Netflix Co-Founder Wants to Sell You...

a Subscription to Go to the Movies

Mitch Lowe is taking over as CEO of movie-theater subscription service MoviePass.

Almost two decades after helping found Netflix, Mitch Lowe is turning his attention to another startup trying to change the way people watch movies. Lowe has taken over as chief executive officer at MoviePass, a five-year old company that offers an all-you-can-watch subscription service for movie theaters.

MoviePass gives subscribers a debit card that allows them to attend as many movies as they want. The service starts at about $30 a month, with higher prices in more expensive cities. The subscription covers 90 percent of movie theaters in the U.S., according to MoviePass. Still, the experience feels like a bit of a hack in most places, largely because theaters haven’t completely bought into the idea. Outside a Manhattan theater on Saturday night, there was a laminated card taped to the box office window explaining how the MoviePass process works. It was five paragraphs long.

Lowe acknowledged that he has a lot of work to do to persuade both theaters and movie fans that this is something they should go along with. “We’ve got a subscription where you can go to the movies at almost any theater that accepts a debit card, yet people don’t really get how great an experience we can make it,” said Lowe. Earlier this year, he took a significant ownership stake in the company and began serving as an adviser, then agreed to take over as CEO. He said that Spikes, the co-founder and current CEO, will stay with the company.

Mitch Lowe. 

If Lowe does jump-start MoviePass, it will be a satisfying capstone on a career that has touched on the development of many new business models for watching films. His first foray was an investment in Captain Video, a San Francisco Bay Area movie store chain, in 1982. During that era, Lowe’s big innovation was using color-coded paper clips on the 3-by-5 index cards used to track rentals so the manager would know what day to expect the tapes to be returned.

In the 1990s, he built a company that allowed stores to set up their own websites and became head of the Video Software Dealers Association, the trade group for video stores. There, he met Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, who were looking to start a DVD-by-mail service called Netflix. He sensed a big idea and pitched himself as the person who could help make it happen. “They were looking for someone who knew the business,” he said. He later went onto be president of Redbox, the video-rental kiosk company.

One major stumbling block to proving the potential of a subscription service for theaters could be that the idea kind of runs counter to the last decade or so of movie-going habits. Attendance at U.S. movie theaters has declined by 17 percent since 2002, according to Box Office Mojo. Theaters have been able to weather the storm by charging people more each time they come to the theater. Average ticket prices have risen 45 percent, mostly because theaters focus on upselling people on such features as 3D or IMAX that are hard to replicate in private residences.

Subscription services seem to appeal best for products people consume routinely. Going to the movie theater is becoming less of a routine for Americans, and movie theaters are adjusting accordingly.

To get people comfortable with the idea of subscriptions, MoviePass plans to launch its first major marketing campaign. Lowe wants to expand the company’s range of services, with the cheapest subscription coming in at under $20 a month. He will immediately look to raise a further funding round. 

Smoothing the customer experience probably means convincing movie theaters to work more closely with MoviePass. Over the last five years, many theater owners have been skeptical. “The movie industry has been very resistant to change,” said Wade Holden, an analyst at SNL Kagan. “They’re trying to draw in more crowds but still keep their traditional ticketing services.”

Lowe insists that theaters have nothing to fear. He believes a subscription service will inspire people to visit theaters more regularly. MoviePass doesn’t take a cut of the ticket sales it facilitates. Its business model is similar to the one employed by most fitness clubs—hoping more subscribers will underuse the service than overuse it. “The theaters will get full price,” said Lowe. “We’re not asking for a discount or a rebate. When we go into these conversations, that’s the first thing they expect us to be asking.”

New Big Ship era begins...

