Singapore-based Cathay Organisation Holdings Ltd may team up again with Boustead Holdings Bhd to develop a RM300 million Pavilion Entertainment Centre (PEC) at the former Pavilion cinema site in Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Cathay and Boustead, via their equal joint-venture company Damansara Entertainment Centre Sdn Bhd (DEC), joined forces to develop the RM107 million Cineleisure Damansara, Malaysia’s first-of-its-kind entertainment and leisure centre.

DEC director Kwan Weng Foon, who is also general manager of the Equus Group, a unit of Cathay, said Cathay was considering working with Boustead to develop PEC in the heart of Kuala Lumpur with an estimated investment of RM300 million.

Great news! But too bad that they actually DEMOLISHED Malaysia's largest and most prestigious theatre! :cry: Plus it is a great landmark!!!

Hope this would looks good or else I am going to protest hahahaha :D


RM300 million sound cool for a project......should be great! :okay:

Errr...where is the exact location actually :?

Errr...where is the exact location actually :?


You dunno where's the site of the former Pavillion Theatre meh? :?

Anyway it is at the corner of Jalan Pudu - Jalan Bukit Bintang .......across the road from Swiss Garden Hotel ;) .....it is the empty piece of land which is now a carpark :(

You dunno where's the site of the former Pavillion Theatre meh? :?

Anyway it is at the corner of Jalan Pudu - Jalan Bukit Bintang .......across the road from Swiss Garden Hotel ;) .....it is the empty piece of land which is now a carpark :(

Oh...that ugly piece of land ;) Now I know...

wah!finally!wuhoo!2 months ago,i actually told my dad that it will b a good land for investment:P wonder wat kind of entertainment centre is it.Any rendering?

Are you familiar with Singapore, y2k?

If i'm not mistaken, the Pavilion Entertainment Center is going to be similar to Cineleisure Orchard which is located just behind the Meritus Mandarin Hotel on Orchard Rd... Its Malaysian twin is currently under construction next to The Curve and is known as Cineleisure Damansara... Btw, Boustead is the developer of The Curve...

So in other words we would see another happening and good looking building in BB? Cool....

Cathay's history:


Cathay remains synonymous with the movie entertainment industry in Singapore and Malaysia ever since its first cinema - The Pavilion opened in Kuala Lumpur in 1936. The opening of The Cathay Cinema in Singapore in 1939 was an event that immediately laid claim to several historic 'firsts' -Singapore's first air-conditioned cinema in the colony's first skyscrapper marked the dawn of Cathay's film exhibition business in Singapore.

In the 1970s, the number of cinemas operated by Cathay reached its peak with a tally of 75.

A rationalisation exercise, embarked upon in the changing economic environment of the 80s, saw Cathay closing Singapore's only drive-in cinema in Jurong and moving towards converting its stand-alone cinemas into multi-screen cineplexes with state-of-the-art sound and projection systems, plush seating and computerised ticketing system.

In 1993, Cathay opened its first cineplex, The Pavilion, in Tampines.

This is how Orchard's Cineleisure looks like: ;)

http://www.the-inncrowd.com/Imagesorchard/images/IMG_0989_jpg.jpg


I've seen the renderings of Damansara's Cineleisure which to me is very funky but can't find renderings of it now :(

thanks clie,n yeap!Cineleisure is an attractive spot for youngsters to hang out:Dand it will b great to c KL will hv one too!:D any updates on the Damansara Cineleisure?Saw the rendering bfor n its great!Heard is gonna b one of the best in kl

Cineleisure targets RM20m rental income



CINELEISURE Damansara, a joint-venture development of Boustead Group and Cathay Organisation, expects about RM20mil from first-year rental income from the total lettable area of 220,000 sq ft.

“Cineleisure Damansara is a refreshing lifestyle concept that encompasses a multi-sensory shopping, entertainment and leisure experience,” Boustead director (manufacturing and corporate planning) Koo Hock Fee told reporters in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.

