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More than 40,000 guests expected at Newport Beach Film Festival
Local eateries, restaurants, hotels take part in eight-day event.
By Kristen SchottPublished: April 21, 2009 02:43 PM
The Newport Beach Film Festival kicks off on Thursday at Fashion Island, and many restaurants, hotels and retailers in the city, as well as the surrounding county, are taking part in the event. Some 42,000 people are expected to attend the 10th annual festival, which over the next eight days will showcase more than 400 films from some 30 countries, along with nightly special events, post-screening receptions and conversations with filmmakers.
And in a tough economic year such as this, the revenue that’s expected to come as a result of all that activity could have a welcome impact on Newport Beach, and perhaps even the county. The festival is seeing its largest restaurant participation in history, according to event co-founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk. He says restaurateurs more than ever are aware of the reach and audience the festival brings to the community. Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau agrees, saying restaurants get good business because of it.
About 22 restaurants are participating in this year's Opening Night Gala, as opposed to about 12 last year. The same rings true for the Closing Night Gala, which has about 12 restaurants, as opposed to eight in 2008. And, according to Schwenk, the festival is seeing more participation from restaurants in other areas of Orange. Among them: Sutra in Costa Mesa; Beach Pit BBQ, which has locations in Costa Mesa, Tustin and Anaheim; and Kimera Restaurant and Lounge in Irvine. Newport Beach eateries include Wonderland Bakery, Bayside Restaurant and Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.
And more filmmakers are planning to stay longer this year than previous years, says Schwenk. And that means good business for local hotels. Island Hotel Newport Beach – the official hotel of the event – The Balboa Bay Club & Resort and Hyatt Regency Newport Beach are among the resorts offering special discounts and packages to festivalgoers.
With the festival taking place in and around Fashion Island, many retailers at the center are getting in on the action as well. The upscale retail shopping destination is hosting the Opening Night Gala in its center courtyard and has been a sponsor of the festival for the past 10 years. According to Fashion Island's Senior Marketing Director Laura Davis, the center appreciates the uptick in awareness of Fashion Island – and Newport Beach – the festival brings.
Fashion Island's Design Within Reach, Ligne Roset and Original Penguin are among the stores offering pre- or post-film screening parties. And 35 merchants are also participating in the Newport Beach Film Festival's 10th Anniversary Rewards Card program, which offers discounts and gifts with purchase to festival attendees.
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Related headlines
'OC METRO Minute,' April 21: Newport Beach Film Festival's impact
'OC METRO Minute,' April 16: Corporate Video and Film's documentary of Newport Beach Film Festival
'OC METRO Minute,' April 9: Wonderland Bakery designs cake for Newport Beach Film Festival
OC MENUS: Kimera, Bayside, Bistango join in Film Festival fun
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And in a tough economic year such as this, the revenue that’s expected to come as a result of all that activity could have a welcome impact on Newport Beach, and perhaps even the county. The festival is seeing its largest restaurant participation in history, according to event co-founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk. He says restaurateurs more than ever are aware of the reach and audience the festival brings to the community. Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau agrees, saying restaurants get good business because of it. About 22 restaurants are participating in this year's Opening Night Gala, as opposed to about 12 last year. The same rings true for the Closing Night Gala, which has about 12 restaurants, as opposed to eight in 2008. And, according to Schwenk, the festival is seeing more participation from restaurants in other areas of Orange. Among them: Sutra in Costa Mesa; Beach Pit BBQ, which has locations in Costa Mesa, Tustin and Anaheim; and Kimera Restaurant and Lounge in Irvine. Newport Beach eateries include Wonderland Bakery, Bayside Restaurant and Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. And more filmmakers are planning to stay longer this year than previous years, says Schwenk. And that means good business for local hotels. Island Hotel Newport Beach – the official hotel of the event – The Balboa Bay Club & Resort and Hyatt Regency Newport Beach are among the resorts offering special discounts and packages to festivalgoers. With the festival taking place in and around Fashion Island, many retailers at the center are getting in on the action as well. The upscale retail shopping destination is hosting the Opening Night Gala in its center courtyard and has been a sponsor of the festival for the past 10 years. According to Fashion Island's Senior Marketing Director Laura Davis, the center appreciates the uptick in awareness of Fashion Island – and Newport Beach – the festival brings. Fashion Island's Design Within Reach, Ligne Roset and Original Penguin are among the stores offering pre- or post-film screening parties. And 35 merchants are also participating in the Newport Beach Film Festival's 10th Anniversary Rewards Card program, which offers discounts and gifts with purchase to festival attendees. NEXT PAGE >> Related headlines 'OC METRO Minute,' April 21: Newport Beach Film Festival's impact 'OC METRO Minute,' April 16: Corporate Video and Film's documentary of Newport Beach Film Festival 'OC METRO Minute,' April 9: Wonderland Bakery designs cake for Newport Beach Film Festival OC MENUS: Kimera, Bayside, Bistango join in Film Festival fun |
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