What's Happening @ Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

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MONDAY, 27 JUNE 2016 Today's High Temp: 88° F/31.1° C Miami Beach Surf Temp: 80° F/26.6° C JUNE TEMPTATION Miami is internationally renowned for its spectacular film festivals, art cinemas and success as a film destination. Celebrate Miami Film Month this March. Participating art cinemas will offer the member ticket price, where applicable. For more GMCVB Marketing Programs, visit MiamiTemptations.com. JULY/AUGUST TEMPTATION Greater Miami and the Beaches is renowned for luxury spas that are ranked among the "Best Spas in America." Celebrate with us during July and August as we feature Miami Spa Month where you can enjoy special treatments for $99 at Miami's premier spas. For more GMCVB Marketing Programs, visit MiamiTemptations.com. DID YOU KNOW... The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is featured in the 1964 James Bond classic "Goldfinger," most notably in the sweeping aerial shot that follows the opening credits and accompanies composer John Barry's big-band track "Into Miami." It was the hotel where character Jill Masterton meets his end at the hands of villainous character Oddjob. PORTMIAMI Cruise Capital of the World™ Always was. Always will be. PortMiami Ushers in New Big Ship Era with Special Event July 9, 2016 On July 9, 2016, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, PortMiami officials and partners will celebrate “History in the Making” the arrival of the MOL Majesty container ship – the first Miami-bound Neo-Panamax vessel to transit the expanded Panama Canal. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MIA) #1 in Airline Carriers in the U.S. MIA Welcomes President of Taiwan Aboard First Nonstop Passenger Flight from Asia State and local officials joined Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González at MIA on June 24, 2016 to welcome the arrival of Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). President Tsai and her party, made a stop in Miami before continuing to Panama the following day, will be arriving on a China Airlines nonstop flight from Taipei – the first nonstop passenger trip between Asia and Miami. CUSTOMER SERVICE CORNER Be True to Your Word Read this week's Customer Service Tip of the Week... GETTING AROUND TOWN Miami-Dade Transit Tracker App The free Miami-Dade Transit Tracker App makes it easier than ever to have a fun-filled Miami-Dade County vacation on public transit. Metrorail, Metrobus and Metromover offer excellent travel value in Miami. They connect you from airport to hotel to scores of popular tourist destinations, by rail or by road. It’s a big system, but the MDT Tracker App puts it all in order for you. Download MDT Tracker App from the App Store or Google Play now!  More Than Just A Ride To The Airport Now your SuperShuttle pick-up is faster and more efficient than ever with their new App! Faster booking & check-in, secure transactions and you can even locate your shuttle! SuperShuttle is the “official” airport shuttle operator at MIA and has “exclusive” curb side access at the MIA arrivals terminal. Their service offers shared-ride or private transportation to or from the airport, ports, hotel, home, or office. You can download the App and book your ride or call 305/871-2000.   More Options Than Ever No matter where you’re headed, getting around Miami and Beaches is easier than ever thanks to new and exciting transportation options. From the Citi Bike program operated by DECOBIKE to the free trolley service available in several neighborhoods, quality taxi and limousine service and the ultra-convenient Miami METROMOVER and METRORAIL including direct service to MIA—we promise you’ll get there. Miami will soon enjoy access to high speed rail thanks to the new GoBrightline train service connecting the destination with other major cities in Florida. Digitally Dispatched Car Sharing Services The popularity of this type of service available through mobile apps continues to grow for companies such as UBER, which is now available in 45 countries and more than 270 cities around the world. A similar service is offered by LYFT in more than 90 cities enabling passengers who need a ride to request one from drivers who have an available car. Get a Taxi in One App ZabCab, ZabCab Driver, and ZabCab Front Desk are companion apps for consumers, drivers and businesses. They work together to help passengers find taxis – and taxi drivers to find passengers – quickly and easily from a smartphone. They are available to download at the App Store and Google Play. CORPORATE PARTNER ANNIVERSARIES A strong CVB begins with a strong partnership base. The support of our corporate partners aids us in promoting Greater Miami and the Beaches to the world. Join us in recognizing the GMCVB's Corporate Partners who are celebrating their membership anniversary this month: BIRTHDAYS The GMCVB wishes a happy birthday to our friends and family... GMCVB PHOTO ALBUM GMCVB Team members are busy selling and promoting Greater Miami and The Beaches at home and around the world. Click through to see recent photos of the GMCVB Team in action and tap on the photos for captions.  