1. LIVE NATION LAUNCHES TSA PRECHECK AT MUSIC FESTIVALS: Live Nation has partnered with IdentoGo, a private company that handles U.S. TSA PreCheck applications, to launch fast lanes for music festival attendees to bypass long security lines. Pitchfork: "Attendees at certain Live Nation events can sign up for TSA PreCheck, which enables subscribers to bypass the airport security process, as a Live Nation spokesperson explained to Pitchfork. Plus, TSA PreCheck members will have their own 'Fast Pass' for expedited entry at these events. The spokesperson clarified that, contrary to reports, the partnership with IdentoGO is not for security screening purposes, and applies to only 'a very limited number of venues and events.' Signing up for TSA PreCheck at a live music event allows concertgoers to avoid the waits for traditional in-person screening appointments, which the Live Nation spokesperson said can take up to weeks or months. TSA PreCheck enrollment takes about 10 minutes, Live Nation said, and costs $85 for a five-year membership. To enroll, concertgoers will need to bring a government-issued photo ID and proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. The first Live Nation event to offer onsite TSA PreCheck enrollment and a Fast Pass lane was the Watershed country music festival, which took place July 29-31 and August 5-7 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Washington. PreCheck enrollment and a Fast Pass lane will also be available at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival, from September 30-October 2 in Las Vegas, and the Meadows Music & Arts Festival, on October 1-2 in Queens, New York." http://bit.ly/2bc8Nvj
2. AIRBNB TESTING APP THAT RECOMMENDS CITY EVENTS AND RESTAURANTS: Airbnb is reportedly testing an app that would organize travel plans and recommend dining options and events for users. Bloomberg: "A test version of the software is called Airbnb Trips, according to an Android app listing on the Google Play Store. The app offers access to personal itineraries with information about upcoming Airbnb rentals, city guidebooks, dining and happy hour events. A person familiar with the matter said the app’s name and features could change before its release. Offering local services could help Airbnb differentiate itself from HomeAway, VRBO and other room-booking websites. Airbnb hopes to provide a more personalized touch akin to a hotel concierge—or, at least, the rack of brochures by the counter. Bloomberg reported in March that Airbnb has referred internally to the initiative, including plans to sell add-on services, as 'magical trips' and that it’s one of the company’s top priorities for 2016. … Airbnb is expected to unveil the new trips app at its annual conference in November. Technology website the Information reported last week that the company plans to roll out a program in November allowing hosts to make money by recommending restaurants and giving tours. Rumors of the eight-year-old company’s interest in such a service, which would help guests find activities during a trip, have been swirling since at least 2014." http://bloom.bg/2bvCtTU
3. WHY MANY OLYMPIC MASCOTS ARE SO BIZARRE: Past Olympic mascots, which include a beaver without a face and a one-eyed genetic experiment, have been more than a little strange. The reason for the many unusual mascots may have to do with the fact that the Olympic symbol has to be chosen by a committee that's trying to appeal to the masses. Adweek: "The practice of choosing a creature to represent each Olympics is now in its 44th year. It’s a job that falls to the host city’s organizing committee, which frequently relies on marketing research to create the mascot and public surveys to choose one, with final approval resting with the International Olympic Committee. While some mascots are human (children, usually), most have been animals (bears, raccoons, owls, etc.) And with the advent of CGI, several mascots have fallen into what’s generously termed the fantasy-creature category. But whatever the breed of the mascot, most have shared one thing in common: They’re a little—and sometimes very—freaky. ('Loony,' to quote Time magazine, or 'downright scary' in the appraisal of ESPN.) But why? The most obvious explanation is that Olympic mascots are created by a committee—and you know how that too-many-cooks adage goes. Another complication is that an Olympic mascot has to do the double duty of embodying both the idealistic competitive principles of the games while also signifying the unique cultural attributes of the host country and city. It's why we’ve seen a given country’s beloved local creature dressed up in athletic attire and wearing the Olympic rings. But according to Alan Behr, an intellectual property attorney with the New York firm of Phillips Nizer, the central problem is that Olympic mascots have to resonate with audiences both locally and globally. The mandate of piling on multiple layers of symbolism onto a creature that must be clever, appealing and nationalistic without being offensive is a tall order. It means, Behr added, 'that you need the lowest common denominator,' which frequently results in 'fuzzy sweet things that can't offend anybody.'" http://bit.ly/2aRDyaA
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
Norwalk, Connecticut-based event organizer LeftField Media has been acquired by Urban Expositions, a Clarion Events Company.
