BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #219 — Tuesday, 03.13.12
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo and Jana Schiowitz in New York
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TODAY'S CALENDAR: The Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show begins in Las Vegas; SXSW continues in Austin, Texas; the Miami International Film Festival continues; L.A. Fashion Week Fall 2012 continues
* INCOMING *
1. SXSW'S WIFI CONTROVERSY: The interactive festival is attracting a lot of attention, not because of celebrity guests or tech trends, but because of advertising agency's Bartle Bogle Hegarty "charitable experiment," which turned homeless people at SXSW into wireless hotspots, complete with 4G routers hanging on a lanyard around their necks. Attendees using the hotspots can make a recommended donation of $2 to get access for 15 minutes. Gawker: "Many outraged commentators have pointed out, rightly, that Homeless Hotspots is a dumb gimmick that turns humans into walking pieces of hardware in the service of promoting BBH's digital creative services—like a social media Bum Fights."
http://gaw.kr/yPUzd7
In other SXSW news: Over the weekend, around 330,000 conversations occurred using social media platforms about the festival, with 95 percent of the chatter done using Twitter. Hot topics included the Gowalla shutdown, Jimmy Fallon's panel, and food like barbeque. Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/xITXUS
2. MARKETERS AND R.O.I. METRICS: A survey of 243 C.M.O.s and other execs by the Columbia Business School Center on Global Brand Leadership and the New York American Marketing Association, shows that marketers are not using return on investment metrics to plan budgets. Ad Age: "Despite growing data about marketing, particularly those generated by digital and social media, many marketers still feel they don't have the right information. They also doubt that their companies adequately share or collect data, according to Don Sexton, a marketing professor at Columbia Business School."
http://bit.ly/yeqiqa
3. SOCIAL TV APP: The free Peel app, launched in 2009, is unveiling its second-screen engagement platform for programs like "American Idol." It lets viewers interact with the show and other viewers in real time. Scott Ellis, Peel's vice president of marketing, is “also optimistic Peel will be able to include real-life programming, including the Summer Olympics and 2012 election, later this year." Mashable:
http://on.mash.to/za7hZM
4. CHANGES AT GEN ART: Just a year after they came together to relaunch the art event organization, co-presidents Elizabeth Shaffer and Jeffrey Abramson announced they are leaving Gen Art "to pursue new opportunities." Gen Art's founder, Ian Gerard, is also leaving his role as an adviser. New C.E.O. Marc Lotenberg will now lead the company.
* INTERNAL NEWS: THE NEW BIZBASH.COM *
We launched the beta version of the new BizBash.com yesterday, with a host of new features. You can now create a user profile and save your favorite photos and stories into Idea Books. Have you signed in and created an Idea Book? Send us a link, and we’ll share it with Call Sheet readers: [email protected].
* INTERNAL NEWS: EVENT INNOVATORS 2012 *
Tomorrow we’ll unveil our lists of the 10 most innovative event brands and the 66 most innovative people in events. In the meantime, as a preview, here’s a video with innovator Karl Vontz talking about how he’s reinventing the Clio awards:
http://bit.ly/wVbFbP
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: The American Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance National Convention and Exhibition is Tuesday through Saturday at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center. A new app helps guests customize their schedules, message colleagues, view exhibitor information, and more.
http://bit.ly/TCgMA
CHICAGO: The James Chicago will host a bridal event Thursday to showcase new menu items from David Burke's Primehouse. Other offerings include mini massages from the spa at ASHA, flower tips from Sprout Home, and a collaborative performance from Fig and the Gold Coast All Stars.
News from the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort: "One of our brides, Lauren, had her wedding at Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort featured on ‘Four Weddings,’ the show on TLC. Lauren hosted a lavish 340 guest wedding reception at the Resort, complete with a red, black and white theme. She won best wedding with an impressive score of 96/100, with Hilton’s food being scored a 30/30, which was the highest score of the entire episode!"
LAS VEGAS: The rock-theme Kiss By Monster Mini Golf venue is set to open March 15. Co-founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmonswill slash through the ceremonial ribbon with their guitars and walk the black carpet.
The New York-based hospitality company the One Group has announced the acquisition of the nightclub and beach club at the Tropicana Las Vegas, effective April 1. The One Group and partners Remi Laba and Aymeric Clemente of Bagatelle America will introduce a new day and night club experience. MarketWatch:
http://bit.ly/zOzAxQ
Las Vegas Review-Journal: "While at the Las Vegas Convention Center... for its 2012 show, the Travel Goods Association's board of directors voted to bring their show back for the next four years. In the past, the trade show has bounced between the East and West coasts."
http://bit.ly/wb5NOn
LOS ANGELES: Nancy McFadyen has joined L.A. Inc., the Los Angeles convention and visitors bureau, as national director of hotel sales for the midwest. The L.A. Inc. sales team is responsible for booking meetings and conventions at the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. area hotels.
The Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa has named Pascal Vignau executive chef for Chandler's Restaurant & Lounge, room service, group events, and catering. The resort opens this summer.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Miami Herald on the Miami Beach Convention Center: "The once-proud facility is today a third-rate building in a world-class city, mostly relegated to hosting events like foreclosure auctions and design and antique shows in halls where presidential nominees were once named and champs crowned. But after more than a decade of discussion about rejuvenating a convention center that slumps like a dowager next to a state-of-the-art symphony hall, the city of Miami Beach has gone all-in this year, pushing $334 million in prime South Beach real estate to the center of the table."
http://bit.ly/xBZqCy
The first of two Red Robin restaurants is opening in April in a space at the Falls. CBS:
http://cbsloc.al/wYWDxa
NEW YORK: Great Performances C.E.O. Liz Neumark wrote about her support for the NY Vegetarian Food Festival, which restored her "confidence in the true festivity associated with sharing food enhanced by ideas and passion." The Huffington Post:
http://huff.to/zbRhvo
The United Nations hosted Diane von Furstenberg's DVF Awards March 9 as part of the Daily Beast's Women in the World Summit. UN Catering served guests cocktails including POM-inspired drinks and a buffet dinner.
The Dubai Investment Group might sell the Jumeirah Essex House hotel. Bloomberg:
http://bloom.bg/zxXAJU
BBC America has planned a series of New York events to drum up interest for first original series, "No Kitchen Required," premiering April 3. The Wall Street Journal (subscribers only):
http://on.wsj.com/yxOhVk
Chelsea Clinton will moderate a panel at the Celebration of Teaching and Learning being held March 16-17 at the Hilton New York.
ORLANDO: Hollywood Drive-In Golf is now open at Universal CityWalk. The venue has two 18-hole miniature golf courses based on classic drive-in era horror and sci-fi movies. The attraction is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
SeaWorld Orlando will open TurtleTrek April 27. The attraction will feature a 3-D, 360-degree film about the journey of a sea turtle. TurtleTrek is the first of three new attractions that will open at the park over the next two years.
WASHINGTON: Jose Andres has launched his first food truck, Pepe. The metallic silver truck will serve lunch Monday through Friday with a selection of flautas. It is available for catering and rentals.
Mike Isabella of “Top Chef All-Stars,” Graffiato, and the soon-to-open Bandolero announced plans to open a Greek and an Italian restaurant side by side next year. The Washington Post:
http://wapo.st/yip4kd
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 Amy Leibrock, Jana Schiowitz, 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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