VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia has revealed findings of a new research study which demonstrate that the cinema industry in the MENA region will bounce back as an overwhelming 98% of respondents intend to return to movie theatres soon after reopening.
The research was conducted in waves between April to May 2020 by Majid Al Futtaim’s Happiness Lab — its proprietary market research online community in the UAE — and surveyed 1,240 respondents during the temporary closures of cinema, leisure and entertainment experiences. The research findings explored consumer sentiment as well as the health and safety measures that consumers would expect to see when returning to the cinema.
After dining out at a restaurant or café, going to the cinema was the second-most missed activity during restrictions and 75% of respondents stated they are eager to resume their cinema-going habit within just four weeks of reopening.
When asked to identify the top safety measures that would make them feel most comfortable about returning to the cinema, physical distancing in queues was deemed the most important by 86% of respondents, with 81% citing a preference for advance contactless booking of tickets and F&B online to avoid queuing altogether. Other factors encouraging the movie-going population to return include staff wearing masks and gloves (81%) and physical distancing between seats (73%).
Commenting on the research, Cameron Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment said, “We remain fundamentally confident about the future and resilience of the cinema industry. This research demonstrates that the industry will bounce back and the culture of cinema-going will resume. We have proactively reimagined the guest experience at all of the Majid Al Futtaim entertainment experiences, including VOX Cinemas, Ski Dubai and Ski Egypt, Magic Planet and Dreamscape, and we are delighted that the measures put in place are all aligned with the feedback that was evidenced in these surveys.”
Mitchell added “Internationally, cinemas have reopened across Europe and Asia, as well as in a number of American states, and attendance is increasing week on week. The theatrical box office in the cinema-going nation of South Korea, for example, has recently showed a significant sign of recovery, with weekend ticket sales reaching 402,000, a week-on-week gain of 112%. These figures bode well for the future of cinema and we are confident that ticket sales in other markets will follow a similar trend.”
Jocelyn Davies, Head of Customer Experience and Insights at Majid Al Futtaim, Leisure, Entertainment and Cinemas added, “Listening to our guests is a core value at Majid Al Futtaim, and during our period of closure, it was essential to understand customer sentiment to enable us to develop new concepts and evolve the entire cinema experience. We are delighted that the new measures included have reassured our guests, with over 93% of guests who have returned since reopening being satisfied/extremely satisfied with the new protective measures that we have in place.”
In addition to its already stringent sanitisation standards, VOX Cinemas has introduced extensive precautionary measures including disinfecting auditoriums using fogging machines and sanitizing surfaces after every guest interaction. It is also now mandatory for employees to wear masks and gloves, and all team members have their temperatures checked on arrival for shifts.
Safe distancing ambassadors have been introduced and instructional signage has been installed to guide guests on best physical distancing practices. The capacity in auditoriums has been reduced and seats in front of, behind and next to a guest’s selection will be left vacant to maintain physical distancing. The occupancy has also been decreased in other public areas such as restrooms and elevators.
Guests can enjoy a queue less cinema experience by advance booking their tickets and F&B options online as well as a contactless collection service. To further minimize physical contact and exposure, VOX Cinemas offers contactless payment options and guests can self-scan their tickets before entering the auditorium.
Source – Majid Al Futtaim (Press Release)
Dubai Lynx – MENA’s biggest Festival of Creativity, will return to Madinat Jumeirah from 8-11 March 2020, bringing together creative legends and those disrupting the industry to learn, network, explore opportunities that abound in the MENA region and celebrate creative excellence.
This year’s programme covers the hottest topics in the region such as Brands in Culture, Proving Creative Effectiveness, Creating Connected Brand Experiences, The New Rules on Brand Purpose and more.
Explore the topics
The Dubai Lynx 2020 Festival Planner makes it easier than ever to find content that will inspire you, whatever your role, in the creative communication and marketing sphere – provocative panels, debates and new formats designed to facilitate two days of learning, celebration, inspiration and networking, featuring hands-on Meet Ups, roundtable discussions and interactive workshops.
