1. THE GRAMMYS MAY MOVE BACK TO NEW YORK IN 2018: A campaign has been launched in hopes to bring the Grammys back to New York for the music event's 60th anniversary in 2018. Page Six: "The commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Julie Menin, is spearheading the bid with music manager Irving Azoff, who has represented artists including Christina Aguilera, the Eagles and Jon Bon Jovi. They plan to persuade the Recording Academy to move music’s biggest night to NYC after 13 years at the Staples Center in downtown LA. It’s hoped that Madison Square Garden would host the February 2018 Grammys, but that is dependent on if the Knicks and the Rangers are both playing on the road. … The awards show would be more expensive to host in New York because of labor costs, but we’re told that, 'Menin’s office is focused on getting the Grammys back to New York, and is putting together a compelling case, as well as extra sponsors to offset the cost. They believe the academy should do something special for the big anniversary. New York is America’s capital of music and so many of the major artists are passionate about, and live in, NYC.' Talks have started with MSG, but NBA and NHL schedules could be a stumbling block. It is believed the Grammy organizers could need the venue for more than two weeks for setup, rehearsals and breakdown." http://pge.sx/2bRsuqj
2. ABC EXTENDS OSCAR AIRING RIGHTS THROUGH 2028: ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have extended an agreement so that the network will air the Oscars through at least 2028. The agreement now extends eight more years for the deal that was slated to expire in 2020. Adweek: "The deal was important for ABC, which doesn't enjoy the ratings bumps that CBS, NBC and Fox receive from broadcasting NFL games each fall or from airing what is always the year's most-watched TV program, the Super Bowl, every three years. Those games help keep those networks on top of the ratings each season, leaving ABC to instead tout its status as No. 1 network for entertainment programming (i.e., non-sports programming, though NBC said it now ties ABC in that category). But the Oscars isn't quite the ratings juggernaut it used to be. This year's ceremony, hosted by Chris Rock, drew its smallest 18-49 audience in at least 20 years, with 34.4 million total viewers. That made it the third lowest-rated Academy Awards telecast since 1974, which is as far back as Nielsen has telecast data for. But even with the 8 percent drop in total viewers from last year's Academy Awards and 6 percent drop in the critical demo, the Oscars will likely end the year as the most-watched entertainment program, and ABC's top telecast of 2016. ABC has exclusive domestic rights to the Oscars; the ceremony is also televised live in more than 225 countries and territories. The 89th Academy Awards will air Feb. 26." http://bit.ly/2c9bpsE
3. GOOGLE GETS IN ON THE FASHION WEEK CRAZE: In past editions of New York Fashion Week, brands have used social networks like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat to showcase runway highlights. For the upcoming edition of NYFW, which runs September 8-15, Google is getting in on the catwalk action. The New York Times: “Starting Thursday and running for the duration of fashion weeks, Google is experimenting with search carousels created and curated by catwalk brands, sitting front and center atop Google’s usual list of links generated by a computer algorithm. The result will allow the brands themselves to manage what consumers see first when, say, they plug the term ‘Marc Jacobs’ or ‘Burberry’ into their search engines. It will give the companies a lot more control over people’s reactions to their products—and their productions. Little wonder Google, which teamed with the former Maxim editor and street style pioneer Kate Lanphear for the initiative, said it had signed more than 50 brands so far to the new search, including Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Christopher Kane, Prada, Burberry and Hermès. This experimental approach is meant to allow users to hear directly from participants during major events, a company spokesman said. Google did this in January for a Republican presidential primary debate on Fox News. A search for “Fox News debate” yielded candidates’ own videos, answers to questions they weren’t asked and rebuttals. Since a Google search is often the first stop for people casually interested in a subject, this allows brands to ‘go front and center with the most aspirational vision of their products,’ said Maureen Mullen, the chief strategy officer for L2, a research and advisory firm for consumer brands. … As for Google, special events like fashion weeks build a loyal and engaged audience, a must for advertisers. (Brands do not pay to participate in the initiative.) ‘For any of these platforms, it’s important to command the attention of fashion and luxury brands, because they are the ultimate arbiters of taste,’ said Ms. Mullen of L2. Indeed, Google’s experiment will make the company competitive in wooing the fashion industry, pitting it against such platforms as Instagram, which has been particularly effective in casting itself as fashion’s friend.” http://nyti.ms/2c3dfhi
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and art business Christie's have launched "Conversations with Christie's"—global events that will showcase a curated selection of luxury goods and will be hosted by Christie's specialists. Upcoming events include a vintage handbag showcase at JW Marriott London Grosvenor House on September 5, "The Golden Age of Basketball" at the JW Marriott Chicago on September 27, and a handcrafted timepiece showcase from brands including Patek Philippe and Rolex at the JW Marriott Hong Kong on November 18.
