| 1. HONG KONG UNREST TAKES A TOLL ON EVENTS: The event industry is the latest casualty of the prolonged protests in Hong Kong. An upcoming major airline conference co-hosted by Cathay Pacific Airways Inc. just pulled up stakes, which follows cancellations by a Pride parade, sports tournaments, an international tattoo convention, and many more. Fortune: “The government last month announced incentives to provide relief for the tourism industry, including handing out about HK$100 million ($12.8 million) to travel agencies, but the continued loss of public and corporate events and the rush of violence is stoking concern that Hong Kong’s situation is set to worsen. ‘What we are witnessing is very worrisome,’ lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said.” 2. VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW CANCELED: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has been canceled for this year, and possibly for good. The lingerie firm’s parent company, L Brands, announced the decision Thursday, citing a move to “evolve the messaging of [the company].” The move follows months of speculation, and the lowest ratings ever for the show in 2018. Fortune: “While the show was, at one time, a pop culture event, it has been losing viewers over the past few years. C.F.O. Stuart Burgdoerfer, while heralding the show as a ‘remarkable marketing achievement,’ downplayed its financial impact of late, saying ‘as timing over the years shifted, in terms of airing the fashion show, did we see specific material impact in terms of a short-term sales response to the airing of the fashion show? As a general matter, the answer to that question is no.’” 3. FYRE FESTIVAL CO-FOUNDER JA RULE CLEARED OF WRONGDOING:Rapper Ja Rule, co-founder of 2017's disastrous Fyre Festival, was cleared earlier this week of any legal wrongdoing around the event, ending a $100-million lawsuit filed by festival attendees. New York City southern district judge P. Kevin Castel said plaintiffs were unable to prove that Ja Rule’s promotion of the event on his social media pages directly led to festivalgoers’ ticket purchases. The Guardian: “Two years after its disastrous staging, legal proceedings against the festival and its organizers rage on. The festival is regarded as the ultimate 'Millenial scam' of recent years, its fallout the focus of Netflix and Hulu documentaries. More than 5,000 people purchased tickets to the weekend-long event in 2017, expecting a luxury experience featuring high-octane shows from Major Lazer, Desiigner, and others on a private island. It was to be an Instagram-ready party. But what attendees actually received were cold cheese sandwiches, hastily constructed tents to sleep in, rain-soaked mattresses, and a logistical nightmare.” 4. FASHION EDITORS TAKE A STAND FOR SUSTAINABILITY: Maxed out on free clothes, makeup samples, and more, fashion editors have sent a plea to industry publicists asking them to edit the amount of swag they send, and to vastly dial back on packaging for the gifts. The letter was crafted by a group of fashionistas during a recent industry breakfast, and posted to the social media accounts of all those in attendance. They wanted to take a stand before the holiday season, when their desks become mountains of freebies. WWD: “‘In an effort to reduce excess, we, in the fashion community, are seeking a mindful awareness this holiday season (and beyond!). We urge PR agencies and brands to refrain from blind gifting and using excessive 'unboxing' materials,' the letter said. ‘Thoughtful packaging, as well as advance notice, choice of product, or the option to respectively opt out of gifting would be appreciated as we set the intention to shift industry norms.’” 5. AIRBNB ANNOUNCES OLYMPICS SPONSORSHIP: Home-sharing giant Airbnb on Monday announced it will sponsor the Olympic Games for a nine-year partnership, including both Airbnb Experiences and home-sharing. Set to conclude with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the deal was worth $500 million, according to some media outlets. Adweek: “This wouldn’t be the first time Airbnb partnered with a sporting organization. In 2018, the home-sharing service teamed up with the World Surf League, introducing more than 75 surfing-related Airbnb Experiences across its platform. The partnership with the Olympics would similarly center on Airbnb’s Experiences, according to Sports Business Daily.” | 