WASHINGTON D.C. (December 8, 2016) – Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, owner of the VOX Cinemas brand of cinemas in the Middle East, will receive the “Global Achievement Award in Exhibition,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Associations of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held March 27-30, 2017, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The award will be collected by CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas Cameron Mitchell during the convention’s International Day festivities, taking place on Monday, March 27, 2017.
“VOX Cinemas has proven to be an innovative leader in the competitive entertainment landscape, with a team that is dedicated to bringing the magic of the motion picture experience to the Middle East and beyond,” Noted Neuhauser. “Cameron Mitchell has been instrumental in expanding VOX Cinemas to a larger audience and we are honored he will be attending in person to collect this year’s prestigious CinemaCon Global Achievement in Exhibition Award on behalf of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas.”
Since opening its first cinema in Ajman City Center in 1999, VOX Cinemas has grown to become the largest cinema brand in the Middle East and holds the position of the Middle East’s highest grossing cinema chain. Differentiating itself through the development of several cinema concepts, the VOX Cinemas brand has enjoyed above average market share in all markets which the company operates in. Offering a wide range of cinema experiences the VOX portfolio includes the immersive 4DX experience to which the company holds the exclusive rights in the Middle East, ThEATre by Rhodes, a fine dining luxury cinema collaboration with Michelin Star Chef Gary Rhodes, and an IMAX® with Laser theatre at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, which has been a top performing site across IMAX’s worldwide network of more than 1,000 theatres for recent films including Sully, Magnificent Seven and Deepwater Horizon. Growing its world-class chain of cinemas to continue delivering great moments to customers around the region every day, VOX Cinemas will expand to operate 600 screens across 50 locations in the Middle East by 2020.
As CEO of VOX Cinemas, Mitchell leads the company’s aggressive expansion plans through the Middle East & Africa. Joining the team in January 2007 Mitchell oversees the company’s distribution division along with the development division. A business graduate from Australia’s Griffith University, Mitchell has over 20+ years of global cinema industry experience working initially in various operational and regional roles throughout Australia.
CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry –from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the movie-going experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.
CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. CinemaCon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor The Coca–Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies.
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 32,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 81 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.
Additional information on CinemaCon can be found at www.cinemacon.com.
Heather Lewandoski
Rogers & Cowan
615.519.1747
hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com
Corey Barger
Rogers & Cowan
310.967-3427
cbarger@rogersandcowan.com
Note to the Editor: The legal name of this company is “Majid Al Futtaim” and should not be shortened or replaced by an acronym to avoid confusion with another business entity.
Disclaimer: All facts and figures in this release are accurate at the time of issuance.
VOX Cinemas is the Middle East’s most innovative and customer-focused cinema exhibitor. Owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, VOX Cinemas is the cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa. With 26 cinema complexes totalling 223 screens across the region, including 161 screens in the UAE, 15 screens in Lebanon and 47 screens in Oman, VOX Cinemas is now the Middle East’s largest and most rapidly growing cinema exhibitor.
The company is undergoing a 1 billion dirham investment that will see the company expand to 50 locations and operate 600 screens in the region by 2020. Tailoring every cinema location to the surrounding market place and customer preferences, VOX Cinemas offers a mix of cinema experiences including two luxury cinema concepts, the first one being VOX THEATRE by Rhodes which is a collaboration with Michelin Star Chef Gary Rhodes, and the second one being the much loved VOX GOLD luxury cinema experience. Taking the VOX MAX big screen cinema to the next level, VOX currently operates the Middle East’s largest cinema screen in the region at the Virgin Radio MAX screen in City Centre Deira in Dubai. VOX also has the very first and only IMAX with Laser screen in the Middle East, holds the Middle East’s exclusive rights to the immersive 4DX experience, and operates VOX KIDS, the very first cinema in the Middle East dedicated to kids having fun. VOX also recently introduced OUTDOOR, the first open air VOX Cinemas in the region located on Galleria Mall’s Rooftop in Dubai for the cooler months of the year.
Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man’s vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to ‘create great moments for everyone, every day’. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates’ most respected and successful businesses spanning 15 international markets, employing more than 33,000 people, and achieving the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately-held corporates in the Middle East.
Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 20 shopping malls, 12 hotels and three mixed-use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, City Centre malls and My City Centre neighbourhood centres, and also four community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company holds exclusive rights to the Carrefour franchise in 38 markets across Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, and operates a portfolio of more than 160 outlets in 15 countries.
Majid Al Futtaim operates 194 VOX Cinema screens and 26 Magic Planet family entertainment centres across the region, in addition to iconic leisure and entertainment facilities such as Ski Dubai and iFly Dubai, among others. The Company is parent to the consumer finance company issuing ‘Najm’ and ‘Voyager’ credit cards, a fashion retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, AllSaints and lululemon athletica, and a healthcare business that operates City Centre Clinics. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management. The Company also owns the rights to The LEGO Store in the Middle East and operates in the food and beverage industry through a partnership with Gourmet Gulf.
Millie Roberts
Weber Shandwick
971 4 445 42 17
MAFCinemas@webershandwick.com