One of the biggest exhibition news stories of 2018 was the return of cinemas to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after a 35-year ban. Vista Entertainment supported AMC Entertainment and the Development & Investment Entertainment, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, tin their efforts to open the country’s first commercial cinema this past April.
Jason Cole, vice president, mergers & acquisitions and international procurement at AMC Theatres said, “The spirit of cooperation and collaboration with Vista on the Saudi opening was nothing less than amazing. AMC would not have been able to accomplish so much in so little time without such a committed and innovative partner.”
Less than two weeks after the kingdom’s first public cinema screening, VOX also opened its doors to a four-screen multiplex in Riyadh Park and is utilizing Vista’s technology across their cinemas in the Gulf region.
Cameron Mitchell, CEO of VOX Cinemas said, “Following our collaboration in our existing markets, Vista was the obvious choice of technology partner as we move forward with our investment of $533 million to open 600 screens across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the next five years.”
Kimbal Riley, CEO of Vista Group said, “We thank the Saudi government and our partners at AMC and VOX for the faith they have placed in us. We’re committed to supporting other leading industry players seeking new opportunities in this exciting growth market and we’re delighted with the contribution we have made thus far.”
Mischa Kay, managing director, Vista EMEA, said, “We’re excited to have played a part in such a historic milestone in Saudi Arabia. Our industry-leading cinema management software fully supports Arabic as an operational language and is integrated into the portal of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, with whom we worked very closely to provide accurate reporting.”
Vista Entertainment http://www.vista.co