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Lime Energy Completes LEED Certified Visitor Center Near Branson for Army Corps of Engineers

Joe Kleiman
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Huntersville, NC, USA /BUSINESS WIRE/ –Lime Energy Co. has announced the completion of their LEED Gold Design-Build-Exhibit Project at Table Rock Dam and Lake. The $10.4 million, Dewey Short Visitor Center encompasses 15,000 square feet with an emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainability and educational exhibits. The exhibits were developed to proactively engage the public in sustainability experiences that encourage a broader appreciation of the features and resources of the entire region. The new center is named in honor of Congressman Dewey Short, who was instrumental in the approval of the Table Rock Project – a 252 feet high, 6,243 feet long concrete dam which provides flood control for 4,020 square miles of the White River watershed and a 52,300 surface area lake next to the popular tourist destination of Branson, MO.

Lime Energy was awarded the design-build task order by the US Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, AL, through their Facility Repair and Renewable (FRR) Contract in May 2010. Through comprehensive master planning, multi-disciplinary design and the resulting construction of the visitor center, Lime Energy provided a whole-site solution that incorporated site drainage and storm water quality management via bio-swale (rain gardens), minimal site maintenance and zeriscaping (local natural landscaping). Internally, the center utilizes ambient daylighting, energy efficient lighting, recycled, non-toxic materials, water efficient fixtures, closed loop geothermal (water to water) HVAC and enhanced systems commissioning that ensures all building systems perform at an optimum level. “Lime Energy was cognizant from the onset of the Army Corp’s desire to not only construct a world class facility, but to incorporate truly sustainable, low maintenance and energy efficient practices into the on-going operation of the center,” said Deane Leidholt, Director of Operations. “To further contribute to the LEED Gold Design parameters, the building’s energy efficiency is 35% below current ASHRAE standards and 83% of our construction waste was recycled.”

In addition to the expected environmental and tourism impact, the two year project also provided another local benefit to the Branson and Springfield Communities. “The US Army Corps of Engineers and Lime Energy were determined to source materials and labor locally,” said Jim Smith, Executive Vice President of Lime Energy. “Over the course of the two year project, Lime Energy hired 40 local subcontractors whose 100+ workers put in 50,000 man hours of no-accident work to complete the center. This is further testament to Dewey Short’s reputation of a world class Visitor Center.”

About Lime Energy Co
Lime Energy is building a clean energy future. As one of the nation’s leading providers of clean energy solutions, Lime brings over 25 years of delivering economically viable efficiency and renewable energy solutions that benefit communities and protect the environment. Lime’s platform includes some of the energy industry’s most experienced professionals and an expansive geographic footprint with over 350 employees at 18 locations in North America. Lime Energy’s services include integrated energy engineering, consulting and the implementation of solutions that enable customers to reduce their facility’s energy consumption, lower their operating and maintenance costs and reduce their carbon footprint. The company’s stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol LIME. Additional information is available at www.lime-energy.com or by emailing [email protected].

The United States at Korea’s Ocean-Themed World’s Fair

Judith Rubin
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World Expo chronicler and enthusiast Urso Chappell previews the USA Pavilion at Yeosu Expo 2012 for IPM, below. 

Expo facts:
  • Dates: May 12 – August 12, 2012
  • Expected attendance: 8 million to 10 million, mostly from within Korea
  • Venue: New Port area in Yeosu, Korea
  •  Theme: The Living Oceans and Coast
  • Site: Area: 1.74 million ㎡ (Includes exhibition area of 250,000 ㎡ and auxiliary facilities) The site overlooks Hallyeosudo Marine National Park and Odong Island, and is surrounded by 317 islets.
  • Expo website: http://eng.expo2012.kr/main.html
  • USA Pavilion website: http://www.pavilion2012.org/

 

Philippe Cousteau, Chief Spokesperson

In the world of contemporary world’s fairs, there are two “sizes” of expos: the larger, “sanctioned” events like Shanghai’s Expo 2010 and the smaller, “recognized” ones like this year’s Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea – a relationship somewhat analogous to that between the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The classification system was developed by the organizing body, the Bureau International des Expositions, so that smaller cities in developed nations and larger cities in developing nations could participate.

