Powerhouse SFX Special Events Makes Debut SFX Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live events, last month announced the creation of SFX Special Events, a consortium of event production companies that will offer talent buying, client services, technical production, venue management, and theme and graphic design. The new company comprises Bill Graham Presents (San Francisco), Cellar Door Companies (Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Concert/ Southern Promotions (Atlanta), Contemporary Group (St. Louis), Don Law Agency (Boston), Pace Enter-tainment (Houston) and Sunshine Promotions (Indianapolis).
SFX Special Events is under the direction of Steven Schankman, co-president of Contemporary Group, according to Contemporary Group vice president Craig Leitner. SFX Special Events will soon open offices and add staff in New York and Los Angeles, Leitner tells Special Events Magazine.
"We're a very entrepreneurial group of people," Leitner says. "In the past, we were all competitors; now, we're brothers and sisters." While declining to give specific revenues, Leitner says, "we have the potential for significant gross sales in 1999 and 2000."
At present, he says, SFX Special Events is one of five finalists vying to produce the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
SFX Special Events (national sales office)
900 N.E. 26th Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954/561-3100; fax: 954/566-5009
Who's New-The Resort at Summerlin Making its debut in late June, The Resort at Summerlin is Las Vegas' first off-Strip luxury resort, according to its developers. On 54 acres about 25 minutes northwest of McCarran International Airport, the property includes a 40,000-square-foot spa, 11 acres of private gardens and pools, and the Regent Grand Palms and Regent Grand Spa hotels. The two hotels combined offer 541 guest rooms and suites. Guests enjoy access to preferred tee times on seven courses at five area golf facilities. The Resort at Summerlin is managed by Las Vegas-based Seven Circle Resorts, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss Casinos of America, the majority owner of Summerlin. The hotels are operated under license from Regent International Hotels of Minneapolis.
The Resort at Summerlin
221 N. Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89128; 702/869-7777 Web site: www.resortatsummerlin.com
Bonus Bags Workers, Study Shows Nearly three out of five American companies now use signing bonuses to recruit mid-level managers in the food industry, according to Management Recruiters International, Cleveland. Of the 3,800 hiring executives queried, 58.7 percent said they use sign-on bonuses-traditionally a perk of upper management-to attract both mid-management and professional candidates. Nearly 94 percent predict that this practice will continue or increase in the next six months.
MRI named the historically low unemployment rate as the driving force behind the sign-on bonuses.
Management Recruiters International
200 Public Square, 31st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114
Web site: www.mrinet.com
