December 15, 2015: Disney Goes All Out for ’Star Wars’ Premiere, New York Fashion Week Considers Major Shakeup, Burning Man to Fight Huge Tax Bill

1. DISNEY GOES ALL OUT FOR ’STAR WARS’ PREMIERE: As if the new Star Wars movie needed any more hype, Disney held a massive premiere for the highly anticipated blockbuster that featured more guests, more theaters, and, inevitably, more security. The New York Times: “A veritable army of security guards, publicists, and event staffers. Quadruple the typical number of invited guests. A lavish after-party, replete with Stormtroopers and a roaming Chewbacca, stretching for four city blocks. Even by the razzmatazz standards of the Walt Disney Company, the high-security, spare-no-expense world premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Monday was something to behold.” http://nyti.ms/1Z9JsmG

2. NEW YORK FASHION WEEK CONSIDERS MAJOR SHAKEUP: New York Fashion Week could shift to from an industry event to a consumer marketing spectacle, a move that many fashion insiders support. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has asked Boston Consulting Group to study the show landscape and report back in 2016. Women’s Wear Daily: “[CFDA Chairwoman Diane] Von Furstenberg said the CFDA hasn’t figured out how the new system might work yet, but said designers could conceivably have smaller showroom presentations and appointments with retailers and press to show them the collection six months out and to place orders. They then would have a runway show with all the bells and whistles for a consumer audience showing in-season merchandise—and getting all the positive benefits from the social media phenomenon. The goal is to improve full-price selling at a time when fashion apparel sales continue to flag as consumers switch their spending to restaurants and experiences over clothes.” http://bit.ly/1Qqf0Dq

3. BURNING MAN TO FIGHT HUGE TAX BILL: Organizers of the Burning Man festival are challenging a new Nevada law that levies a tax on live events—which translates to as much as $3 million for the festival. Organizers argue that the festival does not provide live entertainment, and that the 80,000 people who pay a ticket fee to enter the desert venue create their own experience. Reno Gazette Journal: “Burning Man and Electric Daisy Carnival, a music festival held in Las Vegas, were the two largest events newly affected by changes to the tax. Burning Man feels that it should still be exempt. ‘Black Rock City is an experiment in temporary community on 14,000 acres of the wide open Black Rock Desert. While the Burning Man organization provides the space and basic infrastructure for Black Rock City, we simply don’t provide live entertainment as defined by the statute,’ the organization said in its online statement.” http://on.rgj.com/1m3AZTE

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  Ludacris, Kid Rock, and Bastille will headline the 2016 SweetWater 420 Festival, which runs April 22-24 at Centennial Olympic Park. More than 40 remaining acts will be announced in early 2016. Atlanta Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1Z8wi9A

BOSTON:  The Taj Hotel’s holiday display features a gingerbread replica of the Boston Tea Party. The unusual confection comprises 108 pounds of dough and took 388 hours to construct. Curbed: http://bit.ly/1Ori6RA

CHICAGO:  A Cambria Hotel & Suites is slated to open in the Loop in 2017. With 198 rooms, a bistro, and 2,500 square feet of meeting space, the hotel will be in Chicago's central business district.

LAS VEGAS:  The $30 million motorsports complex Speedvegas is slated to open in March. The 100-acre complex features a 1.5-mile supercar track, multilevel welcome center, large event center, café, and more.

LOS ANGELES:  Belgian waffle sandwich shop Bruxie opened December 14 on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade.

Between its September 20 opening date and the end of the year, the new Broad art museum is on pace to welcome 200,000 visitors.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Miami-Dade commissioners are set to vote today on whether to allow the Miami International Boat Show to move venues to the Miami Marine Stadium, located in an environmentally sensitive area. In an editorial, the Miami Herald endorses a one-year permit and then explore moving the show to another site. http://hrld.us/1YhoxMi

As part of a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Marseilles Hotel South Beach has opened new outdoor event space. The pool deck area holds 100 guests for a reception, while the rear pool deck can hold 45. A 3,120-square-foot lawn holds 150 guests.

NEW YORK:  Choice Hotels will open its second Cambria Hotel & Suites in New York in January at a Times Square location. The 196-room hotel will have a 516-square-foot meeting room that seats 48.

Baruch College Fund's 27th annual Bernard Baruch Dinner will take place April 13 at Cipriani 25 Broadway.

Local event listings from the new Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  From international conventions to Disney weekends, the Orlando Sentinel discusses why the Star Wars franchise has such a big presence in Central Florida. http://bit.ly/1TLNtu5

SAN FRANCISCO:  Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, which features lives jazz and cocktails, is now open in Hayes Valley. Inspired by 1930s Shanghai and Chicago, the venue can host events for 80; its Opium Den holds semiprivate gatherings for 15. The food menu offers bites such as a pulled mushroom sandwich and a Vietnamese coffee sundae.

TORONTO:  An African trophy hunting show, which was to take place at the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport, has been canceled due to an online petition signed by animal activists. Toronto Sun: http://bit.ly/1lU8vLU

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  A fire on Saturday destroyed the Annapolis Yacht Club. Leaders plan to relocate to a temporary home and rebuild on its waterfront site. WTOP: http://bit.ly/1Yb7nW1

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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, Anna Sekula, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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