1. GATORADE LAUNCHES SERENA WILLIAMS SNAPCHAT GAME FOR U.S. OPEN: To celebrate the U.S. Open, which runs through September 11, Gatorade has launched Snapchat’s first-ever video game ad themed around Serena Williams through ESPN’s Discover channel on the app. DigiDay: “The old-school tennis game features 22 levels with each representing one of Serena Williams’ Grand Slam wins. Level 23 will unlock on September 10, the day of the Women’s Finals, should Williams win. Players can simply click on one of the three tennis balls to initiate the game, and tap left or right to catch the ball. ‘Serena Match Point’ is sitting inside ESPN’s Discover channel on Snapchat as an ad. When users swipe up the ad, they will be directed to an in-app game experience. They can also go to SerenaMatchPoint.com via mobile or desktop to play the game. Gatorade will also use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to drive users to the game. This is not the first time that Gatorade brought its ongoing sponsorship with Williams to Snapchat, although it hasn’t yet had an official account on the platform. During Super Bowl in February, the company came out with an animated sponsored lens to let Snapchat users dunk a virtual Gatorade cooler over people’s video selfies—of course, Williams got virtually doused. This marketing ploy garnered around 160 million impressions on Snapchat. Mitchell didn’t specify how Gatorade planned to measure the new video game.” http://bit.ly/2bMKzc1
2. CLINTON CAMPAIGN HEADS TO FASHION WEEK: The fashion industry will meet Hillary Clinton's supporters during a pre-New York Fashion Week fund-raising runway show hosted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Chelsea Clinton will attend the event, which takes place two days before the start of Fashion Week. Fashionista: "While the evening's special guest will be Chelsea Clinton, Wintour's official co-host for Sept. 6's 'Made for History Fashion Show and Rooftop Party' is Huma Abedin, Clinton's top aide, Wintour's frequent co-host and current star of a six-page feature in Vogue's September issue. In addition, a whole host of designers will be present and contribute designs to the runway show, including Joseph Altuzarra, Public School's Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osborne, Eva Fehren, Prabal Gurung, Brett Heyman, Marc Jacobs, Pamela Love, David Neville & Marcus Wainwright, Monique Péan, Tanya Taylor, Thakoon, Diane von Furstenberg and Jason Wu. Tory Burch and Georgina Chapman, who have both hosted fundraisers for Clinton before, will also be in attendance. Several of the aforementioned designers have already shown their support for Clinton by designing fundraising merch the campaign calls the 'Made for History' collection. Of course, scoring a ticket to this A-list fashion event won't come cheap. While a standing room only ticket is just $100, one front row spot will run you $2,700—and that's without access to the VIP reception. For those looking to make a night of it, a 'Hillsquad Package' of five front row tickets, VIP reception and rooftop party access clocks in at $25,000." http://bit.ly/2c9L29i
3. MTV AND VEVO PARTNER FOR V.M.A. PERFORMANCE DISTRIBUTION: After years of competing with each other, MTV and Vevo have struck a deal that will allow the video-streaming service to host some of the memorable V.M.A. performances from Sunday's ceremony. In the past, the performances were only available on MTV's website after the event. Forbes: "'For Viacom/MTV they get access to an enormous digital audience, as we’re currently delivering over 18.5 billion views per month for our content, to ensure maximum reach for this content,' a Vevo spokesperson told FORBES. 'For Vevo, we get access to timely and unique live performances for many of our platforms top established and emerging artists, which is good for our reach and to further support continued strong traffic amongst the performers existing Vevo video catalogs.' MTV is in many ways the originator of the music video industry, but has struggled to maintain its dominance as viewer eyeballs have moved away from television and onto desktop and mobile phones. Since 2011, MTV’s viewership in the 18-49 demographic has dropped 50%. The VMAs have also struggled with foundering ratings–the event garnered just 5 million viewers last year, down from 8.3 million in 2014. The new partnership with Vevo could be an attempt by MTV to make up for declining TV ratings by reaching viewers online. … The deal with MTV comes as the latest in a series of moves by Vevo to expand its catalog and grow its business. After holding distribution deals with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment since its inception, Vevo minted a new deal with Warner Music Group, the last of the 'big three' music labels, in early August. The company redesigned its website and app in July, and early reports are also swirling that it’s seeking upwards of $300 to $500 million in funding to fuel an international expansion. At some point this fall, Vevo will also release a premium subscription service, which will eventually have both paid and free tiers." http://bit.ly/2bxeC8R