The United States is an official participant in Yeosu’s ocean-themed world’s fair this year, under the administration of the US Department of State. The USA Pavilion (USAP) is a public-private partnership.

Andrew Snowhite, CEO

Unlike larger world’s fairs, in which most countries create their own buildings to house exhibits, these smaller expositions create large, shared spaces for foreign countries; in Korea, the International Pavilion of some 800,000 square feet will house the exhibits of 100+ nations. The result of this arrangement has a happy side-effect for those interested in telling stories: the focus of a pavilion is on its content and a nation’s participation is almost solely based on the interior presentation.

Related articles from InPark:

For a producer and designer, that challenge can be both daunting and exhilarating. Tasked by USA Pavilion 2012, LLC as the design contractors of the United States Pavilion (USAP) is Phil Hettema’s company, The Hettema Group (THG). THG has considerable credentials in masterplanning, design and production for large theme park operators such as Universal Studios and high-profile museum guest experiences, such as “Beyond All Boundaries” at the National World War II Museum in New

Robert Ward, Executive Producer

Orleans. The larger USAP team includes COO Mark Germyn, who was general manager of the USAP at Shanghai’s Expo 2010 (a significantly larger event), Thea Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and Executive Producer Bob Ward, Chief Spokesperson Philippe Cousteau and CEO Andrew Snowhite.


The USAP message

The pavilion of the US is always one of the most visited at a world expo. The USAP guest experience will distinguish itself by directly addressing relevant environment issues giving and by telling a personal story that expresses the expo’s theme, “Our Living Oceans and Coast.” According to Hettema, “We made a presentation that speaks directly from our people to an international community. We looked at different scenarios, but we chose a personal message.”

Phil Hettema of design firm The Hettema Group
To put a personal face on the American perspective, renowned explorer, and environmental advocate, and social entrepreneur Philippe Cousteau, Jr., grandson of legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau, will be the face and voice of the pavilion as the chief spokesperson, playing host to the pavilion’s guests in the context of the guest experience. Cousteau’s organization was chosen by the U.S. State Department to design, build and operate the USA Pavilion 2012.
While maintaining the American flavor and identity there was still a need to speak to the local audience – the attendees of a world’s fair are by and large from the host country and this is especially true for a smaller, regional expo such as Yeosu’s. Thought was given to such details as fonts and other visual styles and how a Korean audience perceives them.

The environmental issues specifically addressed in the USA pavilion are summed up in the phrase, “This is My Ocean. This is Our Ocean.” On screen, Americans from different parts of coastal areas will declare, “This is MY ocean.” By the end of the presentation, it will come together with this message “This is OUR ocean.”

Those few words, “This is My Ocean. This is Our Ocean,” comprise a large portion of the spoken words of the entire guest experience; the design strives for a universal format that minimizes language barriers.


The USAP design

The pavilion experience begins with a pre-show where a water curtain with projected images divides in two, allowing the audience to pass through to the main theater.

That main theater will show spectacular film footage on an 70-foot by 15-foot screen. Images from around the United States, some of it crowd-sourced from lay contributors, and some of it photographed on location, will all emphasize a personal connection to the oceans. Says Phil Hettema, “the subtext talks about the diversity of coasts and the extent of America’s coastlines. Entertainment and education are blended: “‘A major storm sequence will ‘shake the roof off the theater,'” Hettema adds.

Hettema continues, “We show that there are solutions out there. We show things the US is doing… marine protected areas, technology… something we all have to work together to do. We challenge the audience. The message is not ‘will we make a difference,’ but ‘what difference will I make?’”

The pavilion will also feature video greetings from Clinton and Obama as well as Chief Spokesperson Philippe Cousteau. Also included in the design are a VIP lounge and an area highlighting messages from the pavilion’s corporate sponsors.

From concept to fundraising to design development and construction, the USAP has taken shape in record time, a testament to the professionalism and experience of the USA Pavilion team. Says Hettema, “I believe that the USAP – and the expo as a whole – have the potential to be pretty spectacular.” 