RESOURCE CENTER Travel Updates • Mobile Passport Control App at Miami International Airport (MIA) • Get in the Fast Lane at MIA! TSA Pre-Check Now Available for Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Local Interest • Florida Tax Watch Study Details Benefits of Expanding Florida Tourism • National Travel and Tourism a Big Win for Industry COUNTDOWN Days until: 5 Miami Spa Month 35 15th Annual Miami Spice 64 La Cita de las Americas 89 AfrICANDO 2016 Trade & Investment Conference and Trade Show 104 Miami Broward Carnival 158 Art of Black Miami 160 Carnival Vista arrives at PortMiami 353 WorldOutGames 2017 379 MLB Midsummer Classic 88th All-Star Game 1316 Super Bowl LIV 2020 ABOUT THE PUBLISHER William D. Talbert III, CDME President and CEO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Download Outlook® V-Card Newsletter Archive | Story Archive TOP STORY - TOP 25 MARKETS: JANUARY - MAY 2016 FOR THE MONTHS OF JANUARY – MAY 2016, HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY IN GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES REACHED 81.3 PERCENT, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. HOTEL ROOM ROOMS SOLD FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD WERE UP +2.5 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME IN 2015, PARTIALLY ABSORBING THE 4.1 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOM INVENTORY YEAR ON YEAR. DEMAND FOR TRAVEL TO GREATER MIAMI AND THE BEACHES DURING JANUARY – MAY 2016 REMAINED STRONG RANKING #3 IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM (REVPAR), #3 IN AVERAGE DAILY ROOM RATE (ADR) AND #5 IN HOTEL ROOM OCCUPANCY AMONG THE TOP 25 U.S. MARKETS AS DEFINED BY SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH.  January - May 2016 Rooms Sold January - May 2016 January - May 2015 % Change vs. 2015 6,457,920 6,298,248 +2.5% Rooms Supply January - May 2016 January - May 2015 % Change vs. 2015 52,618 50,533 +4.1% Miami #3 - Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) January - May 2016 January - May 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $181.62 $189.36 -4.1% Miami #3 - Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) January - May 2016 January - May 2015 % Change vs. 2015 $223.45 $229.42 -2.6% Miami #5 - Average Daily Occupancy January - May 2016 January - May 2015 % Change vs. 2015 81.3%  82.5% -1.5% U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Appoints GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME to Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, Reappoints Express Travel President & CEO Olga Ramudo GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III CDME has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB). First chartered in 2003, TTAB serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. The Board advises the Secretary on government policies and programs that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry, offers counsel on current and emerging issues, and provides a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems. Board members collaborate with other government agencies as part of the Tourism Policy Council, which advanced the development of the President’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The GMCVB extends congratulations to Olga Ramudo, President and CEO of Express Travel, Miami, FL, a GMCVB Partner and esteemed industry colleague, who has been reappointed to the TTAB.  HEADLINES THIS WEEK Miami Film Month Returns to a Screen Near You this June! During June, visitors and locals can take advantage of $8 films at participating art cinemas and other special offers during GMCVB’s Miami Film Month. From niche indies to internationally renowned and critically-acclaimed films, GMCVB’s Miami Film Month has something for everyone. Miami Film Month is sponsored by Citibank®. It's Time to Spa! GMCVB's 9th Annual Miami Spa Month Returns July 1, 2016 Miami Spa Month, one of GMCVB’s most popular monthly Temptations programs, returns to the destination beginning July 1, 2016! Greater Miami and the Beaches is renowned for luxury spas that rank among the “Best in America,” and are beloved by spa connoisseurs around the world. WWE Entertainment Ranks #4, #6 and #10 in Nielsen's Cable Top 25 Ratings for the Week Ending June 12, 2016 WWE's WrestleMania Week drew record-breaking crowds to Miami and Beaches in April 2012.  