It was poised to draw the crowd from a potential catchment of over 400,000 residents and projected addition of 70,000 in three to five years, Koo said, adding that 71% was expected to be in the middle-income group, and 18% upper middle-income group.

Cineleisure Damansara is designed to appeal to the young, its primary target being those aged from 14 to 24, followed by those from 24 to 40.

“Construction started in 2003 and we expect to hold a soft opening in the fourth quarter this year,” Koo said.






http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2005/3/31/business/p9Suhaimi.jpg

From left: Cathay vice-president (leisure and entertainment) Suhaimi Rafdi, Koo Hock Fee and Kwn Weng foon at the press conference for Cineleisure Damansara.







Asked if Cineleisure Damansara would operate 24 hours with late screenings on Fridays and Saturdays, he said this was possible, but time was needed to study and implement the plan

Cineleisure Damansara, being developed at a cost of more than RM100mil, will have five entertainment and lifestyle floors, including a 10-cinema multiplex, and two levels of parking with 1,000 lots.

It is situated in Mutiara Damansara, adjacent to The Curve, Ikea, Ikano Power Centre and Tesco Hypermarket.

Cineleisure Damansara is developed by Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Boustead, and Samburu Holdings Sdn Bhd, an associated company of Cathay.

Cathay general manager Kwan Weng Foon said it had another project, Pavilion Entertainment Centre, in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, which was also undertaken in partnership with Boustead. – Bernama

But the land in KL, is quite a small area right? It is not as big as the one in Damansara.....

Where is the thread for Cineleisure? Where is search function?

http://img136.echo.cx/img136/7124/p41800042ve.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

There is no Cineleisure thread......I think we've discussed this on The Curve thread and also some discussion on The Pavillion Entertainment Centre thread ;)

The search function had been disabled by the admin as it puts a heavy load on the forum's servers. :(


Anyway feel free to discuss anything and everything Cineleisure here ;)

Movie-driven complex




By MUMTAJ BEGUM




Come October, movie-goers will be able to catch all the latest films in Cineleisure Damansara. Currently still under construction, it is located adjacent to The Curve, Ikea, Ikano Power Centre and Tesco Hypermarket. The soft launch is in October while the grand opening is scheduled for January next year.

Cineleisure Damansara is a five-storey entertainment, lifestyle and leisure mall. On the second level is the 10-screen cineplex. Designed to attract the younger crowd – aged 14 to 24 – the shops, entertainment outlets like concept stores and food stores are all dedicated to this age group. The secondary target group is those aged from 24 to 40.

“There will also be an outdoor youth park where they can hang out in a healthy and fun way. We are looking at holding activities like the X-Games here,” said Vyvian Yan, the A&P assistant manager with Damansara Entertainment Centre.







http://www.star-ecentral.com/archives/2005/4/18/movies/f_pg21atrium.jpg

An artist's impression of the Night Atrium at Cineleisure Damansara which offers special cinematography lighting effects.







“It is a very movie-driven complex, with promotions and activities based on the movies,” Yap added.

While all 10 cinema halls having the DTS and THX sound systems, one of them – called the Picture House – will be dedicated to art films.

Jenny Chin, the marketing manager of Cathay Cineplexes, Cineleisure Damansara, explained: “Picture House is an exclusive hall for showing art movies. From time to time we’ll have festivals, like the French Film Festival. We also plan to screen local classics like P. Ramlee movies and maybe the older classics from Hollywood at the Picture House as well.”

Chin confirmed that movie ticket prices will not differ from those offered by other cinemas in Kuala Lumpur. And on Tuesdays – dubbed Movie Day – tickets will go at a discounted price. What’s more, movie-goers can purchase both tickets and popcorn at the same place. There is no need to queue up twice. Also the concession counters are located at other floors besides the cinema level.

Finally, if you are keen to collect movie merchandise, there will be a CineShop showcasing items from current and older films, including soundtracks.

wah,really cant wait to c this open la
damansara is sure gonna b an excellent area to live in.Probably will b KL's entertainment hub.Government should start plannin direct public transport from KL city;)

Why only 10 screens? Is it because 1 utama is nearby? How far is cineleisure from 1 utama anyway?

They should build a giagntic megaplex that has 25 screens. Mabe at the old Cathay site in Bukit Bintang

Why only 10 screens? Is it because 1 utama is nearby? How far is cineleisure from 1 utama anyway?

They should build a giagntic megaplex that has 25 screens. Mabe at the old Cathay site in Bukit Bintang


Yes.....there is a project by Cathay Organisation and Boustead that cost RM300 million that would be much larger than Cineleisure Damansara called Pavillion Entertainment Centre. It is gonna be at the old Pavillion Theatre site (which is next to the old Cathay site). I am not too sure if the development would spilled into the old Cathay site since it is still owned by Cathay.....but we shall see ;)

Well......seriously lah....when One Utama has 20 screens nearby .....I dun see why Cineleisure should have another 20 hehehe :D

wah,really cant wait to c this open la
damansara is sure gonna b an excellent area to live in.Probably will b KL's entertainment hub.Government should start plannin direct public transport from KL city;)



Hhahaha........excellent area? Wait till you see the daily horrendous traffic jam! :D

The shopping seems excellent with Ikea and stuffs......but I'd rather travel half way across town to Mutiara D'sara on weekends than get stuck in endless hours everyday during weekdays :D

ANyway I think even with D'sara Cineleisure.....it is hard to beat BB as the entertainment hub of KL. ;)

Yes.....there is a project by Cathay Organisation and Boustead that cost RM300 million that would be much larger than Cineleisure Damansara called Pavillion Entertainment Centre. It is gonna be at the old Pavillion Theatre site (which is next to the old Cathay site). I am not too sure if the development would spilled into the old Cathay site since it is still owned by Cathay.....but we shall see ;)

Well......seriously lah....when One Utama has 20 screens nearby .....I dun see why Cineleisure should have another 20 hehehe :D


Does 1 Utama have 20 screens? One the TGV website it says only 7

Does 1 Utama have 20 screens? One the TGV website it says only 7


GSC is now construction another 13 screens in the new wing ;)

yeah.ive got stucked in the jam for 2 hours bfor:P
n i think i have to agree with u bout BB plaza being the main hub.Btw,i think the government seriously need to implement better public transport to Damansara or even promotin that area.Many tourist actually donno bout that area

yeah.ive got stucked in the jam for 2 hours bfor:P
n i think i have to agree with u bout BB plaza being the main hub.Btw,i think the government seriously need to implement better public transport to Damansara or even promotin that area.Many tourist actually donno bout that area


Well......BB has to be the main hub as it is in the city centre ;)


I am not too sure if tourist would wanna visit that area lah. Maybe some do lah......because that area is actually a suburban shopping area. It is like how rarely you see tourist going to Chadstone in Melbourne although it is like the largest in Australia ;)

But I have to agree with you on better public transportation to that area......esp rail transportation! :okay:

The cinema in Pavillion Entertainment Centre will be Cathay or Mega Pavillion?

The cinema in Pavillion Entertainment Centre will be Cathay or Mega Pavillion?


I dun think it matters cos Mega Pavillion is owned by Cathay. I think the Cathay brand would be much better for KL as KLites are familiar with that brand already ;)

The North PJ area will be a new entertainment hub! One on side, you have OneUtama with its 20 screens (Village with seven and the remainder in GSC) and the other one is the 10-screen CineLeisure... Next time can watch a movie right after exercise! This is because CineLeisure is directly opposite Fitness First The Curve...

Btw, OneUtama surely would have created history of sorts... It must be the first mall with two cinemas run by different operators! How will the opening of GSC affect the existing Village Cinemas though?

Reviving Greg's thread.

Opening by mid 2006, this complex is conceptualised by the Cathay Cineleisure International. Featuring 10 screens with 1 stop e gaming entertainment of 120 gaming stations for pc and console gaming.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/tyfong55/IMG_0388a.jpg

Cineleisure @ the Curve
by travellator

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Neighbourhoodshopping/cineleisure.jpg

i love that cylindrical structure:D

for those young kids whos lucky enuf to live near this 120 gamin babe center.. YOU LUCKY BAS***D!!!! :banana2: wish i get to live near that thing.. nice building anyway :cool:

Much bigger than I thought!

Cathay's classy comeback
By Doreen Leong, 29 May 2006 9:04 AM
THEEDGEDAILY


Cathay Cinema has made a comeback to the Malaysian movie entertainment industry as Cathay Cineplex after exiting the local scene some 20 years ago.

Singapore-based Cathay on May 27 opened its youth-friendly, RM12 million flagship multiplex in Mutiara Damansara, featuring a brand new modern look, but which still evokes the nostalgic essence of its days old.

With sophisticated digital and theatre sound systems, its 10 screens offer a total of 1,922 seats with the largest hall holding 328. The smallest, with 94 seats, will showcase art house movies.

Cathay Organisation Holdings Ltd's president of business operations, Suhaimi Rafdi, said in the saturated industry, it was differentiating itself, offering an entire movie-going experience with facilities and services catering to specific needs of the entire family.





http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_7dab78aa-cb73c03a-72d87300-61df1606/1/Cathay_inside.jpg




“The opening of Cathay Cineplex Damansara is part of our expansion plan to strengthen our position in Malaysia,” he said at a media tour of the cineplex last Friday.

Apart from the flagship multiplex, Cathay also operates four other cineplexes, which carry the Mega Pavilion brand name - two in Penang and one each in Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu.

Suhaimi said simultaneously, as of May 27, all the four Mega Pavilion cineplexes were rebranded as Cathay Cineplex. It is also expanding the Johor Bahru cineplex.
He added that it had invested RM6 million in the rebranding and expansion exercise.

Suhaimi said Cathay Cineplex Damansara was expected to draw in two million viewers this year, with a single-digit growth in 2007.

Patrons can now book their tickets online, while a drive-through counter will be introduced later. Its integrated computerised ticketing system allows patrons to call and book seats up to 21 days in advance.

Suhaimi said some of its screening halls had been “adopted” by corporations such as Nokia, Digi and Wrigley's as their branding tool.

Cathay Cineplex is sited within the RM112 million Cineleisure Damansara, Malaysia’s first-of-its-kind entertainment and leisure centre, which is slated for a grand launch in August.

Cineleisure Damansara, a joint venture by Boustead Group and Cathay Organisation, houses five entertainment and lifestyle floors and two levels of parking with 1,000 parking bays.

wah,can't wait to go over and check out!

Past perfect
07 Jun 2006
FARIDUL ANWAR FARINORDIN


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cineleisure Damansara combines state-of-the-art facilities with a touch of cinematic past. FARIDUL ANWAR FARINORDIN writes.

REMEMBER the logo with three spinning rings — accompanied by a memorable show-stopping orchestra tune — that preceded feature film screenings by Cathay Organisations back in the 80s?

When the clip was played recently during the launch of Cathay Organisation Holdings’ new 10-screen cinema complex in Petaling Jaya recently, sighs — evoked by poignant nostalgic memories — were heard across the hall.

Movies, of course, are a window to a different world, the land of brave heroes and beautiful goddesses, where love reigns supreme and anything is possible. Seeing the logo’s return to a spunky cineplex called Cineleisure Damansara, operated by Cathay Cineplexes Sdn Bhd, was indeed a joy.

Located on level 2 and 2M of the baby blue-coloured building located next to The Curve, the cineplex hallways are decked with portrait photos of renowned Asian stars of the past.

