By Nancy Walker

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by ASM Global, announced the facility’s “Roadmap to Recovery” has been awarded a Platinum MarCom Award for Strategic Communications in the Communications and Public Relations category of “Crisis Communication Plan or Response.”

LACC’s Roadmap to Recovery: We’ll Meet You There is a strategic 41-page action plan developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is designed to assist event planners as they produce their events through the eventual reopening of the facility. The LACC’s Roadmap to Recovery can be found on the LACC website.

MarCom Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talents exceed a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. There were over 5,000 entries from 20 countries in the MarCom Awards 2020 competition.

“We are thrilled to be recognized at the platinum level for this prestigious award,” said Ellen Schwartz, General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Effective communication with our partners and stakeholders is of paramount importance as we navigate this challenging environment.”

Adds Carisa Norton, VP of Event Services for the LACC, “In the best of times, our clients and contractors require comprehensive information from our team to plan their future events. In these most unusual times, it is even more crucial to provide specifics on how to create a safe environment. Winning this award demonstrates we are committed to successfully communicating these details.”

The Los Angeles Convention Center was the first convention center on the West Coast to be awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation on outbreak prevention, response and recovery. Additionally, the LACC strictly adheres to the ASM Global VenueShield Program ensuring facilities are clean and certified at the highest standards for the safety and health of our co-workers, clients and guests. Communicating the information and protocols that make up these two programs was the basis for the award-winning LACC’s Roadmap to Recovery: We’ll Meet You There strategic plan.

Nancy Walker is Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

By Nadia Vanderhoof, MA

The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando has announced the launch of its new state-of-the-art digital broadcast center for hybrid conventions and tradeshows, the OCCC Executive Studio.

Conventions and trade shows of every size can access digital equipment solutions to produce innovative and scalable hybrid events. Developed in partnership with LMG, the OCCC’s on-site preferred audiovisual partners since 1998, the OCCC Executive Studio will allow customers to execute their event remotely, while connecting to their audiences, speakers, and presenters through extraordinary audiovisual experiences.

“The OCCC is excited to provide a variety of custom and unique virtual solutions for our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “Our expertise in leading safe conventions, combined with our customer service excellence and innovative technology offerings, makes the OCCC Executive Studio an ideal venue for hybrid events.”

From extensive conferences to board meetings, the OCCC Executive Studio options will allow clients to host their event remotely using flexible and interactive tools that integrates both new and familiar technologies. With an in-depth knowledge of the facility and a state-of-the-art equipment inventory, the OCCC can connect organizers with LMG, preferred audiovisual partner of the OCCC, to broadcast an array of educational and breakout sessions, alongside other virtual needs.

The OCCC Executive Studio will be based out of the Lecture Hall in the West Building of the Center and features classroom-style seating to accommodate a physically distanced audience, while providing a customizable canvas for lighting, AV and digital solutions. This offering includes a fully equipped studio that combines the benefits of the venue’s space and the audiovisual company’s virtual solutions. The studio will be available for booking starting early 2021.

“Our mission is to go beyond technology by providing innovative solutions through an unparalleled approach to quality, service and support,” said President and CEO of LMG Les Goldberg. “Producing an immersive convention from a virtual reality environment with your content is easily within reach at the OCCC Executive Studio.”

Meeting planners will also have the option of using the Linda W. Chapin Theatre, which has a 97,000-watt audio system, extensive in-house lighting offerings and a full proscenium stage with fly system. The cutting-edge Destination Lounge, in the North-South Building, is also available for use as a virtual studio and provides a technology-focused sophisticated environment – perfect for any forward-thinking virtual meeting. For more information about booking the OCCC Executive Studio, visit www.occc.net.

Nadia Vanderhoof, MA, is Marketing and Communications Manager | Marketing and Communications Division at the Orange County Convention Center.

By Zack Yohman

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced a marquee partnership with SeatGeek that will see the technology platform take over as ticketing provider for all future events at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. SeatGeek’s fan-first approach will provide attendees with a new, dynamically-expanded experience, while delivering additional tooling to help further ensure a safe return to live, ticketed events at the FieldHouse.

As the new ticketing provider for Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, SeatGeek will take over ticketing all games for the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Cleveland Monsters (AHL), Cavs Legion (NBA2K), as well as concerts and other events that come through the venue, which is one of the busiest in the country. In addition, SeatGeek will ticket all Canton Charge (NBA G League) games at the Canton Civic Center in nearby Canton, Ohio.

SeatGeek’s best-in-class technology is already loved by fans across the country, making it easier than ever before for fans to purchase tickets and attend the events they love. From a uniquely simple purchase and transfer flow, to an app-based personalized gameday experience that allows fans to do everything from book a ride to the game to purchase food and beverage from their seats, SeatGeek is constantly focused on innovating the fan experience.

