1. TRUMP GOLF COURSE HAS LOST TOURNAMENTS AND WEDDINGS: Many of Donald Trump’s properties have lost business since the election and one in particular is his Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles. The course is seeing a drop in events, including golf tournaments and weddings. Washington Post: “Since Trump entered the presidential race in June 2015, revenues from greens fees at the L.A. club has dropped by 13 percent, according to figures from the city government. Charity golf-tournaments, another core piece of the club’s business, have moved away: ESPN relocated its celebrity tournament. The L.A. Galaxy soccer team withdrew. The L.A. Unified School District also moved, forfeiting a $7,500 deposit it had already paid Trump’s course. Hollywood, another source of revenue for the club, has largely stopped coming to film TV shows and movies, according to city permit records. And the club’s wedding business seems to have been affected as well. Couples used to hold big outdoor ceremonies at a city park across the street, then return to Trump National for a reception. Nobody’s done that since November, according to city records. The troubles at the L.A. club mirror those that have been reported at some other Trump properties. Together, they illustrate an unexpected side effect of the presidency: In some cases, it has proven a challenge to sell the president’s brand, without offering proximity to the presidency itself. In Manhattan, the banquet business is down at the Trump SoHo hotel, according to radio station WNYC. In the Bronx, both golf revenue and banquet revenue are down at Trump’s golf course, according to records released by New York City.” http://wapo.st/2veGIf7
2. SUNDANCE ANNOUNCES NEW TV-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING: The Sundance Institute has announced that the 2018 Sundance Film Festival will include a new TV-focused Indie Episodic program, as well as the return of “The New Climate” environmental program. Variety: “The Indie Episodic section will include stories told in multiple installments with an emphasis on independent perspectives. The festival’s Special Events section has included such programming recently such as ‘O.J.: Made in America,’ ‘Transparent,’ ‘Top of the Lake,’ and ‘The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.’ The festival will also present a 'Festival Favorite’ award with all feature films eligible. The trophy will be determined by audience ballots across all festival screenings. Sundance already awards Audience Awards for each competition section. Additionally, Sundance unveiled its 2018 festival logo, developed in collaboration with ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. The concept was led by a group of students including Andy Gutierrez, Michelle Lee and Charles Lin and came out of a three-day brainstorm and creation session last spring with 15 students and three faculty members.” http://bit.ly/2vfy67Y
3. INSIDE THE TREND OF SURPRISE WEDDINGS: For couples who don't feel like planning a wedding and pinning down a date, a new trend is surprising their guests by getting married on the spot—under the guise of an event such as an engagement party. The New York Times: "No longer the sole domain of celebrity couples looking for privacy, such weddings are becoming popular among couples who can’t pin down a date months in advance, are overwhelmed by the prospect of planning a huge gala, or want to save a bundle on doing an out-of-season event (sometimes without having to provide dinner). The here-and-now philosophy offers many positives. ... For Lauren Mabry and Sam Petner, both 33, their goal was to do something unusual. 'We wanted our guests to experience the flood of emotions and happiness that we assumed we would experience on that day,' Ms. Mabry said. The couple were married in Houston on April 25, 2015, at the McGovern Centennial Gardens. As far as their 200 guests knew, it was a surprise proposal where Mr. Petner would ask for an unsuspecting Ms. Mabry’s hand in marriage. (Unbeknown to everyone, Mr. Petner had proposed five months earlier.) Before calling anyone or snapping photos to post on social media, they discussed the surprise wedding idea. While having sealed lips may bring some couples closer together, it can disappoint relatives and best friends who, once the surprised is unveiled, can have hurt feelings or feel left out or duped. 'We had to keep the truth from best friends; that was really hard,' admitted Ms. Petner, who said that only a handful of people were disappointed, but that the disappointment lasted only 24 hours. 'If the roles were reversed, I’d probably be hurt, too, so I get it. It’s not for everybody, but it’s the most special thing we’ve ever done.'" http://nyti.ms/2uA38tt
INDUSTRY NEWS
Freeman has acquired Baam, a Toronto-based creative production company focused on sports, culture, and entertainment markets.
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Behind Every Leader Conferences will take place August 11 in New York, September 22 in Miami, and November 10-11 in Las Vegas. The events are produced by the Executive Assistants Organization, which also will have its summit during the Las Vegas conference.
CHICAGO: The second annual Vintage Days will take place August 19-20 in downtown Long Grove. The open-air marketplace will have antiques from more than 40 vendors, street food, a penny carnival, and an ice cream social.
LONDON: Event marketing company Evvnt has formed a partnership with Mash Media, aiming to strengthen its network coverage in the industry. The partnership will allow Mash Media users to publish events on the websites Conference News, Exhibition News, and Access All Areas.
LOS ANGELES: The Paley Center for Media will host the 11th annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews September 6-16. The event will feature premiere screenings and panel discussions from networks including Showtime, ABC, The CW, Univision, Netflix, and Hulu.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Real estate investment and development company Key International has announced that the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort has completed its first phase of construction. The resort, which is slated to open in the first quarter of 2018, will have 7,500 square feet of meeting and event space.
NEW YORK: The 38th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will take place October 5 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will honor radio and TV journalist Charles Osgood with the 2017 News & Documentary Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement at the event.
This year’s Governors Ball, which took place at Randall’s Island in June, generated $62.4 million in economic benefits for the city. The number marked a $12.4 increase from the summer of 2015.
The New York Civil Liberties Union honored Harry Belafonte with the inaugural Freedom Award at its 15th annual Broadway Stands Up for Freedom Concert, which took place July 17 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals has appointed John Alcure director of sales.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
OKLAHOMA CITY: The Oklahoma City Council has approved a redevelopment deal with Omni Hotels to operate a 600-room, full-service hotel that will be built near the MAPS 3 Convention Center.
TORONTO: Toronto is slated to get a new cat-theme park. BlogTO: http://bit.ly/2uwS0xH
WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Harbor has appointed Brian Waters vice president of marketing and executive director of Visit National Harbor.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, Rayna Katz, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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