Jim Patterson, general manager of Imax, Siam Cineplex, said business synergy with both hotels and serviced apartments would allow Krungsri Imax to offer customers, particularly foreign tourists and expatriates, the convenience of booking seats in the theatre at their front desks.

Three major hotels - the Novotel Bangkok, the Century Park and the Arnoma Hotel - have joined the synergy announced yesterday, together with major serviced apartments Unico Grand Sathorn, President Solitaire, Royal Suite and Chin House.

"We aim at increasing the number of hotels and serviced apartments joining the synergy to about 30 by the end of this year and to about 50 next year," said Patterson, adding that Krungsri Imax would be flexible in its service. He said Krungsri Imax was also studying an online ticketing service that would allow customers to book a seat and buy tickets using credit cards.

"Our customers, who stay at hotels and serviced apartments, were previously inconvenienced and took at least half an hour for ticketing. But with the seat-booking service at their accommodation, they can shorten the ticketing period to only 10 or 15 minutes," said Patterson.

He said the theatre would like to increase the ratio of foreign viewers from the current 25-30 per cent to 35-37 per cent under the new programme.

Patterson said there was a line-up of about 10 new films that would be shown at the theatre next year.

"Three major Hollywood blockbusters have already confirmed to show at our Imax theatre: "Spiderman 3", "Harry Potter 5" and "Open Season", the last of which is an hour-and-a-half animation feature made exclusively by Sony Pictures for Imax theatres.

"With the new line-up of films, we have projected 10-per-cent growth in ticket sales next year," said Patterson, adding that his company expected to achieve Bt35 million to Bt40 million in sales this year.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation