Kinepolis Ghent gets facelift 28 years after opening of Decascoop

28 years after the opening of Decascoop, Kinepolis Ghent (as 'Decascoop' is now called) received a thorough facelift. The modernisation works started on 12 January and were completed today 25 September. The entrance hall has been demolished, and has now made way for an immense, innovative infrastructure, designed by Architects ESTE. Just in time for the Flanders International Film Festival, starting on 6 October.   From today, cinema, festival and conference visitors enter via an impressive entrance section with the latest gadgets, innovations and facilities. The main entrance was thoroughly restyled, and now looks even more glamorous, spacious and harmonious. 18 high-tech automatic booking counters were inaugurated. In the large self-service shops, visitors can enjoy a wide range of snacks, including a healthy assortment.   Of the 12 auditoriums, 10 are digital. In 2 of the digital auditoriums, 3D films are shown. The digitalisation of the cinema medium ensures a better audio and visual quality, and offers a broader programme with many new entertainment possibilities and B2B applications. The digital offer of events which reaches the big screen in live or recorded format, such as operas, plays, television series, concerts and sports competitions, is undergoing a fascinating development and arousing increasing interest among the public.   With a B2B space of 336 m² accommodating a total capacity of 600 guests, Kinepolis Ghent satisfies the large demand of companies for spacious, easily accessible and professionally equipped conference and reception halls in Ghent. Via the specially adapted conference infrastructure and service, intensive media campaigns and successful partnerships, Kinepolis Ghent is being promoted more strongly than ever as a B2B location.   Besides the new entrance section, 88 studios and apartments will be built next year, a building project in cooperation with the Group Blijweert. The construction of 50 apartments at the rear of the building is planned for 2011.   On Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, Kinepolis fans will be shown how much they are appreciated on the occasion of the inauguration of the new look of Kinepolis Ghent. A visit to the movies then costs only 3 euro per ticket, and each visitor receives a range of discount coupons. The programme of events also includes a series of surprise entertainments.  More info regarding the programme of events for the public on www.kinepolis.com/gent   About Decascoop and Kinepolis Ghent   Decascoop (12 auditoriums, 3470 seats) was conceived of in 1981 thanks to Albert Bert, co-founder and driving force of the Kinepolis Group. Decascoop was revolutionary worldwide and brought about a genuine turning point in the previously declining cinema attendance.    A pioneer of the successful Kinepolis concept, which would develop further in Belgium and Europe. The cinema took the lead in introducing numerous innovations in the field of image technology and sound engineering and at the conceptual level.   In 2007, all seats in the cinema were numbered, and since then the Ghent film fan can reserve his seat in advance (online or otherwise). Meanwhile,  Decascoop -now Kinepolis Ghent- has welcomed as many as 35 million film fans. With almost 1.3 million visitors per year, 30 permanent and an average of 60 temporary employees, Kinepolis Ghent plays a primary role in the city and student life of Ghent and in its economy.