June 21, 2016: Media Companies Are Using Virtual Reality to Attract Comic-Con Fans, How Planners Make Disney Weddings a Reality, Olympic Ticket Prices May Decrease for Non-Brazilians

1. MEDIA COMPANIES ARE USING VIRTUAL REALITY TO ATTRACT COMIC-CON FANS: The 46th annual Comic-Con International kicked off last night at the San Diego Convention Center and throughout the weekend, media companies are using virtual reality as a way to promote film and TV—and to attract fans to their booths with role-playing experiences. The New York Times: “At the DC Entertainment booth, visitors can don the cape and cowl of the Dark Knight in Batman Arkham VR, a virtual reality video game in which players try to solve a murder. DC will also present demonstrations of Medium, a virtual reality sculpting tool for Oculus Rift. Comic book artists will put on goggles and sculpt while their creations begin to take shape on a screen behind them. Other media companies are creating original virtual reality content to promote their movies and television shows. FX Networks is planning a virtual reality journey inspired by “American Horror Story” using HTC Vive that will incorporate 4-D, a technique that combines 3-D film with physical effects like vibrations or smells. … Warner Bros. opted for Samsung Gear VR to put visitors in the middle of a fight scene with the team of ‘worst heroes ever’ from its upcoming film ‘Suicide Squad.’ Fans of ‘Rick and Morty,’ the animated series on Adult Swim, can play a game called ‘Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality,’ and MTV has similar plans to promote its ‘Teen Wolf’ series. Some projects, however, will eschew big thrills. In a partnership with USA Network, Universal Cable Productions, the studio behind the series ‘Mr. Robot,’ produced a 12-minute film that provides a look at the backstory of the show’s protagonist, Elliot Anderson, played by Rami Malek. The film was made by the show’s director, Sam Esmail, and Chris Milk, the founder and chief executive of the virtual reality venture Within.” http://nyti.ms/2a1JI7c

2. HOW PLANNERS MAKE DISNEY WEDDINGS A REALITY: Disney is taking advantage of the increase in popularity of destination weddings with a package that lets couples get married at its parks. Through Fairy Tale Weddings, couples are making their weddings an actual Disney fantasy ending with the help of planners. USA Today: “Disney's weddings specialists offer one-stop shopping. Planners work with couples to help identify ceremony sites, reception venues, food and beverage options, entertainment offerings, and more. Because this is Disney, the entertainment isn't restricted to a band cranking out a wimpy version of Don't Stop Believin'. Couples and their guests could be treated to appearances by Mickey Mouse and his pals, medieval trumpeters, or a variety of sea creatures (at receptions held in Epcot's Living Seas pavilion) for example. Receptions could even include rides aboard Disney’s famous attractions. In addition to the wedding itself, the specialists can help with ancillary events such as rehearsal dinners and farewell brunches. They can also make travel arrangements for guests, including hotel reservations and park tickets. It's not just weddings, either. Disney has the whole coupling cycle covered with engagement, vow renewal, and honeymoon services available as well. Planners can even print invitations and sell brides a gown fit for, well, a princess. Some of the gowns, cakes, table settings, and other options are on display at Franck's Bridal Studio. It's located adjacent to Disney's Wedding Pavilion at Disney World. Named after Martin Short's wacky wedding planner character in the film, Father of the Bride, Franck's is where couples can go to meet with personal coordinators. The wedding pavilion, nestled along the banks of the Seven Seas Lagoon across from the Magic Kingdom, is where many couples choose to have their ceremonies at Disney World. A large window behind the altar offers a picture-perfect view of Cinderella Castle in the distance. Speaking of Cinderella, her horse-drawn royal coach can pick up couples after the ceremony and whisk them away to a number of reception locations throughout the vast resort.” http://usat.ly/29TE6NS