Equinox has named Christopher Norton C.E.O. of its hotel business. He was president of global product and C.O.O. of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Mazda has partnered with experiential marketing agency George P. Johnson to develop a new, immersive auto show booth experience, which will come to 54 shows in the next auto show year. The booth will debut at the Orange County International Auto Show, which takes place October 6-9 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
BOSTON: Joslin Diabetes Center's annual Ritmos de Salud event will take place October 6 at Space 57 at the Revere Hotel. The event will feature Latin music from Alexander el Cantante, a performance from Boston’s “Salsa Y Control” dance company, and cuisine from nearly a dozen local chefs.
CHICAGO: Blue Plate Catering has formed Round the Table Hospitality to house a family of independent brands at Larkin Hall, which will open this fall in the West Loop. The three-story, 80,000 square foot building will include a production and training facility, test kitchens, tasting rooms, private event spaces, and a planned retail space.
The fifth edition of Expo Chicago, the International Exposition of Modern & Contemporary Art, will take place September 22-25 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. The event will host 145 galleries from 22 countries and 53 cities.
Michael Jordan’s Restaurant is an American eatery that is expected to launch in the summer of 2017 inside the Oak Brook commercial property Oak Brook 22. Operated by Cornerstone Restaurant Group, eateries with the Michael Jordan brand name are currently open in Chicago, New York, and Connecticut.
LAS VEGAS: Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban and the Chernin Group C.E.O. Peter Chernin will be among the speakers at CTIA Super Mobility 2016, an annual conference for the mobile/wireless communications industry. Executives from Verizon, AT&T, Nokia, and Qualcomm will also speak at the event, which will take place September 7-9 at the Sands Expo.
LOS ANGELES: Sbe has announced that its subsidiary Disruptive Restaurant Group will now develop and manage the food and beverage offerings at the James West Hollywood.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. has signed an agreement with franchise partner Nexus Companies to build a 230,000-square-foot Cambria Hotel & Suites in Anaheim. Expected to open in November 2018, the 345-room property will be located at the intersection of West Katella Avenue and Anaheim Boulevard.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Baptist Health Foundation will host its Grand Gala black-tie charity event on November 12 at the Miami Cancer Institute, which will benefit from the fund-raiser. Matt Goss will perform at the event.
Red O, a Latin restaurant chain from Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless, is opening its first non-California location in downtown Miami. The new eatery, which is expected to debut in mid-2017, will be located on the ground floor of Metropolitan Miami’s Met Square.
Copper29 Bar has opened in the Coral Gables location previously occupied by Ticety Iced Tea Bar.
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton St. Paul Downtown/Xcel Energy Center will be completed by October. Vista Host is managing the 160-room hotel; John Melstrom has been named the hotel's general manager and Mike Meyer has been named director of sales.
NEW YORK: Hamptons magazine will unveil its fall fashion issue with an event on Friday at a private estate in Southampton. The event will feature an appearance by Georgina Bloomberg, the issue's cover star and former first daughter of New York.
The Michael Bolton Charities, an organization that supports women and children who are victims of domestic violence, will host its fund-raiser "An Evening Under the Stars" on August 20 at a private estate in Bridgehampton. The event will feature a performance by Michael Bolton.
Belgian gastropub Resto's closed Thursday but will reopen in October as Cannibal Liquor House, under the same ownership and in the same Murray Hill location.
Seafood restaurant Seabird has opened in the West Village. The new eatery is owned by the same team as Mountain Bird, a French restaurant in East Harlem.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Central Florida Sports Commission is bidding to host more than 50 N.C.A.A. events between 2018-2022. Orlando Business Journal: http://bit.ly/2aYAsNI
TORONTO: Michael Soulard has been appointed director of event sales at Citizen Catering. Soulard was formerly the director of events at Parts and Labour Catering.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: American Law Institute's Continuing Legal Education is presenting the 34th Annual Conference on Life Insurance Company Products. The event will be held November 3-4 at the Capital Hilton, with an optional workshop on November 2.
Honeygrow, a chain of fast casual American restaurants, has opened its first D.C.-area location in Arlington.
Ocean Blue, a 5,000-square-foot seafood restaurant, has debuted in Sterling.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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