BoxOffice® Pro - May 2013

executive
suite
New milsestones for the convention,
NATO, and our members
EXCITING TIMES AT
CINEMACON 2013
by John Fithian
NATO President & CEO
n On behalf of the National Association of
Theatre Owners and our members worldwide,
welcome to the 2013 edition of CinemaCon.
You may be reading this important issue of
BoxOffice® Pro sitting by the Neptune
Pool at Caesars Palace, or in your seat at the
Colosseum just before another exciting studio
product presentation, or as you take a break
from all that networking on the sold-out trade
floor. Or maybe your week in Vegas was so
incredibly busy that you’re reading on the plane
ride home! Either way, the CinemaCon and
NATO teams are thrilled to have brought you
this exciting week. CinemaCon is the official
convention of NATO, and BoxOffice® Pro is
our official magazine.
The volunteer efforts of many committed
NATO members enable the success of this
convention. We are grateful for the individuals
whose contributions have been extraordinary.
This third annual CinemaCon convention
would not be possible without the leadership
of NATO Conventions Task Force Co-Chairmen
Phil Harris, Signature Theatres and Bill
Stembler, Georgia Theatre Company, and Task
Force members Byron Berkley, Foothills Entertainment;
Rob Del Moro, Regal Entertainment
Group; John McDonald, AMC Entertainment;
and Steve Zuehlke, Cinemark USA. The
Conventions Task Force works closely with
NATO’s professional convention staff headed
by managing director Mitch Neuhauser and
supported by Matt Pollock, Matt Shapiro, and
Cynthia Schuler. A debt of gratitude, too, goes
to NATO’s officers—chairman David Passman,
Carmike Cinemas; vice chairwoman Nora
Dashwood, Pacific Theatres/ArcLight Cinemas;
secretary Mark O’Meara; University Mall
Theatres; and treasurer Byron Berkley, Foothills
Entertainment—and all of NATO’s executive
board members, who have been so supportive
of the convention.
The CinemaCon program schedule is
diverse, informative, and fun. It includes the
largest cinema trade show in the world featuring
the latest advances in cinema technology
and innovations in concessions. NATO is
grateful to Joe DeMeo and the International
Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and
to John Evans Jr., and the National Association
of Concessionaires (NAC) for their
leadership and support in filling a world-class
trade show floor.
CinemaCon is a great place to recognize
outstanding NATO member volunteers as they
are surrounded by industry colleagues and
friends. This year, Alejandro Ramirez Magaña,
Cinépolis, will receive the Global Achievement
in Exhibition Award; Bob Shimmin, Cinemark
USA, will be honored as the 2013 Bert Nathan
Memorial Award recipient; and Amy Miles,
Regal Entertainment Group, will receive the
NATO Marquee Award. We congratulate these
extraordinary members.
CinemaCon 2013 sets a new record for film
product presentations. During the week, our
CinemaCon delegates will be treated to major
movie product and screening presentations from
eight different studios—more than ever before.
The Colosseum will be busy all week as our studio
partners bring us clips of their coming hits,
(continued on page 16)
14 BoxOffice ® Pro The Business of Movies may 2013