SM plans to upgrade 100 of their cinemas

SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., a unit of SM Prime Holdings Inc., handling the malls’ cinemas and other amusement facilities, is planning to undertake a major renovation of about 100 cinemas with the aim of making the more upscale and modern.

“Next year, we will start making changes in the look, set-up and concepts of our cinemas in 12 of our malls which includes the 30-year-old SM City North, EDSA, SM Megamall, Mall of Asia, and other big but older malls,” said SMLEI President Edgar Tejerero.

The other malls include SM Pampanga, SM Clark, SM Fairview, SM Marikina, SM Sta. Mesa and SM Cebu.

Among these new concepts will be the country’s first café cinemas which will allow moviegoers to be served and dine inside the theaters instead of just buying snacks outside.

They will also be opening children’s cinemas, even some slides as entrance to the auditorium, more upscale directors’ club cinemas, and 4D theaters. Some cinemas will also have games outside such as e-darts.

“All these renovated cinemas will become stadium type theaters where there is only one level of seats instead of the old model which has an orchestra and balcony,” said Tejerero.

SMLEI will also open more cinemas as SM Prime opens more malls in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro City, and Urdaneta as well as the expansion of the Podium.

Tejerero said SMLEI will also be opening a performing arts theater by 2018 or 2019 with construction slated to start next year. It will have a seating capacity of 1,800.

SMLEI will also be starting construction of an arena in their new Cebu mall with a seating capacity of 14,000.

The firm is opening today SM Cinemas and Director’s Club Cinema together with the opening of SM East Ortigas

SM Cinema’s digital theatres are equipped with top-of-the-line surround sound systems. Each of its 4 new theaters houses more than 250 seats.

Director’s Club Cinema are equipped with automatic recliners furnished with spacious side tables for food and drinks that may be ordered through a call buzzer and delivered by a butler service. (JAL)