The company has been around for decades. Cathay Keris Films, which was popular in the 50s and 60s, released black-and-white Malay movies.

All 10 screens are equipped with Dolby Digital Surround EX, which offers seamless sound presentation, as well as the sophisticated Digital Theatre System (DTS) and Spectral Recording Digital (SRD) system.

Cineleisure Damansara seats 1,922, with the largest hall offering 328 seats and the smallest, 94 seats.

Past and present merge beautifully at the cineplex, combining state-of-the-art facilities with a touch of cinematic past.

Popcorn and soft drinks are available at the Cinesnax counter.

A few metres away, a Kacang Puteh Kiosk is available. Perfect for those who want to be reminded of the cinema experience of the past.

For movie merchandise and memorabilia, just walk over to the nearby Cineshop.

There is also a free Internet surfing station as well as a Mom & Tots Corner to cater to the little ones. For general enquiries, there is a Customer Service Counter.

An interesting feature at the cineplex is the 94-seat The Picturehouse, a special hall dedicated in showcasing art house movies as well as critically-acclaimed international feature films.

Cathay’s president (business operations) Suhaimi Rafdi says: “The opening of Cineleisure Damansara is part of our expansion plans and will strengthen our position in Malaysia. We will endeavour to exceed our customers’ expectations wherever we operate.”

Movie-goers will appreciate the Drive Thru Ticketing Service, located at the building. Advanced Ticketing System is also available where patrons can secure their seats for up to 21 days in advance.

Previously known as Mega Pavillion Cinemas, Cathay Cineplexes also makes its mark in five other locations nationwide, namely, Penang (six-screen Kompleks Bukit Jambul and four-screen Prangin Mall), Johor Baru (10-screen City Square) and Kota Kinabalu (three-screen cineplex).

For more information, go to www.cathaycineplexes.com.my.

I wonder y they change the name of Mega pavillion to Cathay??

tak best they make u go round and round but the movie hall is really nice,spacious,good sound system but the makan dept not very goodlah ha ha at least not yetlah i hate mayo on my hot dog!but the again the curve is just next door!well done cathay just that to far just to watch a movie for me cant beat galaxy park at the same level as the cinema!

^^ What's Galaxy Park....went there last week and din see anything except for Cathay only :?

opps szehoong i fail to mention galaxy is actually in ampang!ironicly thats where i went to see the star wars episod since its so close to where i live aiyah so senanglah save the trouble having to go thru the traffic in town ,parking free same level as the the theatre so more! hee hee after makan 5 minutes drive i am off to the movies

Cineleisure!Tested out the cinema with Superman.Excellent picture and sound from the cinema!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/100_0030.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/100_0034.jpg

View of the Curve from Cineleisure
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/100_0026.jpg

i'll go have a look later today and next week again. but pics might be much later. ;)

Nothing but good things to say about the cinema!however i just dont care about having to go round and round before getting to the cinema!

The Curve
http://cloud85.iespana.es/jul06/kl/DSC_0060.jpg

http://cloud85.iespana.es/jul06/kl/DSC_0062.jpg

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Cathay Cineleisure Damansara
http://cloud85.iespana.es/jul06/kl/DSC_0061.jpg

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http://cloud85.iespana.es/jul06/kl/DSC_0093.jpg

Thanks Tamago for the wonderful pictorial update! :okay:

It seems that Cineleisure is still empty after more than a month of its opening. :(

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by teddY-riseD

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Enjoy the suite life at Cathay Cineleisure’s Platinum Suites
Tuesday October 14, 2008
By MICHAEL CHEANG
TheStar

Who says watching movies is only about popcorn and soda? Cathay Cineleisure’s new Platinum Suites take you into a whole new world of movie viewing.

I love watching movies, but I hate going to the cinema.