Urso Chappell is the founder of ExpoMuseum.com and co-host of the World’s Fair Podcast. Expo 2012 will be his ninth world’s fair so far. He has designed for Nagoya’s Expo 2005, written for Shanghai’s Expo 2010 and Yeosu’s Expo 2012, and his photographs of expo mascots been featured in Shanghai’s Urban Planning Museum.


A Confederate Bomber in Mad Systems’ Court

Joe Kleiman
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by Joe Kleiman, IPM Online News Editor

(May 3, 2012) — The conquest of air and space has changed the world.  The diminishing time traveled between great distances has increased the exchange of ideas and development of technology.  Air has changed the footprint of war, and as seen in WWII, expedited its end.  What if history had taken a different path?  What if the airplane was invented fifty years before the Wright Brothers’ historic flight?  And what if it had been flown by Confederate pilots, who used them to bomb and decimate Union troops?

In the mid-1860’s, Dr. Roderick O. Davidson had such an idea.  It is said he tested a steam powered flying machine tethered to a train roaring down the tracks.  And when he approached Confederate leaders with the idea to produce a fleet of 500 bombers, he was given $1500 in Confederate currency and 12 weeks to build a working prototype.  After a windstorm destroyed what he had constructed, the idea was lost to history.

150 years later, National Geographic approached Mad Systems, an a/v integration and themed entertainment technology company whose clients include SeaWorld, Landrys Restaurants, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, to build a duplicate of the plane in three months, using as close to the original materials as possible, with the modern equivalent of Davidson’s 1864 budget.

Did they succeed?  Find out May 10 at 8:00 pm on the National Geographic Channel and follow a live twitter discussion @madsystems during the broadcast.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT HOW MAD SYSTEMS CREATED AN AIRBOAT RIDE SIMULATOR FOR THE FT LAUDERDALE MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE

Attendance at National WWII Museum Reaches Three Million

Joe Kleiman
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New Orleans, LA, USA (May 2, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — May Day arrived with fanfare at The National WWII Museum as the popular institution celebrated the three million mark in paid visitation since opening in 2000. John and Patricia Carver, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, were greeted by Museum President and CEO Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, Chairman of the Board Herschel Abbott, and Museum staff, marking the important milestone.

The Museum counted 2,696,106 visitors by the end of 2011, and in March, welcomed a total of 44,807 visitors, the most ever in a one-month period, and over 1,000 more than its previous record month, March 2010. By the middle of April, the number of visitors had increased to 2,983,723.

Related: Article on Beyond All Boundaries 4D guest experience, centerpiece of the National WW II Museum Expansion


“We’re thrilled to reach this milestone,” said Mueller. “Like the Superdome and other famous attractions, The National WWII Museum has become a significant economic driver for the city of New Orleans. Increased visitation means more hotel bookings, more restaurant meals and more employment for our city. It’s adding up to a strong recovery, and we’re glad to be helping our hometown.”

The Museum has been building furiously on its six-acre campus, located in the historic Warehouse District. Its latest exhibition space, the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, is scheduled to open in January 2013, shortly before the Super Bowl is played in New Orleans. Work has also begun on another new pavilion, Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters, which will open a year later.

All of this comes on the heels of the Museum’s 2009 addition, a complex with three major features: the Solomon Victory Theater, where the 4-D cinematic experience Beyond All Boundaries is shown; Stage Door Canteen, home of the famed Victory Belles singing trio; and The American Sector, a John Besh restaurant. These attractions and the new Kushner Restoration Pavilion and Soda Shop, which opened in 2011, have strengthened the Museum’s appeal.

The pace hasn’t let up since with steel rising on new construction sites, in line with a Museum campus master plan.

“We’re not doing it for us,” said Mueller. “We’re doing it for them – the veterans of World War II and the rest of the Greatest Generation. They are leaving us at the rate of 680 veterans a day. We want to complete the campus so those who are left can be welcomed to this marvelous tribute the American people built to honor the men and women who fought and, in many cases, died for our precious freedoms.”

The final phase of the Museum’s master plan calls for the construction of The Liberation Pavilion (scheduled for 2014) and an expansive special exhibits gallery. A proposed hotel, conference center and a parking structure, if built, will finish out the expansion.

