How This Gala Put Its Honorees Front and Center at a Milestone Event, Plus Out-of-the-Box Conference Ideas From the Canadian West

1. CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO PLAGUE THE CRUISE INDUSTRY: Many passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise, which is quarantined off the coast of Japan, have fallen ill. At least 135 people aboard the ship are sick with the virus, nearly double the amount of affected passengers reported previously. Concern over cruises is rising to a fever pitch. USA Today: “The cruise ship is one of several affected by the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has prompted cruise lines to issue quarantines and perform screenings onboard. Meanwhile, some ports are denying at least one cruise ship entry over fears of the virus. The coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, has spread across the globe with more than 42,763 confirmed cases and 1,013 deaths as of Monday evening.”

2. OSCARS SCORE WORST RATINGS IN THE SHOW’S HISTORY: Despite buzz around the ceremony all day on Monday, viewership for Sunday’s telecast of the 92nd annual Oscar Awards hit an all-time low. The program suffered a sharp decline from last year. The Hollywood Reporter: “The three-hour-plus kudocast averaged about 23.6 million viewers and a 5.3 rating among adults 18-49, well below the 29.56 million and 7.7 for 2019's awards ceremony—which aired two weeks later in the year. The Oscars were down 20 percent year-over-year in viewers and 31 percent in the key ad-sales demo of adults 18-49.”

3. FRANKLIN GRAHAM’S ANTI-L.G.T.B.Q. VIEWS PROMPT UK VENUES TO CANCEL APPEARANCES: A tour of the United Kingdom planned by Evangelical preacher Franklin Graham is in jeopardy after all eight venues booked for the talks have canceled the events. The locations cited Graham’s strong anti-L.G.B.T.Q. stance as the reason for the cancellations. NBC News: “Graham promised to file lawsuits against seven of the eight venues for allegedly breaching signed contracts. He also vowed to find new venues for his Graham Tour, which originally was set to start in late May ... A petition started by advocacy group Northern Pride that called for ending Graham's U.K. tour garnered nearly 6,000 signatures as of Friday.”

BOSTON: Mandarin Oriental, Boston is undergoing a renovation of its guest rooms, spa, fitness center, and event spaces. It is slated for completion in April.

LOS ANGELES: Celebrity chef Massimo Bottura has revealed that he will soon open an outpost of Gucci Osteria, his Michelin-starred restaurant in Florence, at the Gucci boutique on Rodeo Drive, according to Eater. Bottura, who also is at the helm of Osteria Francescana, another Michelin-starred eatery in Italy, appeared in Netflix’s Chef’s Table series.

NEW YORK: New York Society of Association Executives has announced that Alan Steel, president and C.E.O. of the New York Convention Center Operating Corp., which runs the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, is the Synergy Awards 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He will accept the inaugural prize May 13 at N.Y.S.A.E.’s Synergy Award luncheon at the Harvard Club.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has tapped Jim Curtis as director of sales and marketing. A 30-year veteran of the industry, Curtis most recently served as area director of sales for Omni Hotels & Resorts, overseeing efforts for the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate and five other properties around the country.

SAN ANTONIO: Undergoing a $36 million renovation, the upcoming Marriott San Antonio Airport hotel has brought Mark Vilagi on as general manager. A hospitality industry veteran of 30 years, Vilagi is expected to oversee the hotel’s transformation from a Holiday Inn.