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: La Quinta Inns & Suites has named J. Sal Icaza director of development for the Northeast. He will oversee the La Quinta brand in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
ATLANTA: The 30th annual Dragon Con will take place Friday through Monday at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Hilton, Sheraton Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, and the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. The pop culture convention, which will be live streamed on DragonCon TV, will feature appearances from William Shatner, Alan Tudyk, and Gillian Anderson. Convention events include a masquerade ball on Thursday to celebrate the opening of Jim Henson's Labryinth: Journey to Goblin City at the Center for Puppetry Arts, plus the annual parade on Saturday, which will be broadcast live on the CW Atlanta.
THE BAHAMAS: Howard C. Karawan has been named president and managing director of Atlantis Paradise Island.
BOSTON: After a series of renovations and menu changes, Tangierino has reopened in Charlestown. The 200-seat French-Moroccan brasserie now has banquette seating, a new 20-seat lounge, and a revamped 14-seat bar and 35-seat private dining room.
HOUSTON: Local Table in Katy has appointed Ginger Logan as catering and events manager.
LAS VEGAS: Chef Stephen Blandino is slated to bring his first owned restaurant to Desert Shores Las Vegas in the fall.
LOS ANGELES: The Best Fest is presenting an all-star tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on September 13 at the Fonda Theatre. Artists performing at the event include Jakob Dylan, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Brandon Boyd of Incubus.
The International Live Events Association Los Angeles Chapter will host its September meeting at Hollywood’s Madera Kitchen on September 21.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Dadeland Mall is getting three new restaurants in September: Elle Taco, a Mexican eatery; Oris Sushi, a Japanese eatery specializing in sushi; and Latin Grill, which will serve Latin cuisine.
Wendy Shoemaker has been appointed as senior catering sales executive at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa.
NEW YORK: The West Indian American Day Carnival Association's annual New York Carnival Parade will take place September 5 along Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
The Empire Stores warehouse at 53-83 Water Street in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood has added a Brooklyn Roasting Company cafe as part of the West Elm headquarters that recently moved there. A restaurant operated by Soho House and a Vinegar Hill take-out location will also open at the 450,000-square-foot warehouse.
The Rolling Stones, in a partnership with DHL, are launching an interactive pop-up museum called Exhibitionism, which will open at Industria on November 12. The museum, which premiered in London in April for a five-month stint, has more than 500 items of rare Rolling Stones memorabilia. Exhibitionism is scheduled to be in New York until March 12, 2017.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Experience Kissimmee has extended "It Pays to Meet in Kissimmee!” through 2017. The program awards up to $4,100 per meeting, based on the total number of room nights booked.
TAMPA: The News Technology Summit will take place September 27-28 at the Tampa Airport Marriott. Speakers will include executives from Univision and Raycom Media.
TORONTO: Community and hip-hop culture festival Manifesto will take place September 9-18 at TD Echo Beach.
SAN FRANCISCO: The San Francisco Dance Film Festival has announced that its slate of programming will include the documentaries One Overture and Be Fabulous, First Stop: Sexitude. The festival will take place October 20-23 in several locations in and near San Francisco.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Hilton Worldwide has opened the dual-branded hotel Hampton Inn by Hilton Washington, D.C. NoMa Union Station and Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington, D.C. NoMa Union Station. The venue has 239 rooms.
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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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