August 1, 2016: Rio’s Waters Still Pose Major Health Risk for Athletes and Tourists, Disney Parks May Start Tracking Guests With Their Feet, How Ralph Lauren Prepares for the Olympics

1. RIO’S WATERS STILL POSE MAJOR HEALTH RISK FOR ATHLETES AND TOURISTS: A 16-month-long study has found that the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are still very toxic, posing a danger to athletes in water sporting events and tourists perusing the city’s beaches. Associated Press: “The AP's survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution, a major black eye on Rio's Olympic project that has set off alarm bells among sailors, rowers and open-water swimmers. The first results of the study published over a year ago showed viral levels at up to 1.7 million times what would be considered worrisome in the United States or Europe. At those concentrations, swimmers and athletes who ingest just three teaspoons of water are almost certain to be infected with viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses and more rarely heart and brain inflammation - although whether they actually fall ill depends on a series of factors including the strength of the individual's immune system. nd the AP investigation found that infectious adenovirus readings - tested with cell cultures and verified with molecular biology protocols - turned up at nearly 90 percent of the test sites over 16 months of testing. ‘That's a very, very, very high percentage,’ said Dr. Valerie Harwood, Chair of the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida. ‘Seeing that level of human pathogenic virus is pretty much unheard of in surface waters in the U.S. You would never, ever see these levels because we treat our waste water. You just would not see this.’ … While local authorities including Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes have acknowledged the failure of the city's water cleanup efforts, calling it a ‘lost chance’ and a ‘shame,’ Olympic officials continue to insist Rio's waterways will be safe for athletes and visitors. The local organizing committee did not respond to multiple requests for comment, though it has previously said bacterial testing conducted by Rio state authorities has shown the aquatic venues to be within state guidelines. The crux of the issue lies in the different types of testing used to determine the health and safety of recreational waters.” http://apne.ws/2atmC5V

2. DISNEY PARKS MAY START TRACKING GUESTS WITH THEIR FEET: In a bit of an unusual move, the Walt Disney Co. has applied for a patent on a machine that will gather photos of shoes of its theme park guests to collect data and better customize park visits. Los Angeles Times: “The patent is described as a ‘system and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience.’ But Disney representatives say there are no current plans to use it in a theme park. The patent describes a machine that takes photos of visitors’ feet as they enter a theme park and pairs the photos with demographic information given voluntarily, such as name, age or hometown. Later in the park, another camera aimed at shoe level can identify a person at a ride or eatery based on the earlier foot photo. Disney can use this information to let costumed characters greet a visitor by name or make it easier to identify a person on a ride and send the visitor photos or videos of the visitor on the an attraction, according to the patent. Customer data is crucial in the theme park industry because it helps parks track the movement of visitors, making it easier to deploy workers to busy attractions and stores and determine preferences for marketing purposes. At Walt Disney World in Florida, people who stay in a Disney hotel or have an annual pass can get a wristband with a microchip that can be used to enter the park, buy food, store fast-passes for attractions and open a hotel room door.” http://lat.ms/2aIOsAl

3. HOW RALPH LAUREN PREPARES FOR THE OLYMPICS: As the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic team, Ralph Lauren manages to outfit 600 athletes and around 200 coaches over the course of four days at the brand’s processing center in Texas. The New York Times: “It’s a challenge unlike any other, said David Lauren, vice president for global advertising, marketing and corporate communications for Polo Ralph Lauren. The Rio Games are the fifth time the brand has clothed the United States Olympics and Paralympic teams. Unsurprisingly, given the occasion and the label’s being built on a foundation of preppy sportswear, the uniforms are jaunty, conservative and as patriotic as Betsy Ross: gold-buttoned navy blazers worn over a striped T-shirts (formal collared shirts and ties were considered and abandoned in view of the temperature, predicted to be in the 80s on Friday); slim-cut white selvedge jeans; red, white and blue boat shoes; navy grosgrain belts; and striped cotton bracelets. For the closing ceremony, the blazers will be bypassed and the jeans replaced by shorts. In casting about for ways to ramp up the clothing’s patriotic symbolism without falling afoul of strict International Olympic Committee guidelines discouraging ostentation, the Polo Ralph Lauren team seized on the ubiquitous (and modish) notion of incorporating wearable technology into its designs. Both the team patch affixed to the breast pocket and the letters U.S.A. on the blazer’s yoke will have electroluminescent panels powered by an interior battery pack. Initially, the notion was to electrify the whole team, but an Olympic committee hoping to attract the 2020 Games to the United States quashed the idea.” http://nyti.ms/2a9VXir


* INDUSTRY NEWS *

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has named Jen Acerra as vice president of global brand research and insights, and Heather Geisler vice president of creative and field marketing.

* LOCAL NEWS *

CHICAGO:  The 58th annual Chicago Air and Water Show, presented by Shell Oil Products and the City of Chicago, will take place August 20-21 along Lake Michigan.

Latin fusion restaurant Carnivale will launch a new food truck in late August. The truck will go to various neighborhoods in Chicago and be available for private event catering. 

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA:  This year's Market America International Convention will take place Thursday to Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum. More than 23,000 retail entrepreneurs are expected to attend, according to organizers. Celebrity speakers at the event will include TV personality La La Anthony and rapper Fat Joe.

LOS ANGELES:  The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announced that single tickets are now on sale for all performances in the 2016/17 season.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Dustin Ward of BLT Prime Miami and Sean Brasel of Meat Market were named the team winners of Iron Fork 2016, which was held July 28 at AmericanAirlines Arena. This year, the event had teams of two competing against each other, instead of individual chef contestants. An oyster-shucking competition was also added to the event this year.

NEW YORK:  Secret Summer—a farm-to-bar cocktail, food, and music festival—will take place August 14 at the Foundry in Long Island City. Produced by HighLife Productions, the event will feature a ping-pong garden, a Kentucky bourbon tasting room, and a Polar Seltzer lounge.

Riu Plaza New York Times Square, which opened in March, has launched a restaurant called Fashion, which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is led by chef Randy Chalas, and will have mostly American cuisine with some traditional Caribbean food on the menu.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Main Street Restaurant Week runs through August 13 (technically two weeks) in the city's eight "Main Street" districts. Nearly 50 restaurants are offering prix fixe lunch and dinner menus.

TORONTO:  International modern and contemporary art fair Art Toronto will take place October 28-31 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The inaugural Bud & Burger Battle will take place Thursday next to Nationals Park in the Capitol Riverfront. Participating restaurants will compete live, and guests will be invited to sample burgers from all of the finalists. Tickets include event admission as well as unlimited samples of burgers and beer.

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

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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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