1. NEW ORLEANS TOURISM OFFICIALS REJECT ‘RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’ ORDER: After a measure to enact a “religious freedom” bill failed in the Louisiana legislature, Governor Bobby issued an executive order that mirrored some of its intent. But New Orleans tourism officials rejected his move as a “political campaign document” that has no effect on the law. The move is meant to protect the city’s huge convention and travel industries from boycotts and bad publicity that befell Indianapolis following the passage of a religious freedom law there—legislation that many interpreted as allowing discrimination against gays and lesbians. Mark Romig, president and C.E.O. of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, said in a statement: “We will continue with our CVB and economic development partners to promote and market New Orleans and Louisiana as destinations for the world’s greatest vacations, conventions and meetings, and special events and as premier sites for economic growth and expansion that offer the ultimate in inclusiveness, tolerance, and acceptance with a dynamic, vibrant, and entrepreneurial bent and culturally rich climate. This is a hallmark of who we are as people.”
2. LOS ANGELES LOOKS TO HOST SUPER BOWL: As Los Angeles tries to build a stadium and lure an N.F.L. team back to the city, it is also vying for another prize: the Super Bowl. It could host the game in 2020. Los Angeles Times: “Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa, and South Florida are vying to host Super Bowl LIII, and the locale awarded that game will be taken out of the mix for the next year. The remaining three locations will be candidates for the next year, along with L.A., provided a relocation is approved … and at least one team has begun playing in a new L.A.-area stadium by 2018.” http://lat.ms/1F2qAdN
3. HOW VEGAS IS REINVENTING BULL RIDING FOR YOUNG FANS: To reach a younger audience and more women, Professional Bull Riders is revamping its Last Cowboy Standing event in Las Vegas this weekend to make it more like a music festival. Las Vegas Review-Journal: “What makes this sport event different from previous PBR competitions in Las Vegas is that it’s being held outdoors for the first time at MGM Resorts International’s festival site across from Luxor, and it’s being surrounded by spring break-themed events such as volleyball and wakeboarding. [Jim Haworth, chairman and C.E.O. of Professional Bull Riders] acknowledged Wednesday, as crews prepared the festival site, that it’s a calculated risk to add nontraditional activities to a bull riding competition.” http://bit.ly/1HjMyti
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: New Haven, Connecticut, favorite Frank Pepe Pizzeria is expected to open in the fall at the Mall at Chestnut Hill. Its signature pie is white clam.
CHICAGO: Hampton Inn Chicago Michigan Avenue opened on Tuesday at 68 East Wacker Place. The Art Deco-style hotel has 143 rooms, two meeting spaces, and a cocktail bar called Jack’s Place.
LAS VEGAS: Artist Vladimir Kush will work on a live painting and Travis Cloer, star of Jersey Boys, will perform at a benefit for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on May 30. Kush’s work will be auctioned at the event.
LOS ANGELES: IHG announced plans to open the 350-room, 18-story Hotel Indigo Downtown Los Angeles in the winter of 2016. The property will be the first Hotel Indigo in Los Angeles and is under construction now at the Metropolis mixed-use development.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: In the wake of IMG pulling out of this year’s Miami Swim Week, a new entity, SwimMiami, will accommodate more than 20 designers at the W South Beach and 1Hotel South Beach from July 17-20. The group is a partnership of LDJ Productions, the company that had produced the shows in the tents at the Raleigh and the fashion show production company SBI.
NEW YORK: The School of American Ballet will host the Workshop Performance Benefit 2015 on June 2. The evening will include cocktails in Juilliard's Morse Hall, a performance at Lincoln Center, and a seated dinner at the Mandarin Oriental.
Northside Festival, which runs June 8-14 in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn, announced its full music, innovation, and film schedules. Performers in the music portion include Neko Case, Built to Spill, and Sleigh Bells.
The country music festival FarmBorough has released the festival’s full schedule. The event, taking place June 26-29 on Randall’s Island features headliners Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, and Brad Paisley. Sponsor activations will include a custom built Malibu Rum Beach House and Tito’s Vodka Airstream Lounge.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Disney has announced 13 new tenants coming to Disney Springs, the new waterfront dining, shopping, and entertainment district that will replace Downtown Disney. Among the new tenants will be five restaurants, include Edison, an "industrial Gothic"-style restaurant and bar inspired by the Edison in Los Angeles; Sprinkles cupcake bakery; and Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza. There will also be several new stores, including Zara, Tommy Bahama, and Lilly Pulitzer.
TORONTO: The first Mac ’n Cheese Festival will be held at Liberty Market June 5-7. The event will feature mac-and-cheese creations from 25 chefs, cooks, and food-industry pros. There will also be live bands and street performers. Organizers expect more than 45,000 guests.
The SQ1 Concept Store will launch with a fashion-theme event on Tuesday. Celebrity stylist Leslie Fremar will attend as a special guest.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Kingman Island, located in the Anacostia River, will soon be available for private rentals and special events. Union Kitchen and Living Classrooms Foundation will manage events on the Island, which has been undergoing improvements to create more trails and more access to the natural environment for visitors.
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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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