Plan your time at Dubai Lynx 2020
This year’s speaker line-up is bold, influential, innovative and inspiring. Expect an eclectic mix of award-winners, game-changers, original thinkers and rising talent, alongside global business leaders, creative legends and a few surprises.
Meet speaker line-up
Dubai Lynx has also announced the Jury Presidents of 2020. Presidents are chosen from among the region’s very best industry leaders. Together, they combine a diverse wealth of creative expertise, skill and talent, from both clients and agencies, to benchmark creative excellence and effectiveness for the MENA region.
See the Presidents
‘See It Be It’ is the Dubai Lynx initiative working towards equal gender representation across the industry. 2020 will bring 10 women to the Festival for an access-all-areas, 2-day long, career accelerating programme.
*Conditions apply
Entries close on 17 February, 2020
Click here for more information
Find out why creative people come to Dubai Lynx with highlights from the 2019 festival:
Don’t forget to choose your perfect pass to enjoy the full programme for 2020.
Key Dates:
6 February 2020 – Award Entries Deadline
8 March 2020 – Festival Opening Party
9-10 March 2020 – Be Inspired at the Festival
11 March 2020 – Celebrate at the Awards
For more information, visit dubailynx.com
*Motivate Val Morgan is the officials representative of Dubai Lynx in the UAE.
Source: Dubai Lynx
Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity has named Ian Fairservice, Founder, Managing Partner and Group Editor, Motivate Media Group, as the Advertising Person of the Year 2019.
One of the Festival’s most prestigious awards, the Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year is selected in collaboration with the IAA UAE who were responsible for nominating Ian Fairservice. It honours an individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the reputation and profile of the communications industry in the MENA region.
Hani Ghorayeb, President, IAA UAE, commented “Ian is a true character of the UAE media industry. His contribution to the development of publishing in this country is nothing less than history-making and his long service to the IAA and particularly to the UAE chapter, has left a legacy that will be appreciated for years to come. It is fitting and fully deserved for Ian to be acknowledged in Motivate’s 40th anniversary year. The IAA wish him every thanks and many congratulations.”
Philip Thomas, Chairman of Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx, added, “For the past 40 years, Ian has made an outstanding commitment to the communications industry here in MENA and to developing creativity across the region. We’re delighted to honour him with this award.”
Fairservice founded Motivate in 1979 with the launch of What’s On, the UAE’s first English language magazine. With a wide range of award-winning publications, crossing diverse media interests in digital, content, events and cinema, Motivate’s established consumer and trade brands reach an audience of over two million people each month. Motivate’s book division was established in 1986 and has more than 250 titles in print. Together with his partner, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, who is now the UAE Minister of State for Finance, Fairservice has grown Motivate into one of the most successful media groups in the region.
In March 2007, Fairservice founded the Dubai Lynx Advertising Awards and Festival of Creativity, in partnership with Cannes Lions. He has also served as the Middle East representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 2000.
During the past year, Fairservice has diversified the group’s interests to include joint ventures with global content and influencer marketing platform VAMP from Australia, Malaysian based World Expo pavilion design company Zakti, Social listening and research specialists MavenMagnet from the US and acclaimed British documentary film makers Lorton Entertainment.
Commenting on the announcement, Ian Fairservice, added: “It is hugely exciting to be recognised in this way, particularly as Motivate is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. None of our success could have been possible without the support of a great team behind me and in particular the encouragement of my partner, HE Obaid Humaid Al Tayer.”
One of the first members of the International Advertising Association (IAA) – UAE Chapter, Fairservice spent more than 20 years on the board including four years as treasurer, four years as vice president, and five years as president. He also served on the association’s World Board. In addition to his business responsibilities, Fairservice is the vice chairman of the board of governors of the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.
The presentation of the 2019 Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year Award will take place during the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony at the Madinat Arena, Madinat Jumeirah on Wednesday 13 March 2019.
Source: Dubai Lynx (Press Release – 10th March 2019)