GMCVB President & CEO to Attend U.S. Conference of Mayors June 23-27, 2016 GMCVB President & CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME is currently attending the 2016 U.S. Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis, IN USA,  through 27, 2016. The City of Miami Beach will host the prestigious conference in 2017. The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. GMCVB Promotes Greater Miami at Toronto Gay Pride GMCVB Associate Vice President fF Cultural Tourism George Neary is selling and promoting Greater Miami and the Beaches with a booth at the annual Toronto Gay Pride event July 24-27, 2016. The booth will be located right in the center of things and feature collateral materials of the destination. GMCVB Hosts 2016 Annual Partner Marketing & Planning Retreat on June 28, 2016 Join the GMCVB on June 28, 2016 at The Biltmore Hotel for an opportunity to provide input into the Bureau’s annual planning process and to learn about our preliminary plans for the upcoming year. In addition to an industry update, there will be breakout sessions led by GMCVB senior staff focusing on all of our sales and marketing initiatives GMCVB President & CEO to Attend The Ritz-Carlton’s Key Biscayne, Miami 15th Anniversary Celebration on July 1, 2016 One of Greater Miami’s most popular resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary with a brunch celebration at the resort’s Cioppino Restaurant on July 1, 2016. An oceanfront resort on exclusive Key Biscayne, the resort features an atmosphere of relaxed elegance with tropical accents. GMCVB Supported 4th Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Greater Miami Festivals Association GMCVB AVP of Cultural Tourism George Neary was the emcee and interviewer for the plenary session workshops on event production/operations/social media and artist involvement at the Greater Miami Festivals Association’s annual conference on June 22, 2016. Miami Film Development Project Grants for Local Filmmakers Extended to June 30, 2016 The Miami Film Development Project (MFDP), focused on supporting homegrown filmmakers, has extended its film grant deadline to June 30, 2016. Grants are available for several initiatives and amounts to over $10K. These various MFDP grant initiatives are aimed towards supporting the destination's diverse filmmaking community.  GMCVB UPDATES Travel Industry Sales GMCVB Travel Industry Sales Participates in Annual International Association of Golf Tour Operators on June 26 – 29, 2016 GMCVB Travel Industry Sales and Miami Sports Tourism Teams will be attending the International Association of Golf Tour Operator’s annual trade show in Pinehurst, NC USA. Nearly 300 international golf tour operators will participate in this show. Promote your business domestically and abroad! Sign up now for GMCVB Travel Industry Sales Missions. Spots are quickly filling for the following opportunities: Northeast Sales Mission New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut and New York City September 6-9, 2016. Canada Sales Mission Toronto and Montreal October 3-7, 2016. Convention Sales & Services GMCVB Convention Sales Participates in Smart Meetings East National, June 26-28, 2016 Smart Meetings is a networking event where the GMCVB Convention Sales Team will have  the opportunity to execute up to 25 one-on-one highly-targeted appointments with meeting planners who are actively sourcing. GMCVB Convention Sales Promotes Greater Miami to Finance and Insurance Markets GMCVB Convention Sales participated in the FICP (Finance and Insurance Conference Planners) Education Forum, June 21-24, 2016 in Half Moon Bay, CA, USA. The agenda featured educational presentations and plenty of one-on-one networking opportunities to showcase all the latest happenings in Greater Miami and Beaches. GMCVB Convention Sales Returns from IBTM Americas GMCVB Convention Sales Team was joined by The Betsey Hotel at a very successful and productive edition of IBTM Americas June 15-17, 2016 in Nashville, TN, USA. The Team returned to Miami with 16 solid leads for the destination, and many new accounts for our hotels and partners. Media Relations & Promotions GMCVB Media Relations Assists Brazil’s Folha de Sao Paulo Newspaper GMCVB Media Relations is assisting a journalist from Brazil’s major daily newspaper, Folha de Sao Paulo, June 24-28, 2016. While in