By Gail Sawyer

ASM Global announced that Rod Pilbeam, one of the founders of the business now operating as ASM Global (APAC) will step back as COO to a part-time role as from July this year.

Pilbeam and Harvey Lister first went into business together in the mid-1970s presenting concert tours around Queensland and New South Wales and took on their first formal venue operation at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Brisbane in 1982. Forty years later, the company today employs some 20,000 people in 40 venues across the Middle East, East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand as part of the 350+ venue network of the world’s largest venue management and event programming company, ASM Global.

During that period, Pilbeam has been in the thick of the company’s development both in its existing contracts and undertaking consulting projects that often led to new management opportunities.

With a strong background in marketing and promotion, Pilbeam has extensive experience in dealing with the challenges faced by promoters and producers as well as venue operators, and the interface between them. He has been a strong fighter for maintaining the integrity and the public’s perceptions of the live event marketplace, particularly in relation to the fair availability of tickets and the suppression of scalping. He also worked on the development of Live Performance Australia’s Ticketing Code of Conduct.

“I am gratified to have had the opportunity to be part of the development of a strong entertainment business that provides a lot of pleasure for many people in the communities we serve, as well as the business outcomes that are so important for venue owners, artists, performers, players, presentation professionals, and the myriad of others who make this business work,” Pilbeam said. “At ASM Global, we have teams of the best professionals in our industry focused on delivering successful outcomes for all stakeholders.

“I have also had the opportunity to make great contacts around the world who have provided extraordinary assistance and often enduring friendships throughout my career. My wife Judy and I are keen to rekindle some of these relationships now that COVID has eased.”

A former President of the Venue Management Association (Asia & Pacific), Pilbeam also served on the World Council of Venue Management, the International Association of Venue Managers, the International Ticketing Association, and the Public Venue Management School in Australia. He has served as a member of the Executive Council of Live Performance Australia, the entertainment industry employers’ association.

In 2013, the Venue Industry recognised him as its Professional of the Year.

ASM Global (APAC) Chairman & CEO Harvey Lister AM said, “Rod and I met in 1973 when working for hit music station 4IP and from there we launched into the live music industry.”

Together they progressed into the professional management of venues at the very start of that trend when there were few precedents either in Australia or internationally – so they effectively had to make it up as they went along and established the policies and procedures that, to this day, are the hallmark of ASM Global’s commercial management reputation.

“Rod’s contribution to the growth of our business, and to the maturing of the venue industry, is immeasurable,” Lister added. “Rod is simply a giant of our industry with achievements too many to mention but, above all, he is a great friend and mentor to all who have worked with him.

“We have enjoyed a great business partnership where we shared the same business morals, stuck to what we believed were the right things to do and our thoughts were so aligned that Rod and I can still finish each other’s sentences – even after nearly half a century in one of the most challenging sectors of the events industry.

“Rod will continue to be my great friend and we are so fortunate that, in stepping back from those 80+ hour working weeks, Rod has agreed to transition to be our Group Director of Venue and Event Innovation – two of his enduring passions, maintaining his presence in the APAC Regional Headquarters in Brisbane.”

One of the group’s most senior venue professionals, Bob O’Keeffe AM, GM at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre for nearly thirty years, will take up the role of COO – Venue Operations for ASM Global (APAC) as well as continuing in the newly-created role of CEO at BCEC.

Separately, and on a continuing basis, Pilbeam is the Acting Chair of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Gail Sawyer is Group Communications Manager – ASM Global (Asia Pacific).

From salinapost.com

A changing-of-the-guard takes place at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, Kansas, as OVG360 (formerly Spectra Venue Management) announced two internal promotions.

Kasey Hanney has been promoted to general manager. Hanney joined TPEC in 2019 as the events manager and was promoted to director of events in July 2020. In that role, she increased convention booking sales and worked to streamline processes for both conventions and ticketed events. Previous to TPEC, Hanney was the premium events manager at Sporting Kansas City, and general manager of a local restaurant for six years.

“It has always been my dream to become a general manager of a venue, especially one with so much potential for growth,” Hanney said. “As I move forward in the role of general manager, I can say that I am deeply grateful and proud to represent a strong brand like OVG360, and excited to lead the amazing team at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.”

Outgoing Tony’s Pizza Events Center General Manager Susan Trafton has accepted the position of assistant general manager at the Budweiser Events Center, effective June 20. The Budweiser Events Center at The Ranch Events Complex, located in Loveland, Colorado, is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose venue which opened in September 2003 and is home to the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. The arena, which is owned by Larimer County, is a multipurpose facility which hosts hockey, basketball, football, family shows, rodeos, diverse concerts, and trade shows.

Trafton, who was the director of sales & marketing, was promoted to general manager at TPEC in 2018. She has helped attract new touring content, conventions and trade shows to Salina, oversaw multiple remodeling projects, and helped secure two naming rights sponsorships for the facility.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to grow within OVG and move to a bigger market,” Trafton said. “However, I would be remiss if I didn’t say it’s a little bittersweet. Salina is a wonderful community and I truly appreciate all the support I have received while working here. I am so proud of what our team has accomplished and will continue to support them in years to come.”