The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National World War II Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter at WWIImuseum or visit our Facebook fan page.

EdgeWalk Opens For Second Season of Thrills On Outside of CN Tower Roof

Joe Kleiman
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EDITOR’S NOTE: CLICK HERE TO EXPERIENCE EDGEWALK WITH INPARK CONTRIBUTOR EDWARD WILLS AND PUBLISHER MARTIN PALICKI ON THE IPM EDITOR’S BLOG

TORONTO, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – EdgeWalk at the CN Tower, Toronto’s most extreme attraction opens to the public for an exciting second season at 12:00 noon on May 1. Adventure lovers will once again walk on the edge of one of the world’s greatest man-made wonders, 356m/1168ft (116 storeys) above the ground. Demand for reservations has been high since bookings began earlier this year. New for 2012, the experience can be booked online at www.edgewalkcntower.ca.

“During its first season, EdgeWalk lived up to and exceeded all expectations, achieving an enthusiastic local and international response,” said Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Canada Lands Company, Owner and Operator of the CN Tower. “Toronto’s newest and most thrilling attraction has quickly earned its place among the world’s greatest attractions.”

The first of its kind in North America, EdgeWalk is the world’s highest external walk on a building, a full circle hands-free walk on a 5 ft (1.5 m) wide ledge encircling the top of the CN Tower’s main pod. Thrill seekers walk in groups of six, while attached to an overhead safety rail via a trolley and harness system. Trained EdgeWalk guides encourage participants to push their personal limits, allowing them to lean back over Toronto with nothing but air and breathtaking views of Lake Ontario beneath them.

“We are inspired by the continued enthusiasm for EdgeWalk throughout our first season and leading up to our second,” said Jack Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of the CN Tower. “Often referred to as the ‘thrill of a lifetime’ and a ‘bucket list’ item, many embraced this unique experience for marriage proposals, milestone celebrations and more. We look forward to more great stories and unique feats during Season 2!”

EdgeWalk first opened to the public on August 1, 2011. Walkers as young as 13 and as young at heart as 90 experienced EdgeWalk. On November 8, 2011 EdgeWalk at the CN Tower was presented with the Guinness World Record for the “Highest External Walk on a Building”.

Designed with the highest international safety and security standards in mind, EdgeWalk runs 1.5 hours, with the outdoor walk lasting approximately 30 minutes. Tickets cost $175 CAD and include a keepsake video, photos and certificate of achievements. Participants also receive a Total Tower Experience Ticket. EdgeWalk operates seasonally from May to October in all weather except for electrical storms and high winds.

CN Tower
Defining the Toronto skyline, at a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches) , the CN Tower is Canada’s National Tower, an engineering Wonder and Toronto’s must see attraction visited by over 1.5 million people each year. 416-868-6937. www.cntower.ca

Canada Lands Company
CLC is a federal Crown corporation that optimizes the financial and community value obtained from surplus strategic properties no longer required by the Government of Canada. The company is self-financing and implements innovative property solutions to create strong and competitive communities wherever it operates. www.clc.ca

Toronto
Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, where Canadian culture is enriched by over 100 cultures found here. Toronto’s skyline includes CN Tower, glass skyscrapers juxtaposed with historic limestone facades. Miles of waterfront, parks and trails nestle with urban delights like cafés and one-of-a-kind shops. www.SeeTorontoNow.com

Historic Sahara Hotel to Be Transformed into SLS Las Vegas

Joe Kleiman
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Las Vegas, NV, USA  May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — sbe, an industry-leading hospitality, lifestyle and real estate development company, and Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC, a real estate investment firm, today announced that they have secured $300 million in new funding for the redevelopment of the Sahara Hotel & Casino into the highly anticipated SLS Las Vegas. The news of the funding marks a major milestone for Las Vegas and the north end of the Strip, signaling renewed economic growth for the community and the hospitality and gaming industries.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC raised the funds in less than two weeks, underscoring investor confidence in the project and in sbe’s track record of operating successful hotel, restaurant and nightlife brands. The redevelopment is anticipated to create thousands of local jobs beginning in the next two years.