“SeatGeek has a similar DNA to our organization – we both put the fan experience above everything else,” said Cleveland Cavaliers President of Business Operations Nic Barlage. “We believe technology is a core part of our future as well, and SeatGeek is an ideal partner to bring an elevated, dynamic and safe experience to our fans as events return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.”

With hundreds of events a year, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is the busiest arena to partner directly with SeatGeek, which currently tickets many global teams and venues including the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Sounders, State Farm Stadium, Liverpool FC, and many West End theatres in London. In addition, SeatGeek has partnered directly with the National Football League and Major League Soccer.

Outside of the fan benefits, the teams and performers coming through Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will find a suite of services to help them enhance their events and maximize revenue. Tools like real-time analytics, seating chart heatmaps and customizable mobile tickets will make it easy for the Cavaliers, Monsters, promoters, and event operators to manage the many events taking place. In addition, SeatGeek’s suite of COVID-19 response solutions – SeatGeek Adapt – will help fans safely return to events with tools that help maintain social distancing throughout the venue, understand COVID-19 attendance protocols, and more.

“As someone who grew up in Cleveland and attended hundreds of Cavs games as a kid, it’s a highlight of my career to now get to work alongside the team and city that I love,” said SeatGeek CEO and Co-Founder Jack Groetzinger. “I know how passionate the fans are in Cleveland, and I can’t wait to get back to a game using SeatGeek’s platform.”

Zack Yohman is Director of Business & Strategic Communications for Cavaliers Operating Company, LLC.

by Mary Klida

Claude Molinari, general manager of ASM Global/TCF Center, announced TCF Center is among 10 companies, projects and individuals receiving a 2020 U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership Award.

The annual awards recognize exceptional work advancing sustainable, healthy, resilient and equitable buildings, cities and communities. USGBC presented the award on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. EST during the closing event at the annual Greenbuild Virtual conference. TCF Center is the only convention center in the United States receiving the award this year.

The 2020 recipients represent leaders who are driving the adoption of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) across business portfolios, higher education and green affordable housing, as well as helping to advance Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, resilience planning and innovative waste management solutions. TCF Center has been growing its green initiatives for a decade. By organizing its green event program and sustainable operations protocols the venue continually adapts to the global advancements in facility and event sustainability.

“We realize that the TCF Center is an economic engine for the Detroit community,” Molinari said. “We take this responsibility seriously and do everything we can to include the local and event communities in our efforts to hit as many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as we can each year, reducing our carbon footprint and enriching the lives of residents and visitors.”

TCF Center is a 2.4-million-square-foot convention center in downtown Detroit that achieved LEED Gold in October 2019 under LEED v4.1 O+M. It is one of only a few convention centers in the world to certify under that rating system. TCF is a high-performing green building, and the team is dedicated to ongoing performance measurement through Arc. It invests in educating employees, vendors, customers, partners and visitors on its efforts and the importance of sustainable practices.

The center is also a steward of human health and in response to this year’s pandemic, was designated an alternate care site where it remains prepared to provide medical care space for the overflow of local Detroit hospitals. It continues to clean and sterilize PPE for local hospitals, has distributed 2.5 million pounds of food to the local Detroit community from its docks in partnership with Food Rescue US and is periodically a site for Red Cross blood drives as needed.

For more than a quarter century, USGBC has been defining global standards for designing, constructing and operating healthy, resilient and sustainable buildings and spaces through LEED. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and promotes strategies that reduce environmental impact, enhance human health and support economic development. USGBC’s Leadership Award recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business, and contribute to a better future for all.

The USGBC said in a statement, “This year’s Leadership Award recipients are a model for how LEED and other sustainability practices can be used to improve communities, support business, and contribute to a better future for all.”

Mary Klida, is Senior Marketing & Communications Manager for TCF Center.

Marina Jaramillo is passionate about and finds deep fulfillment in working in the Ticketing Industry. Whether it’s building shows, managing on-sales, greeting customers, implementing policies and procedures, or traveling to assist other venues; she relishes the opportunity to provide a positive experience to promoters, guests, and employees.

Having worked at an array of venues, she takes pride in being courageous and innovative with each new task various markets bring. Like many, she doesn’t believe she chose the dream of working in the entertainment industry, rather the dream chose her. Marina strives to perpetually impact the future of the Ticketing and Event Industry by driving strategy and innovation.

“After a challenging few months, being named to the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 was a positive reminder that hard work and determination always matter in the long run to accomplishing and achieving your goals.”

Join your Foundation in congratulating Marina on being honored as one of the 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2020 and don’t forget to come back each Thursday as we spotlight another honoree!