers and hotels drop their prices down to someplace reasonable,’ [IT expert Ben] Yalow said. ‘They’re not going to make money off this the way they used to.’” http://nyti.ms/1NoKPpx

2. SEAWORLD ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES TO KILLER WHALE SHOW: SeaWorld in San Diego will change its Shamu killer whale show to focus more on education and less on tricks, the company announced Monday. It wall also pause plans for an $100 million expansion of its killer whale tanks. San Diego Union-Tribune: “In its bid to boost attendance, which in San Diego plunged 17 percent last year, the company said Monday it will bring a new, ‘very marketable’ attraction to the Mission Bay park, although no details were offered. … The move comes amid efforts at both the state and federal level to clamp down on SeaWorld by ending the captive breeding of orcas. SeaWorld has already vowed to fight a recent ruling by the California Coastal Commission to bar it from breeding its orcas as a condition of moving forward with the tank expansion project.” http://bit.ly/1Pl0bBy

3. RUSSIA FACES OLYMPICS BAN AFTER REPORT ALLEGES WIDESPREAD DOPING: A report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency found widespread doping among Russian athletes that appeared to be state sponsored. Former agency head Dick Pound announced the findings and called out a "deeply rooted culture of cheating at all levels,” including at the Summer Olympics in London in 2012. CNN: The “report details ‘corruption and bribery practices at the highest levels of international athletics,’ evidence of which has been transmitted to the international crime-fighting organization Interpol for further investigation. The fallout from Pound's explosive report could possibly result in the Russian track and field team being excluded from the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.” http://cnn.it/1kGK7Nd

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Industry pros including AJ Williams and Bryan Raffanelli provide tips on holiday entertaining. One tip from Raffanelli: serve bourbon because “everyone’s moved into brown drinks.” The Boston Globe: http://bit.ly/1QnEAb1

CHICAGO:  Reedpop's BookCon 2016 will take place in Chicago for the first time on May 14 at McCormick Place.

The Quality Show, BNP Media's first-ever trade show for quality manufacturing professionals, took place October 27-29 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The show attracted 135 exhibitors and 2,500 attendees.

LAS VEGAS:  Monte Carlo Resort and Casino will host 156 couples as they participate in the Run Thru Wedding Ceremony at the Geico Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon.

LOS ANGELES:  Kevin Hart will host Rihanna's second annual Diamond Ball, which will take place December 10 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Lionel Richie will perform at the black-tie fund-raiser, which raises money for the Clara Lionel Foundation. Billboard: http://bit.ly/1iOhpZL

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art's fifth annual Art & Film Gala on November 7 brought together more than 600 guests and raised more than $4 million.

Josh Wood Productions is expanding to Los Angeles. Women’s Wear Daily: “Now known as JWP, the company has been producing events such as the AmFAR Inspiration Gala since its inception six years ago.” http://bit.ly/1limRGa

The Hollywood Radio and Television Society will host "Building a Kingdom, Then and Now… A Conversation With Dick Wolf and Chuck Lorre" on December 14 at the Beverly Hilton. The panel will be moderated by NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Museum of Modern Art Design Store will open its first installation and pop-up shop during the week of Art Basel Miami Beach with the Skateroom at Delano. The installation, on display from November 30-December 6, will feature a limited-edition series of skate decks featuring artwork by Andy Warhol, made in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Delano also will host the MoMA PS1 Party on December 4.

NEW YORK:  The New York Art, Antique & Jewelry Show will take place November 20-24 at the Park Avenue Armory. Presented by the Palm Beach Show Group, the event will feature more than 80 exhibitors.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala will take place December 8 at New York Hilton Midtown.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Disney's Hollywood Studios will open new Star Wars experiences beginning December 1. Next year work begins on a 14-acre Star Wars-theme land in the park; it's also ending Star Wars Weekends, which was an annual event that began in 1997.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Dandelion Chocolate on Valencia Street will host its annual Twelve Nights of Chocolate December 2-13. The chocolate café will partner with local chefs and bartenders for tasting events. SFGate: http://sfg.ly/1OA90au

TORONTO:  The One of a Kind Show & Sale—a juried marketplace focused on handmade goods—will take place November 26-December 6 at Enercare Centre.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Amphora Bakery is offering gingerbread house decorating workshops beginning November 28 for groups or individuals, as well as kits to decorate gingerbread houses off site.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

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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, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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