No, let me rephrase that; I hate going to the cinema with idiots who answer their phones during the movie, morons who give ongoing live commentary on what’s happening on the screen, and other assorted irritants who infest the Malaysian cinema-going community.


http://www.star-ecentral.com/archives/2008/10/14/movies/f_18cathay.jpg

Mohamed Bakri Mohamed Yusof, senior operations manager of the Cathay
Cineplexes, trying out the comfortable armchairs in the Platinum Movies
Suites at Cineleisure Damansara. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN / The Star


You see, I’ve been somewhat spoiled in some ways when it comes to watching movies in a cinema. During private press previews, I don’t usually have to put up with the irritants mentioned above. Which means that when I do need to pay to go watch a movie in a regular public screening, I tend to get even more annoyed with those pests, thus making it nigh impossible for me to actually enjoy the movie.

Thankfully, I may have found a way to avoid all that. Recently, I was given a chance to check out Cathay Cineleisure’s new Platinum Suites (open since May) in Mutiara Damansara, Selangor, which really brought cinema-going to an entirely new level altogether.

“Please come early so you can enjoy the facilities too,” said Sarah of Cathay when I called to confirm our appointment.


http://www.star-ecentral.com/archives/2008/10/14/movies/f_18cathay1.jpg

Cathay’s Platinum Movie Suites have a waiting lounge
with lots of facilities for patrons to use while waiting.


Huh? Facilities? What facilities? Wasn’t I supposed to be just watching a movie?

All was made clear when I stepped into the Platinum class lounge an hour early that day. There, I was greeted by a vast waiting lounge that was almost as big as a five-star hotel’s lobby, complete with huge comfy sofa chairs and four automated massage chairs. In one corner are three computers for Internet surfing, and an X-Box to keep you occupied while waiting for the movie. The lounge is also Wi-Fi enabled, and patrons are given a refillable complimentary soft drink on top of all that.

If you think that was an extravagant for a “mere movie”, then wait till you see the movie suites. All the seats in the four 20-seater halls are HUGE armchairs that have reclining backs and leg rests. In fact, if there was one complaint I had about them it is that they are so comfortable I almost curled up and fell asleep before the movie even started.


http://www.star-ecentral.com/archives/2008/10/14/movies/f_18cathay2.jpg

Platinum Suites patrons also get to serve the Internet for free.


Given a choice between watching Death Race and WALL-E (both of which I’d watched before already), I went with the excellent Pixar movie, even though I’d already watched it three times before, in a regular cinema. After all, what better way to review a cinematic experience than by watching a movie you’ve already watched in a regular cinema and comparing the two experiences, huh?

Thanks to the fact that the cinema seats are so far apart, I could hardly hear anything from the other seats (in fact, I was so snug in my own chair that I didn’t even notice the rest of the patrons walking in).

There’s even an option of ordering food to be sent to you while you’re watching a movie, though this is generally not encouraged as it entails the waiter actually having to come in to take your order and risking disturbing other patrons in the hall. Also, having to pay for your chicken while watching a movie is irritating in itself.

Of course, there is a catch behind all the luxury - tickets to the Platinum Suites cost RM40 a pop, for which you can watch four movies in a regular cinema hall.

Sure, it’s slightly cheaper on weekdays before 6pm though, costing only RM25 each; but then again, how many of us can actually watch a movie on a weekday during office hours?

Still, it’s a small price to pay for all the add-ons you receive, as well as the comfort of watching a movie without having to listen to couples making out next to you. I know where I’ll be going the next time I actually have to pay to watch a movie.

A market for luxury at Cathay Cineleisure’s Platinum Suites
Tuesday October 14, 2008
TheStar

The Platinum Movie Suites in Cineleisure in Mutiara Damansara, Selangor, is the first luxury movie suite complex under Cathay, and was borne out of the belief that there is a real demand for such a more extraordinary movie-going experience in Malaysia.

“We realised that there is a market for this type of cinema, especially in the Damansara area,” said Mohamed Bakri Mohamed Yusof, senior operations manager of the Cathay Cineplexes. “In terms of luxury movie suites, we’re arguably one of the cheapest in town, especially since we have a large waiting lounge with a lot more facilities.”

