Boxoffice Pro - December 2019

SEATING
ENCORE BY PALLISER
concessions as a result of innovations on the seating
front. Additionally, it sees significant growth
opportunities for premium-seating upgrades outside
the U.S. Looking ahead, the company cites
connectivity, personalization, and data analytics
as trends worth watching.
A factor in this sustained level of interest in
premium seating is the rise of dine-in cinemas,
leading circuits to consider seating partners that
can help them maintain cleaning standards at
their locations.
Telescopic Seating Systems has begun addressing
this in its product line with its Smart Clean
Sweep technology, which lowers theater costs by
only opening recliners for cleaning that have been
recently occupied. The company believes that dinein
cinemas will become the fastest-growing and
most profitable segment of the exhibition market,
something it’s prepared for with a line of dynamic
table systems specifically designed for that segment.
Another trend in exhibition that has helped
spur premium seating is VIP cinemas and auditoriums.
Canada-based Palliser sees the market
evolving from switching out traditional seats for
recliners to offering consumers a variety of choices
at different price points, reminiscent of what the
airline industry has been doing. This means that
one could potentially have different sections of
the same auditorium equipped with different
premium-seating options—going from basic seats
near the front of the auditorium to more luxury
options, priced accordingly—aligned with the best
viewing angles. Consulting its crystal ball, Palliser
foresees more electronics options that will offer
customers the ability to personalize their comfort.
As the latest quarter’s earnings reports from the
top public circuits show, reseating isn’t a one-anddone
proposition, and it appears that new innovations
from manufacturers will continue addressing
evolving consumer demand.
30 DECEMBER 2019