“We see the northern end of the Strip as the future of Las Vegas, and we’re pleased to be positioned at the forefront of that growth,” said sbe Founder, Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian. “Las Vegas has recovered steadily in the past year, and we’re excited to be able to inject capital back into the local economy through the adaptive reuse of the famed Sahara.”

”This is yet another positive step for the SLS Las Vegas development,” said Terry Fancher, Executive Managing Director of Stockbridge Capital Group. “This project brings a new energy level to the north end of the Strip and will help drive the continuing economic rebound in Las Vegas.”

“Las Vegas is the premier tourist destination in the world and our hotels and accommodations are like no other. The redevelopment of the iconic Sahara hotel will continue this tradition and bring new life to the north end of the Strip,” added U.S. Senator Harry Reid. “I thank Sam for his work on this important project that will create thousands of jobs and help Nevada’s economy.”

“Today’s news will make an immediate and positive impact in Las Vegas, infusing hundreds of millions of dollars into our economy and creating thousands of jobs,” Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval said. “I commend Sam and his partners for their confidence in our state and I wish him and his team success as they redevelop this property.”

The SLS Las Vegas will be created in a high style collaboration between Nazarian, renowned design icon Philippe Starck and James Beard award-winning chef Jose Andres. The property will be Starck’s first Las Vegas resort and his largest hospitality project to date. Once complete, SLS Las Vegas will feature an all-encompassing, mixed-use resort and casino with more than 1,600 guest rooms and suites and a collection of sbe’s acclaimed restaurant and nightlife brands.

“Ultimately, we’re taking our proven brands and re-imagining them for SLS Las Vegas in a manner that makes them accessible to a broad audience,” added Nazarian.

Applying sbe’s approach to adaptive reuse of existing properties – as evident with SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, The Redbury and SLS Hotel South Beach – SLS Las Vegas will offer a true boutique resort experience on the Strip.

In addition to the funding, sbe named hospitality and gaming industry veteran Rob Oseland as President and Chief Operating Officer of SLS Las Vegas. Oseland was formally with Wynn Resorts. In his new role, he will work in conjunction with Nazarian and sbe to develop and launch SLS Las Vegas.

“Rob brings more than two decades of development, gaming and marketing expertise at the highest level to SLS Las Vegas,” Nazarian said. “His leadership and talents have made Rob a valued member of the Vegas community, and his contributions to sbe will be instrumental to our success.”

“I’m thrilled to be working with sbe to usher in the next era in Vegas,” said Oseland. “Together, we’re developing SLS Las Vegas as an integrated resort and gaming destination that will re-energize the north end of the Strip.”

Oseland’s hiring comes on the heels of the Clark County Commission’s recent permit approval of redevelopment plans for the property. sbe enlisted Gensler Architects, an award-winning global architecture firm, and Las Vegas-based PENTA Building Group to assist in the redevelopment of the property.

In recent years, the influx of ultra-luxury brands to the Strip began to limit the general consumer’s accessibility to dining and entertainment diversions. With this in mind, sbe will create a guest experience at the SLS Las Vegas that is just as accessible as it is appealing.

“We’re seeing demand for a different experience – a refreshing, fun and accessible take on Vegas luxury – and the hospitality brands that we’ve developed over the years lend themselves very well to the classic timelessness that Vegas has always been known for,” said Nazarian. “With SLS Las Vegas, we’re bringing those brands to the Strip and creating a refreshing new experience that’s designed for everyone.”

Once complete, SLS Las Vegas will feature an imaginative mix of sbe brands, including The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Katsuya by Starck, a reinvention of sbe’s original nightlife concept, Shelter and new brands currently in development.

With a thriving hospitality footprint in Los Angeles and beyond, sbe has been able to harness the global appeal of Southern California and Hollywood to help fuel its rapid growth and critical acclaim.

In the past 18 months, sbe has launched a widely popular new hotel brand in Hollywood, The Redbury, opened two of Los Angeles’ top rated new restaurants, Cleo and Mercato di Vetro, and has expanded the Katsuya brand nationwide to Houston, San Diego, Orange County and Miami. In the nightlife world, sbe has launched The Sayers Club and Greystone Manor, which have become Hollywood’s most exclusive destinations, as well as announcing a partnership with the Miami Heat to open Hyde AmericanAirlines Arena later this year. Crowning the recent surge in growth is SLS Hotel South Beach, set to open in the coming weeks.