By Molly Rosenberg

Entertainment consulting company Venue Coalition announced Aaron Thomas will be joining the company as Vice President of Booking. In his new role, Thomas will focus on servicing the company’s 100+ member venues across North America, assisting them with national and regional booking as well as providing them strong advocacy within the touring industry.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the team at Venue Coalition,” said Thomas, who most recently served as Director of Booking for Columbus Arena Sports and Entertainment (CASE). “As a client for many years, I know first-hand how valuable Venue Coalition’s services are to independent venues. I’m really looking forward to representing all the members across the US and Canada, and to drive more first-class content into their buildings.”

Thomas’ career in live events started in audio engineering and music production. In 2011, Thomas was named Production Manager at The Schottenstein Center in Columbus where he oversaw all concert productions and systems integration for the arena. He held this position for eight years while adding larger touring concerts at Ohio Stadium to his roster. In early 2019, Thomas was promoted to Director of Production with the added responsibility of Event Management. That same year, he was again promoted to Director of Booking for CASE where he oversaw booking for The Schottenstein Center, Nationwide Arena, and Ohio Stadium. He served as the primary contact for all arena requests, including schedules for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ohio State Athletics.

“We are excited to add Aaron to our talented team,” said Andrew Prince, President of Venue Coalition. “His experience in Columbus booking and managing events at venues with capacities ranging from a 2,500-seat theater to over 100,000 at Ohio Stadium, including two 20,000-seat arenas, has provided him with a deep understanding of what it takes to secure and present successful shows at all levels. He is highly regarded, and his strong relationships within the industry will be a great benefit to all our members as we continue to grow”.

Molly Rosenberg is Director of Administration and Special Projects for Venue Coalition, Inc.

By Sarah Burt

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)’s Maxine Mcintyre has been named Venue Professional of the Year at the VMA’s Venue Industry Awards for her pivotal role in delivering COVIDSafe events throughout the pandemic.

The Awards recognises career excellence and those contributing to the industry as a whole.

McIntyre was responsible for developing the MCEC VenueSafe Plan which is designed to operate a safe environment with scalable control measures to ensure all employees, visitors, customers, and contractors remain safe and healthy.

“Maxine has played a crucial part in delivering COVIDSafe events throughout the pandemic in her role as VenueSafe Advisor,” said Peter King, Chief Executive of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. “Her consultation and collaboration with government and customers have seen her become a respected industry expert on delivering events in the new world we find ourselves in.

“She has implemented various infection control mitigation strategies throughout MCEC’s event spaces and utilised technology to deliver best practice in health and safety while also educating others in the industry to do the same.”

“The pandemic was a catalyst of change for me personally and professionally and my priority was to provide confidence and advocate for a safe return to business where venues had been almost dormant for two years,” McIntyre said.

“There was a need within the business that no one had foreseen, and I jumped at the opportunity to own the VenueSafe advisor role. Through much research, trial and error, and liaising with the best minds in our industry, I reimagined how we could work and provide the best experience for our customers.”

MCEC Manager Meetings and Events Courtney Jorgensen was also nominated for the Young Achiever of the Year Award, recognising and promoting up-and-coming venue professionals and their valuable contribution to the industry.

Sarah Burt is Corporate Communications Specialist for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

By Liz Lytle

accesso Technology Group plc, technology solutions provider for attractions and venues worldwide, has established a new integration with PayPal to offer additional online payment flexibility for clients of its award-winning accesso Passport® eCommerce ticketing solution.

accesso first integrated PayPal into the checkout process for accesso Passport online ticketing system users worldwide in 2014. Now, through an expanded collaboration, accesso Passport client venues can offer PayPal’s popular “Pay Later” options to guests: “Pay in 41,” which allows eligible guests to pay for a purchase in four, interest-free payments over six weeks; and “PayPal Credit2” – a digital credit line that offers six months of special financing on purchases of $99+. The integration is currently live, available to accesso Passport clients at no additional cost.

The fully hosted accesso Passport eCommerce ticketing suite powers online ticketing for leisure and entertainment operators around the globe, facilitating an exceptional eCommerce experience for guests on any device while boosting revenue through delivery of strategic up-sell and cross-sell prompts. The mobile-first solution also empowers guests to plan their day with ease, allowing them to purchase anything they may need for their visit – from tickets and parking passes to dining packages and stroller rentals – with a few easy clicks.

“At accesso, we are always seeking new ways to increase conversions, maximize cart values, and enhance the guest experience for our clients,” said accesso Director, Global Payments Michael Wiggins. “Through this new integration with PayPal, our partners are able to remove the barrier of an all-in, up-front cost for guests, broadening access to higher value offerings.”

Liz Lytle is Brand Communications Manager for accesso.