Robinsons malls level up with cinema upgrades

Robinsons Movieworld joins SM and Ayala Center malls in offering online convenience to movie-watchers.

Robinsons’ Internet-based ticketing system is so user-friendly, it’s virtually “idiot-proof,” according to Rupert Japit of Rogue Digital, Inc., which created the site.

Streamlines

Designers say they made sure the Web page (robinsonsmovieworld.com) is streamlined and simple.

Roseann C. Villegas, PR manager, points out that, unlike other companies’ online services, Robinsons’ ticketing system has “no hidden costs, no registration fees and no Web charges.”

Movie watchers can book their tickets via their smartphones, iPads, laptops and PCs and avoid the hassle of long queues—especially for blockbuster movies.

Payments can be made through credit cards as of now, but the Robinsons team is looking into other modes of payment, like Paypal.

Japit notes that the ticketing site is protected because it is coursed through the commercial banking system (HSBC), “the same system used on Amazon.com or eBay.”

Upon accomplishing the online reservation e-form, customers will receive via e-mail or mobile phone a response with the confirmation code or reference number.

“Customers who purchased tickets online do not have to present a print out of the confirmation code/number,” Villegas says. “They can simply show the SMS or e-mail confirmation on their mobile phones to mall personnel.”

The ticketing service offers access to over 80 cinemas in the mall chain’s 17 locations nationwide—from Laoag in the north to as far south as General Santos City.

Since its August 1 launch, customer response has been “encouraging,” the team reports.

Online customers were not concentrated in Metro Manila, they stress. “There was interest even in the provinces. We got lots of reservations in Dumaguete, primarily from young people who wanted to avoid the long lines during screenings of the latest ‘Transformers’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ finale. We’re very optimistic about this new service.”

Popcorn, too

Apart from reserving seats, customers can order popcorn, drinks and other snack items online as well.

Mall executives vow to add new features to the online ticketing service to make movie-watching more convenient and relaxing.