“The sbe platform has allowed us to create a new vocabulary in lifestyle hospitality, with a seamless integration of hotel, restaurant, nightlife and entertainment through one voice,” added Nazarian. “With Los Angeles being Vegas’ number one feeder market, we’re anticipating SLS Las Vegas will resonate powerfully with a clientele already familiar with our brands and uncompromising level of service.”

To learn more about sbe, please visit sbe.com.

ABOUT SBE:
Founded in 2002, Los Angeles-based sbe brings exquisite balance to the worlds of hospitality, real estate development and entertainment. As a privately-held company founded and helmed by Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian, sbe acquires, develops and manages exceptional projects through its divisions – Hotels, Restaurants, Nightlife and Real Estate. With a mission to redefine the standards of excellence in hospitality, sbe has harnessed the creativity and innovation of the best minds in the business, including design visionary Philippe Starck, with whom the company has an exclusive agreement for the creation of hotels, restaurants and lounges in North America. As the cornerstone of its synergistic approach, sbe has also completely rethought and reimagined the luxury hotel experience. sbe debuted its luxury hotel brand, SLS Hotels, with the Fall 2008 opening of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, which has won international acclaim and numerous awards. In May 2012, sbe will unveil the SLS Hotel South Beach in Miami. In 2010, sbe launched its second hotel brand, The Redbury, located in the heart of Hollywood. Also in the sbe Hotel collection is the Four Points by Sheraton LAX. sbe’s Restaurant and Nightlife Groups constantly stay ahead of the curve, creating and expanding trend-setting concepts, which currently include 8 Katsuya locations (Hollywood, Brentwood, Downtown at L.A. LIVE, Glendale, Laguna Beach, Houston, San Diego and Miami), The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Beverly Hills and Miami, Cleo, Gladstones, Papaya King, Mercato di Vetro, 6 Hyde Lounge locations (Sunset, STAPLES Center, Mammoth Mountain, Miami, Bellagio Hotel & Casino and AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami), The Abbey Food & Bar, Greystone Manor, The Colony, MyHouse, MyStudio, Eden, Crimson, East and The Sayers Club. Recently, sbe established a strategic marketing partnership with MGM Resorts International, which unites MGM’s M Life and sbe’s PREFERRED PARTNER programs. In December 2010, Colony Capital, led by Founder, Chairman and CEO Thomas J. Barrack Jr., partnered with sbe through a minority investment focused on the national and international expansion of sbe’s award-winning hospitality platform. In July 2011, sbe invested in Umami Burger, named “Burger of the Year” by GQ magazine, to fuel the burger brand’s national expansion.

ABOUT STOCKBRIDGE CAPITAL GROUP
Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC (together with its affiliates, “Stockbridge”) is a real estate investment management firm which had approximately $4.5 billion in real estate and real estate-related assets under management as of December 31, 2011. Stockbridge’s investment portfolio comprises more than 30 million square feet of existing office, industrial, retail, hospitality and residential properties throughout the United States. In addition to real estate ownership, Stockbridge also specializes in large-scale development and redevelopment projects.

Stockbridge is headquartered in San Francisco with offices and personnel in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. For more information, please visit www.stockbridgerealestate.com.

Final Four Contenders From NBC’s The Voice to Perform at Universal CityWalk’s New Five Towers Stage

Joe Kleiman
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Universal City, CA, USA (May 2, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — Universal CityWalk‘s® “5 Towers” state-of-the art concert venue welcomes the Final Four of NBC’s blockbuster vocal competition show, “The Voice,” for a live performance at 10:30am on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The special one-time concert in Los Angeles invites fans to Universal CityWalk to cheer on their favorite performer. “The Voice” winner will be announced next Tuesday, May 8.

