Smartphone maker Alcatel Onetouch in Irvine signed on as the exclusive mobile handset and VR accessories partner of Live Nation Worldwide Inc.’s Ones To Watch, a Los Angeles-based “collective of bloggers, music geeks and concert fanatics” dedicated to discovering and presenting new artists.
Alcatel also is sponsoring three national Ones To Watch tours featuring the bands Kaleo, Against the Current and Mindless Behavior. The first tour kicked off Sept. 13 at Vortex Dome in Los Angeles, with brand ambassadors for Alcatel’s IDOL 4 smartphone on-site helping fans check out virtual reality goggles that are now available.
“Ones To Watch is an awesome platform and provides us the opportunity to introduce fans across the country to the Alcatel and IDOL 4 with VR experience,” said Steve Cistulli, president and general manager for Alcatel North America, a unit of TCL Communication in China, which posts annual sales of more than $5 billion.
Ride in Style
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London and Smythson of Bond Street to offer “a first-class experience and a stress-free, sophisticated way to navigate” London—a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Ghost—to travelers booking a suite for two nights or more at The Beaumont Hotel, The Wellesley or ME London. The guest also gets a complimentary breakfast and a Smythson Panama leather wallet.
The Chicago-based independent hotel brand, which keeps an executive office in Newport Beach, represents more than 650 hotels in 85 countries.
It recently wrapped up the Family Travel Truth photo contest on Instagram that highlighted “the unpredictable and chaotic moments that go hand-in-hand with family travel.” Consumers posted their “unfiltered” family moments for a chance to win a two-night stay at one of the brand’s family-friendly luxury hotels and 25 Instagram photo prints from Artifact Uprising.
Nonprofit Facelift
Easterseals Southern California in Orange this month launched a multiyear, organization-wide rebranding effort. It debuted a sunburst-style orange logo signifying “rays of hope” and “the optimism infused into Easterseals’ work supporting individuals to strive and reach their full potential,” according to the nonprofit organization, which provides resources for people with disabilities. Its new slogan, “Taking on disability together,” alludes to its “collaborative work with community partners, civic leaders, and the individuals and families they support.”
The local chapter is part of Chicago-based Easterseals, which worked with New York-based Siegelvision to develop the logo and tagline. Easterseals Southern California board member Andre Filip and his agency, EverythingLA in Irvine, assisted with brand refinement and social media campaign support.
Diamonds in the Rough
Lugano Diamonds in Newport Beach returned as the official jewelry and broadcast sponsor of the Third Annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show, held over the weekend in New York. The deal included a Lugano Diamonds Jump in the arena and a Lugano Diamonds Boutique in the VIP Pavilion, according to Stuart Winston, the brand’s chief marketing officer and executive director of retail.
Bits & Pieces
Costa Mesa-based South Coast Plaza’s fall lookbooks showcase its “luxe perspective on the season’s best styles from Paris, London, New York and Milan runways.” Portfolio and Men’s Portfolio were photographed by Diego Uchitel and Arnaldo Anaya-Lucca. … The Wienerschnitzel hot dog chain, part of Galardi Group Inc. in Irvine, is celebrating Oktoberfest and its “sort-of German” roots with the return of grilled bratwurst served in a pretzel bun. … Sports 1 Marketing Corp. in Irvine signed a five-year deal with Elite Events and Tournaments LLC in Temecula to host “Sports 1 Marketing Virtual Gift Bags” at some 5,700 golf events and tournaments per year.
