INDUSTRY NEWS 

ATLANTA: UNLOQ404, the inaugural creators summit designed to empower established and up-and-coming content creators, will make its grand debut in Atlanta on Oct. 14 at Overtime Elite Arena. This summit, presented by UTA and produced by Crown + Conquer, aims to be a game-changer for young talent looking to "UNLOQ" and elevate their passion for content creation into a successful brand and thriving business. The one-day summit is expected to attract more than 1,000 diverse creators and is sponsored by Chase, Instagram, and Pinterest, with Lyft as a ride-share partner. 

LAS VEGAS: Legacy Club at Circa Resort & Casino will bring both elegance and mystery to Halloween weekend with an adults-only Masquerade Party on Oct. 28. Guests are invited to wrap themselves in glamour and mystery and join other spirited partygoers atop the 60th floor for an evening of "haunted elegance and hidden identities." A live band will play as guests enjoy cocktails at the open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Unique masquerade masks will be given to all attendees to help create the perfect spooky atmosphere. Tickets to the party are $150 per person plus LET tax.

ORLANDO: Last week marked the official start of Brightline’s passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami. The first train, Bright Pink, arrived in Orlando Sept. 22 at 11:05 a.m. and was greeted by more than 500 elected officials, business leaders, community partners, and company leaders from across the state. This marks the revitalization of Henry Flagler’s original vision for the Florida East Coast Railway. A decade in the making, Brightline’s launch aims to reinvent train travel in America and offers a blueprint to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. 

RALEIGH, N.C.: The City of Raleigh announced that it has selected Omni Hotels & Resorts to develop a highly anticipated convention hotel in the core of downtown Raleigh, expected to open in 2027. This 550-room convention hotel will transform the Raleigh skyline and economic landscape. This will be the third Omni property in the state of North Carolina and the first for the capital city. 

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.: The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa will welcome renowned pumpkin artist Ray Villafane and a team of former Food Network pumpkin-carving champions to host two pumpkin-carving classes on Oct. 8. The workshop does not involve sharp carving tools and is safe for people of all ages to learn how Villafane crafts his work by hand. Tickets start at $60 and include all carving materials for one of the two-hour live guided instructions. There are no age restrictions to participate.