CityWalk’s new interactive outdoor concert venue will serve as the energetic backdrop to showcase the leading vocal artists from celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. The artist lineup set to command the stage at “5 Towers” include Kansas native Chris Mann for Team Christina, Florida native Juliet Simms for Team CeeLo, Connecticut native Tony Lucca for Team Adam, and New York native Jermaine Paul for Team Blake. Competing to be named “The Voice” in Season 2 of the hit show, each of the final four artists will perform one song on the “5 Towers” stage and the performances will be streamed live to Facebook, NBC.com and at the NBC Experience Store in New York.

First to christen the “5 Towers” stage in July 2011 was none other than CeeLo himself paving the way for the first-of-its kind outdoor concert venue with fan immersive features and next-generation technology. The Music Spotlight Series held this spring at “5 Towers” featured Billboard chart-topping talent Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as an eclectic and impressive lineup of local homegrown favorites including The Thomas Nicholas Band, Midnight Red, and Cherri Bomb, to name a few.

“We are so excited to have the finalists from ‘The Voice’ here at the 5 Towers on CityWalk,” said Pat Donahue, Director of CityWalk Entertainment. “While we’ve hosted established recording artists like Flo Rida, Good Charlotte and Justin Bieber, we also have a strong commitment to supporting emerging artists. It’s a great privilege to provide up-and-coming talent with an outstanding, state of the art venue to do what they love to do – which is to play great music and entertain the masses!”

Before the final four contestants were announced, the eight semi-finalists recently were treated to a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of Universal Studios Hollywood’s epic, new thrill ride, Transformers™: The Ride-3D, set to open officially on May 25, 2012.
More information on Universal CityWalk’s upcoming events is available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com. Artist announcements and “5 Towers” concert venue events can also be found on Twitter @CityWalkLA and Facebook-Universal CityWalk Hollywood.

Universal Studios Hollywood (SM), The Entertainment Capital of L.A.(SM), includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena. World-class rides and attractions include the intense, award-winning new ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons Ride™,” “Revenge of the Mummy(SM) —The Ride” indoor roller coaster and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride,” as well as the much-anticipated mega-attraction, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” opening in May 2012.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of the Universal Parks & Resorts division of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE (NYSE: GE) holding a 49% stake.

About NBC’s “The Voice”
“The Voice” is a vocal competition show featuring celebrity musician coaches Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Carson Daly hosts and serves as producer, and Christina Milian serves as social media correspondent. The show’s innovative format features three stages of competition: the first begins with the blind audition, and then the competition enters into a battle phase, and finally, the live performance shows. In the end, each coach will have one star artist left ready to compete against the other teams’ finalists to be named “The Voice” – the winner will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.

“The Voice” is a presentation of One Three Inc. (a Hearst/Mark Burnett company), Talpa Media USA Inc. and Warner Horizon Television. The series is created by John de Mol, who executive-produces along with Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Stijn Bakkers and Lee Metzger.

Dolly Parton Returns to Dollywood for 2012 Homecoming

Joe Kleiman
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Pigeon Forge, TN, USA — Dolly returns to Dollywood Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, for the park’s annual Dolly’s Homecoming celebration.

Dolly makes several surprise appearances throughout the park both days as well as a daily park tour (weather permitting). Don’t miss your chance to see Dolly as she greets folks throughout the park.

The weekend’s festivities also include the Dolly Parade at 6 p.m. on Friday on the Pigeon Forge Parkway where Dolly serves as the grand marshal! Make your plans now to join Dolly at Dollywood May 11 and 12.

www.dollywood.com

Tracy Sarris Promoted to CMO at Alpha-Omega/AEM

Joe Kleiman
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East Brunswick, NJ, USA — Frank Seninsky, President/CEO of Amusement Entertainment Management (AEM) and Alpha-Omega Amusements & Sales, has announced that Tracy Sarris, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Alpha-Omega Group of companies, was promoted to the position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

“Ms. Sarris will be responsible for the development of promotional strategies and plans for our respective companies,” said Seninsky. “This will include generating and maintaining public interest in the company’s services and products, while overseeing the day-to-day marketing operations. Sarris is analytical, creative, and knowledgeable in a variety of disciplines, such as communications, information technology, and finance. This makes her an ideal choice to assist our team in expanding and moving our companies forward in the marketplace.”

