​FILMS

rewards programs

Rewards programs: The two main cinema chains in Sydney are Event Cinemas and Hoyts. Both offer loyalty rewards to their patrons...Cinebuzz for Event Cinemas and Hoyts Rewards for Hoyts. If you love going to the movies and would like to save some money, you should be a member of one of these. My preference is Cinebuzz.

Both reward programs allocate points to your membership every time you see a movie. It is much faster to earn that free movie with your Cinebuzz card. If you pay the full admission cost, it only takes 6 movies before you reach that freebie which is a standard 2D movie. However, if you use a discount voucher every time you see a movie that will take you 8 movies before you can see the next 2D movie for free. Extra points are given every time you see a 3D or Gold Class movie.

Hoyts takes you a ridiculous 15 movies to see a freebie, if you use discount vouchers. Like Event Cinemas, extra points are allocated for the more expensive sessions. I have completed a Hoyts survey comparing their poor value with their main competitor. What also makes the Hoyts Rewards program inferior is that you must renew your membership every year at a cost of $12. They throw in the added bonus of a 'free' ticket when you renew. Cinebuzz has free membership and there isn't the hassle of renewing every year.

Both Hoyts and Event allow their member holders to save on other areas such as the discounted movie of the week ($10), candy bar 'specials' (not really specials when you take into account their inflated prices to start with) and advanced screenings. For more information, check out the links below:

http://www.hoyts.com.au/myhoyts.aspx
https://www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinebuzz

(Written on Saturday 1st November, 2014)