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By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 8/27/13 10:14 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The inconveniences of the daily routine in the nation's capital will be a selling point as Washington, D.C., makes a push to host the 2024 Olympics. "We are the safest and most secure city in the world," said Bob Sweeney, president of DC 2024. "The largest expense of any Olympic Games is security, and the fact that we've got it pretty built in to our everyday life here in Washington, we would leverage that asset tremendously to put on this high-profile event." Sweeney announced Tuesday the formation of a nonprofit group aimed at making D.C. the first American city to host the Summer Games since Atlanta in 1996, and the first to host an Olympics since the Winter Games were held in Salt Lake City in 2002. The bid has a long way to go. Washington was one of 35 U.S. cities to receive a letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee to gauge interest, and Sweeney expects about 10 to step forward...

Los Angeles Times JetBlue Airways, the low-cost New York-based carrier, will begin vying for big-spending business travelers with the introduction next spring of upper-class seats. The airline, which until now has offered only economy seats, will install new lie-flat seats and private suites on transcontinental flights on the highly competitive routes between Los Angeles and New York and San Francisco and New York. JetBlue is not skimping on comfort. The new seats added to Airbus A321 planes will have adjustable firmness, a massage function, a 15-inch wide-screen television  and a "wake-me-for-service" indicator if the flier decides to sleep. The private suites will include a closeable door for privacy. The airline plans to dedicate 11 planes to serve the two transcontinental routes, with expansions along the same routes and the addition of lie-flat seats on other routes, depending on demand, the airline said. "Transcontinental routes have had high premium...

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will add a new process allowing more U.S. citizens to enroll in TSA PreCheck , an expedited screening program that allows pre-approved airline travelers access to a more efficient security checkpoint experience. Once enrolled in PreCheck, fliers can leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belt, keep their laptop in its case and their 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on in select screening lanes. Previously, to be eligible for TSA PreCheck, travelers had to opt-in through an airline’s frequent-flier program, or to register in one of CBP’s Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS Trusted Traveler programs. To date, more than 12 million travelers have already experienced TSA PreCheck at 40 airports nationwide. Starting later this year, U.S. citizens will be able to apply online and visit an enrollment site to provide identification and fingerprints.  TSA will launch the expanded program a...

by Michael C. Lowe | July 03, 2013 The Los Angeles City Council has voted to allow Anschutz Entertainment Group to run the city's convention center, the first time in its 42 years of operation that it will be managed by a private company, according to the Los Angeles Times. The vote came amid concerns from local hoteliers that AEG would have an unfair advantage in filling its hotel rooms while booking conventions (it owns the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotel complex near the convention center). However, according to AEG officials, hotel bookings would primarily be handled by the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, a nonprofit organization that operates separately from AEG. In June, Pennsylvania-based SMG challenged the pending appointment of AEG, claiming the company didn't have enough experience to run the facility. That challenge was dismissed by the city council. The management company will be paid $250,000 as an annual management fee and can qualify for anothe...

RECENT INFINITY EVENTS PROJECTS   The  IEI  Spotlight:    VEX ROBOTICS 2013 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Anaheim, CA April 24, 13 Over 7000 middle school, high school and college students from 24 different countries traveled to Anaheim CA, along with their parents, friends and their robots to compete in the 2013 Vex  Robotics Competition World Championship at the Anaheim Convention Center on April 17 - 20, 2013. This event was a massive undertaking, led by the Robotics Education Competition Foundation who tapped  INFINITY EVENTS inc  as the event management company. Also attended by countries from as far as Jordon, Bahrain, Brazil, China and Japan, this three day event is literally the robotics and technological equivalent to the Olympic games complete with a Parade of Nations kicked off by Art Attack, A Live Speed Artist who created a live 10 minute speed painting of a robot  as each country took the stage proudly carrying their na...

After making its  long, complicated, and controversial journey  to Los Angeles, space shuttle Endeavour's public exhibition is now open. The shuttle, which flew a total of 25 missions from 1992 to 2012, is in a temporary housing at the California Science Center, where it will remain for about five more years. At that time, the shuttle will be relocated into a new, permanent air and space wing at the museum, which will house the shuttle in takeoff position with its twin solid rocket boosters and external tank attached.

What's New in  OC / Southern California   The Anaheim Convention Center Grand Plaza, a 100,000 square foot outdoor multi-use area designed for outdoor enjoyment and meeting space, officially opened on Saturday, Jan. 12, with a  ribbon-cutting ceremony and a free concert by the Orange County Symphony, Anaheim's resident symphony orchestra. Located off Convention Way at Harbor Blvd., the Grand Plaza creates a pedestrian esplanade that spans from the entrance to the Anaheim Convention Center and flows between the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Marriott hotels. The Grand Plaza provides a uniquely Southern California outdoor environment that can be utilized year-round for a wide variety of events. The pedestrian plaza includes 151 palm trees (more than half of the palm trees in the new design were re-purposed from the existing landscape), 60 orange trees reminiscent of Anaheim and Orange County's citrus industry, a river of lights that will run throu...

Ok...enough about Robb. Now that voting has closed for the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards and we no longer have to endure  another reminder to vote for Robb, let's direct our attention back to what really makes Robb good at his job, and that is finding the absolute best talent possible and somehow managing to convince them to join the team at Infinity Events! We are excited to announce that Lucy Montoya Roberts has joined the team as Senior Account Executive.   Ms Montoya Roberts brings over 20 years of event management experience to the team working with Fortune 500 companies including: The Professional Golfers’ Association, Freeman, KIIS-FM Los Angeles,   Washington Mutual, Deloitte & Touche, Old Navy, Daisy Rock Guitar, The Anaheim CVB, LA CVB, NAMM Show, Comic-Con, Paramount Studios and Marvel Comics. With Lucy’s tenure producing and managing high profile events, this elevates the INFINITY EVENTS' dynamic in producing an unparalleled ex...

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