As CMO, Sarris will coordinate the production of public relations, media, promotions and advertising in order to ensure the organization’s message is distributed across channels and to targeted audiences in order to meet objectives. She will be responsible for strategic planning and development, branding, market research, customer service and sales management across industry markets.

Joe Camarota, COO of Alpha-Omega and partner of AEM, added, “As our Industry continues to evolve, especially in its effort to align itself with new media venues and the opportunities that they present, Tracy will prove to be a valuable asset for our team and our industry as a whole.”

Since joining the company in 2010, Sarris has been actively promoting Alpha’s and AEM’s marketing programs and educational endeavors, maintaining the design and distribution of The Redemption & FEC Report, creating new print and e-publications, writing for various trade publications, marketing exclusive distributor partnerships and expanding the overall communication efforts for the companies.

“I am looking forward to strengthening our position in the market and increasing sales through successful promotion of the entire organization,” said Sarris. “This will include seeking out new ways to deliver our message, such as the internet, mobile devices, video and social media. I am very lucky to be working with an industry icon like Frank Seninsky, who has become my mentor and has provided me the opportunity to meet and work with some of the best and brightest leaders in the business. In my expanded role, I will be fortunate to work with AEM’s additional partners, Jerry Merola and Joe Camarota as we look at new ways to effectively communicate to the industry the superior service and quality that comes when working with companies like AEM and Alpha-Omega Amusements & Sales, which have been leaders in the consulting, entertainment and game reconditioning/sales business for over 43 years.”

Alpha-Omega is a certified, recognized distributor for most game manufacturers, offering the highest quality and greatest selection of new and fully reconditioned amusement games and attractions that include redemption, merchandising, video and novelty games. They have an experienced and professional staff of 25 multi-talented individuals who can assist you in choosing equipment (taking into account your needs, demographics, and targeted group), provide immediate support and service, and provide a full range of consulting services including conceptual design and layout. They offer financing solutions, sales agreements with extended warranties and weekly analysis for 5 years and guaranteed trade-ins. (www.AlphaOmegaSales.com).

Amusement Entertainment Management, LLC, offers a full range of consulting services, including early-stage feasibility analysis, business plan development, funding assistance, and conceptual design and layout services. They assist their clients with the design and development of new-age bowling venues, family entertainment centers, waterparks and amusement parks on a worldwide basis. Amusement Entertainment Management, LLC provides expert advice for family entertainment center site and attraction selection, financial modeling, business plan creation, operational programming, as well as “hands on” attention to employee training and technical support. (www.AEMLLC.com).

ProSlide Tornado Descends on Saudi Arabia

Joe Kleiman
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ProSlide Tornado, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Valencia, CA. Courtesy Valley Iron.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — ProSlide is very proud to announce that Stationery Fantasies Water Park in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is the latest location to be installing the ProSlide TORNADO™. This project marks the first ProSlide TORNADO™ in Saudi Arabia and continues the momentum and growth of ProSlide Water Rides in this region. The TORNADO™ was the clear choice when Stationery Fantasies set out to select an expansion ride for their Water Park.

Now with over 70 installations Worldwide, the TORNADO™ is the original, highly engineered extreme funnel ride that produces a weightlessness sensation no other ride can match! Once complete it will exhilarate guests with its 180 ̊ loop, 45 ̊ drop and translucent fiberglass sections will give passersby a glimpse of the rafts just prior to the plunge!  

This announcement comes just after a very successful DEAL tradeshow in Dubai, UAE where ProSlide showcased award winning water rides and the future plans of water ride development. ProSlide is very excited about the continued growth in this region and plans to open many other industry-defining water rides and complexes in the upcoming months.
 
For 25 Years ProSlide Technology has created the world’s most award-winning, fiberglass water rides for the waterpark, theme park and resort industries. ProSlide is uniquely focused on product development and innovation, producing visionary designs and inventive water rides. ProSlide has the industry’s best planning, design, engineering and installation expertise, creating the highest caliber rider experience. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with multiple international offices, ProSlide has thousands of installations in over 45 countries worldwide. Visit www.proslide.com for further information.

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