For Earth Day, a Call to Action for Every Event Pro, Plus How This Traditional Annual Gala Became an 'UNgala'

1. HOW HOTELS ARE BOOSTING GREEN INITIATIVES: As climate change continues to be a hot button issue, hotels and resorts across the globe have been elevating their sustainability efforts. Initiatives have included saving coral reefs, saving water and energy, and repurposing waste and preserving food. The New York Times: “The 114-room Conrad Bora Bora Nui resort in French Polynesia has developed 17 different underwater coral structures around its resort with the mindset to regenerate them. This is done using a “Biorock” technique (passing a low-voltage current through electrodes in the water) developed by the marine biologist Denis Schneider. The process is currently considered among the best ways to fight coral mortality. … The Spectator Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, recently established a food waste diversion program where half-eaten food items such as fruit and pastries are put into a digester that turns them into reusable water. ‘From the program’s initial launch in August 2018, the hotel has diverted over 11,234.5 pounds of food waste from landfill while creating 944 gallons of water,’ said the general manager Carlo Carroccia.”

2. NEW YORK MUSEUM CANCELS EVENT HONORING BRAZIL’S FAR-RIGHT PRESIDENT: The American Museum of Natural History in New York has dropped a gala honoring Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro. Environmental organizations urged the event to be moved from the museum because of the president’s position on rolling back environmental protections. NPR: “The museum had rented the gala space to the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce for its annual Person of the Year Awards Gala Dinner. Previous honorees have included Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg. … Employees also voiced their concerns about the event to management. On Monday, the museum put out a joint statement with the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. ‘We jointly agreed that the Museum is not the optimal location for the Brazilian-Am. Chamber of Commerce gala dinner,’ it said. ‘This traditional event will go forward at another location on the original date & time.’ It's not clear where the May 14 dinner will be held, though the chamber's website says it will happen at an ‘upscale venue’ that will be announced soon.”

3. FYRE FEST BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE SUBPOENAS NETFLIX AND HULU: Gregory Messer, a federal trustee managing the Fyre Festival bankruptcy, has issued subpoenas for Netflix and Hulu, inquiring how the streaming platforms obtained exclusive footage. Both streaming platforms released documentaries about the failed event in January. Messer also is looking into a $464,283 transfer to ticket resale company StubHub, a $453,423 payment to Vivid Seats, and a $275,000 transfer to founder Billy McFarland's mother, Irene McFarland. Billboard: “The subpoenas represent more than $2.1 million in payments to nine individuals and companies, including $220,000 to Fyre investor Carola Jain and her husband, Robert Jain, a former managing director at Credit Suisse. Since January, Messer has issued six rounds of subpoenas representing $13.5 million in wire transfers, a little more than half of the $26 million he is trying to recover for Fyre Festival's senior creditors. His latest round came Tuesday night and was partially approved by United States bankruptcy judge Martin Glenn earlier Wednesday (April 17). The Hulu and Netflix subpeonas are still pending.”

LOS ANGELES: Duran Brown is the new director of global publicity for Red Bull Records. He has previously worked in communications, marketing, and events for Pandora, Adidas, and Universal Music Group.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Level Three, a new event venue at Aventura Mall, has named Sheril Henney director of sales and marketing. Henney previously was director of marketing and events at Modern Luxury Media.

NEW YORK: Brooklyn Designs, an event showcasing furnishings, lighting, and home accessories from Brooklyn-based designers and manufacturers, will take place May 10-12 at Brooklyn Navy Yard. The event will have an American Design Club pop-up market, live demos by the Textile Arts Center, and a keynote by architect Claire Weisz.

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: Ed DiAntonio, the complex director of catering and event management for Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, has received the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers’ honorary Doctorate of Foodservice Award. Gary Bruckner, the resort’s meeting and events manager, has earned the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (C.P.C.E.) designation from the National Association for Catering and Events.

TORONTO: The 25th annual NXNE, a music and gaming festival, will take place June 7-16. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the event will have an expanded festival village on Yonge Street.