AMC Theatres partners with Zoom to launch the ‘Zoom Room’ in its US cinemas

AMC Theatres made an unexpected partnership announcement earlier this week. The movie theater chain said it had signed a deal with Zoom to open “Zoom Room” in 17 theater locations in the United States.

AMC Theaters said that its deal with Zoom would allow customers to video chat inside its multiplex. The company’s chief executive officer, Aron Adam, said the deal would give them access to the multi-billion market for corporate and other meetings, especially during the weekdays when there are fewer movie-goers, and the multiplex is quiet.

It was noted that over the years, many theaters and cinemas have tried repurposing their buildings to continue to make profits during daytime and slower periods. However, many did not succeed even with the efforts. Now, the largest cinema chain in the world is the latest to experiment with converting its theaters for another function.

Through its team-up with Zoom, AMC Theatres will make it possible for small, medium or large groups to have conference calls when they are in different locations. The chain will open the Zoom Room for this purpose, and it will roll out next year with no exact date yet.

As per Variety, this move is AMC’s odd attempt to branch out its business beyond the movie theater business as it still struggling to recover from the losses brought about by the COVID pandemic. The company was fortunate enough to have avoided bankruptcy, so it is working hard to boost sales again by finding other sources of income, such as the expansion of its popcorn-selling business.

The Zoom Room is AMC’s most recent pursuit to boost its profits. Customers can start booking these rooms online at their chosen time and location once the service is officially launched. Each booking offers a three-hour block of time to host virtual meetings or events.

AMC Theater and Zoom will provide all the equipment for a comfortable and hassle-free Zoom Rooms experience. The size of the auditoriums is different and can accommodate 75 to 150 people.

“One of the lessons learned during the pandemic when so many of us were forced to work remotely was the importance of a reliable, dynamic communications platform. We also learned that even though we may be spread far apart, the ability to come together in person is as important as ever,” AMC Theatres chairman and CEO Adam Aron said in a press release. “That is why I am so excited about this AMC partnership with Zoom.”

Photo by: Ser_Amantio_di_Nicolao/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)