3. OLYMPIC TICKET PRICES MAY DECREASE FOR NON-BRAZILIANS: In a late effort to boost Olympic ticket sales, Rio organizers have made Brazil's local ticket website available to the people outside of the country. This move will allow non-locals to purchase much cheaper tickets because of changes in exchange rates. Associated Press: "Americans, in particular, could regret having bought early. Rio organizers reached an agreement more than a year ago with official ticket resellers outside Brazil - those who wanted to price in dollars - to use the exchange rate of 2.35 reals to the dollar. The rate is now about 3.25. On Thursday beginning at noon local time, Rio organizers will put 100,000 new tickets on sale. Rio ticket director Donovan Ferreti said this was likely to be the last batch. Ferreti said Rio has sold 4.4 million of the 6.1 million tickets available, or 72 percent. He said of the 4.4 million sold, 1.1 million have been bought by non-Brazilians. He said the largest five foreign buyers in order were: Americans, French, Argentines, Germans, and Japanese. He said he was not allowed to give specific numbers because of an agreement with the authorized ticket sellers. Ferreti said ticket sales 'are increasing each day' and he said Rio expects to meets its budget estimate of raising 1.045 billion reals ($320 million) through ticket sales." http://apne.ws/29T3pzS

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  The third annual Comedy Exposition festival, which celebrates independent stand-up comedy, runs today through Sunday at various venues including the Apollo Theatre, Lincoln Hall, and Schubas.

CLEVELAND:  The Society of Independent Show Organizers' fourth annual Event Innovation Battlefield will take place August 11 during the SISO Leadership Conference. Nearly 200 senior level exhibition and conference industry professionals will hear from and vote on one of five participating organizations: Grip, a tool for intelligent event matchmaking; InsightXM, a tool for business intelligence platforms for events; Stereo-Bot, a minimalist mass structure technology developer for events; ISL Strategy Labs, an Internet of things developer; and Beeper, a technology that transmits digital content to smartphones through sound waves.

DALLAS/FORT WORTH:  Rx Worldwide Meetings Inc., a life-science meeting management company based in Plano, recently launched Infinix Global Meetings & Events, which will expand internationally with offices in London and Singapore. A sampling of Infinix services includes site selection, on-site staffing, air ticketing, ground transportation coordination, speaker and entertainment selection, and hotel/venue management.

LOS ANGELES:  The third annual Airbnb Open will take place in various locations November 17-19. Guest speakers at the conference will include Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashton Kutcher, Union Square Hospitality Group C.E.O. Danny Meyer, and Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The Underline, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Transit/Metrorail will host a Pokémon Go campaign with a series of "PokéStops" along the future Underline urban space below the Metrorail. Participants that share content from the event using the hashtag #pokemongounderline will be eligible for a special giveaway from Friends of the Underline.

The seventh annual Coral Gables Food, Wine, and Spirits Festival will take place November 11-12 on Alahambra between Ponce de Leon and Salzado. The event will feature seven pavilions focused on various spirits, beer, and wine, and a food for sale area.

NEW YORK:  The 21st annual Harvest in the Square will take place September 22 in Union Square Park's North Plaza. The food and wine event will feature dishes made with produce from the Union Square Greenmarket paired with wines and microbrews.

Silent clubbing company Quiet Events will host its first-ever Quiet Clubbing Festival August 27 at the Coney Art Walls in Brooklyn. The headphone festival will feature nine live DJs, face pairing, fire twirlers, and LED robots and hula dancers.

Wellness in the Schools, a nonprofit that encourages healthy eating and fitness in public schools, will host its five-course Fall Harvest Dinner September 22 at Riverpark.

The newly renovated Kimpton Muse Hotel has appointed Bill Babis as general manager.

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  DoveCote, created by chefs James and Julie Petrakis, former French Laundry chef Clayton Miller, and wine industry veteran Gene Zimmerman is now open in the Bank of America building in downtown Orlando. The 5,000-square-foot space has seating for 184 people inside and 36 on the street-side terrace.

SAN DIEGO:  Urban Plates has opened its ninth restaurant in the La Jolla Village Square Shopping Center. The restaurant, which serves food made with sustainable ingredients, offers grass-fed steak, free-range chicken, California pole and line caught albacore tuna, and heritage Duroc pork ribs.

SAN FRANCISCO:  Carey Watermark Investors 2 has completed its $154 million acquisition of the San Jose Marriott. The 27-story hotel, which was built in 2004, has 510 guest rooms and 23,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Campus Safety Conference East will take place July 25-26 at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

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.

Feed the Sheet: [email protected]

Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily

Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]