Indeed, because of the facilities that the Platinum Suites provides, many of the Platinum patrons are turning up a lot earlier for their movies, compared to normal commercial halls where the patrons normally come only five to 10 minutes in advance.

When a customer buys a ticket, the staff will explain to them that they can enjoy the facilities before the movie.

“Usually, most customers will only come five minutes before the movie because there is nothing for them to do while waiting for the movie. But here, they can come much earlier because of the facilities we have,” said Bakri, adding that there is something for patrons of all ages.

“Most of the time, the children will be playing the X-Box, while the parents will surf the Internet. We’ve even had customers who come here specifically to use the massage chairs before watching the movie!”

According to him, the lounge can be divided into two smaller halls for private functions. There is a special entrance for VIPs, and also an LCD projector that can be used for presentations and so on.

The staff at the Platinum Suites is also specially handpicked for their customer service skills.

“Our priority here is good service, because customers pay so much more. Therefore, the staff stationed here is different from those at the commercial halls,” explained Bakri. “They are specially trained, and come from a background of customer service; and every now and then we will train and update them with any new procedures or gadgets we think they might need.”

Since the Platinum Suites opened its doors in May, feedback from patrons has been positive.

“Most of them like the service, the experience, the quiet environment and the facilities,” said Bakri. “And we are also constantly collecting feedback so that we can keep improving our services and facilities.”

Anyone here tried the platinum suites? I'm thinking of trying it out one of these days (maybe when Im on leave or something)

Really hope cineleisure will be more lively. Thankfully there are more shops now but their business is pretty slow though

MCAT Box Office plans 2 cineplexes in 2009
By Vasantha Ganesan
Published: 2008/12/01

CINEPLEX operator MCAT Box Office Sdn Bhd (MBO Cinemas) will invest some RM18 million in 2009 to open two more units, bringing the number of MBO Cinemas in the country to six.

The locations are at the Harbour Place shopping mall in Klang and the Square One mall in Batu Pahat, Johor with 10 screens and eight screens respectively and a combined total seating capacity of 2,700.

"These are confirmed sites. We are also negotiating with developers of four other shopping complexes in Johor and the Klang Valley," managing director Toh Kim Hock told Business Times.

"We spend about RM700,000 to RM1 million per screen, the bulk of which goes towards the seats, projector and the sound system," he said.

He added that the expected return of any investment on its cinemas is about five years.

The two new openings will enable MBO to tap into the now RM350 million Malaysian cinema industry, which continues to have potential to grow.

"Malaysia needs about 500 to 600 cinemas. The industry has about 400 now, which means that there is still space for growth at least until 2010," he said.

MBO Cinemas, which has grown by 20 per cent year-on-year since its inception in 2003, expects to post similar growth in 2008 and 2009.

"We will not be hit that badly (by the current economic slowdown) as we are competitively-priced compared with the other two cinema giants," Toh said, referring to rivals Tanjung Golden Village and Golden Screen Cinema.

Tickets at MBO Cinemas are priced at RM8 or RM9 on weekends, when it is the busiest.

Today, there are four MBO Cinemas located in Ampang Galaxy, Kuala Lumpur; Kluang Parade, Johor; Melaka Mall, Malacca; and Terminal 2 Seremban, Negri Sembilan.

These four outlets have a total of 28 screens and a 4,300-seat capacity.

MBO Cinemas was founded by two investors, at a time when there were insufficient number of cinemas in the market especially in smaller towns.

"We opened our first cinema in Galaxy Ampang and we were proven right by going into this untapped market. Our aim was to bring cinemas nearer to the people in the suburban areas and to the untapped consumer market," Toh recalled.

He said the establishment of cinemas in suburban areas has helped create new cinema-goers.

"We will continue to stick to the housing areas and smaller towns. We will not fight head-on with the other major players. The market is big enough for all," he added.

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