More than 90 buildings and landmarks in the U.S. and Canada will be illuminated in colors for the Stand Up To Cancer fund-raiser. ABC News: http://abcn.ws/2bSuGm3
BOSTON: SoWa Boston will host its inaugural Sausage Fest at the SoWa Power Station. Presented by EatBoston, the block party event will feature sausage-inspired dishes from food trucks including the Chubby Chickpea Truck, Moyzilla, and Revelry Food Truck.
CHICAGO: The Chicago Athletic Association hotel has launched the first-ever Shake Shack in-room dining service, which will be offered to hotel guests daily.
COLUMBUS, OHIO: Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Scioto Downs will open in December. The 118-room hotel, which is managed by Vista Host, has named Melanie Harrison director of sales.
EL PASO, TEXAS: Home2 Suites by Hilton will open in January. The all-suite hotel, which is managed by Vista Host, has named Denise Acuña director of sales.
HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA: Montage Palmetto Bluff has opened in Bluffton. The 200-room resort has six dining experiences, three pool venues, a 13,000-square-foot Spa Montage, 35 private Montage Residences, and more than 16,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Montage Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Crescent Communities and the Athens Group, developed the property.
LOS ANGELES: Restaurant Programs of America, a restaurant and hospitality insurance brokerage firm based in New Jersey, has named Peter M. Enos vice president of sales in the company's Los Angeles office. He was previously a broker at B&B Premier Insurance Solutions.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: New Times Broward Palm Beach is presenting E.A.T. (Edible, Artisanal, and Tasteful), a food festival where attendees can sample cuisine from more than 50 restaurants. The event will take place September 21 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise.
NEW YORK: New York Fashion Week producer IMG will host two pop-up shops in the Meatpacking District that will sell art, accessories, and clothes off the runway this season. The Cut: http://thecut.io/2bGI0F4
This fall, Lotte New York Palace is opening the upscale American restaurant Villard in the landmarked part of the hotel known as the Villard Mansion. The 100-seat Villard, inspired by the classical cafes and bistros of Europe, has two dining areas: the Gold Room and Bar and the Gallery Room.
American steakhouse Prime 333 is reopening in September with the new name Primal Cut. Josh Held spearheaded a redesign of the restaurant, which seats 60 in the dining area. Executive chef Thomas Perone is overseeing the menu.
Dopo La Spiaggia, an Italian restaurant on Long Island, will add to its original 50-seat Sag Harbor location by opening a second outpost in October at 31 Race Lane in East Hampton. The new 3,000-square-foot eatery can seat as many as 136 people.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Posto 9, a Brazilian gastropub in Lakeland, has named Dani Borow executive pastry chef. She was the owner of Buttercup Gourmet Bakery.
SEATTLE: Hospitality company Sbe has named Rod Lapasin general manager of SLS Seattle, a 16-floor hotel slated to open in the summer of 2017 inside the Mark. Lapasin was previously general manager of Salish Lodge & Spa.
TORONTO: Taste of the Kingsway street festival will take place September 9-11 at Bloor Street West between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road. The event will feature a dog show, ice cream eating contest, and 200 exhibitors.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Uptown Alley has opened at the Manassas Mall. The 45,000-square-foot entertainment venue has a 150-seat casual American restaurant, two bars, a sports theater, 24 bowling lanes, an arcade, a two-story laser tag arena, and a private lounge area.
Vietnamese restaurant Ben Tre has opened in the Adams Morgan neighborhood in the space formerly occupied by Yamas Mediterranean Grill.
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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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