Miami the journalist is experiencing the FAENA hotel’s spa and dining options GMCVB Media Relations Assists Indonesian Luxury Travel Blogger GMCVB Media Relations will be assisting in hosting a luxury travel blogger out of Indonesia, June 30-July 3, 2016. While in Miami the blogger will be hosted by the Four Seasons hotel and will experience the property’s amenities as well as unique Miami dining and culture throughout the destination. Sports Tourism USA Water Polo Women’s Senior National Team Vs. Hungary – June 27, 2016 USA Water Polo Women's National Team goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) returns home on June 27th at 6p.m. and will get the chance to guard a goal she is very familiar with as the USA Women's National Team will take on Hungary at Ransom Everglades School in Miami Dirt Devils Mountain Bike Festival July 9-10, 2016 Miami-Dade County’s Historic Virginia Key Park will host the upcoming Dirt Devils Mountain Bike Festival July 9-10, 2016. On July 9 the day will start with a free bicycle demo for adults and a kids’ meet up to teach them how to ride mountain bikes inside the trails and overcome any obstacles they might encounter. Multicultural Tourism & Development Stars Come Out as The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Returns to Greater Miami and the Beaches for 20th Anniversary The 20th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) returned to Miami and the Beaches last week June 15-19, 2016, attracting more than 7,000 attendees to the five-day event. The festival consisted of entertainment-related sessions and film screenings of up and coming releases.  Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board Hosts Pillars Awards at Historic Hampton House Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board hosted the Pillars Awards at the Historic Hampton House on Saturday June 18, 2016. Ten Young Pillars were recognized and received scholarships to continue their post high school education along with eight Community Pillars who were selected for their support of programs or businesses which positively impact the community and have a deep commitment to public service. Advertising & Digital Marketing Miami Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Collection Miami’s boutique and lifestyle hotels are intimate and stylish, and all about personal attention and service - enjoy the see-and-be-seen vibe. It’s So Miami Campaign   The It’s So Miami branding campaign generated 2.3M impressions of the months of May and June. This campaign was featured in RGM Group, PureWow, AFAR, Modern Luxury, Time, among others. Voting Period Underway for Miami Film Month Culinary Video Contest Local filmmakers: June’s Miami Film Month video contest’s submission period is underway. The GMCVB-hosted culinary video contest is open to Miami- Dade residents. Filmmakers are encouraged to create a one to two minute video showcasing Miami’s multicultural culinary scene for a chance to win the $3,000 grand prize. GMCVB Partnership Events & Opportunities GMCVB Marketing & Planning Retreat Tuesday, June 28, 2016 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Biltmore Hotel Miami - Coral Gables 1200 Anastasia Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33134 USA Check out these exclusive Partnership opportunities: •    GMCVB’s Medical Tourism Initiative •    GMCVB Partners Facebook Group •    Add your Special Offers to MiamiandBeaches.com •    New Partner Showcase Global Network News GMCVB representatives domestically and all around the globe promote Greater Miami as the premier destination for leisure and business. Read their updates here. • Caribbean • Europe • Latin America • U.S. & Canada  CALENDAR OF EVENTS June/July Through 6/30 Miami Film Month 6/28 WWE Smackdown 7/1-8/31    Miami Spa Month 7/1 Lyric Live 7/1-7/3 Schnebly's Lychee Summer Celebration 7/2-7/3 Justin Bieber - The Purpose Tour 7/3 Bluegrass Festival at Greynolds Park 7/3 Freedom Festival USA 7/4 Independence Day Celebrations in Greater Miami and the Beaches 7/8 Black Violin 7/9 International Mango Festival 7/9-7/10 Dirt Devils Mountain Bike Festival 7/12-7/17 FISU World University Netball Championships 7/14-7/17 FUNKSHION SWIM: Fashion Week Miami Beach Swim 7/14-7/18 Miami Beach Bruthaz 7/15 Bowling for Rhinos 7/16-7/19 SwimShow 7/23 6th Annual Overtown Music and Arts Festival 7/27 Miami Short Film Festival: Focus on Argentina 7/28 New Times Iron Fork Miami Spice 2016 Kickoff Event  MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS Meetings & Conventions Meeting Date Venue Attend. Florida Supercon - Florida Supercon 2016 6/30-7/4 Miami Beach Convention Center 12,000