2nd screen opens at Princess Cinema
For over a decade Belizean movie fans suffered in silence as cable television put the big screens out of business. As of tonight, however, connoisseurs of cinema will have not one, but two theatres to choose from. Ann-Marie reports from the Newtown Barracks.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
Preparations are in high gear for tonight’s opening of the second cinema at the Princess Hotel and Casino. General Manager, Doncho Donchev, says the one hundred and fifty-seat facility will be ready for tonight’s VIP opening.
Doncho Donchev, G.M. Princess Hotel and Casino
“As usual, at the last minute you have to finish something. But there are just some small things to finish. We have been waiting a long time for the seats and for the projector, about one month and a half, two months, just for the supply to arrive. But now everything’s okay, we’ll be finished…in about one hour we’ll finish everything.
And this afternoon when we took a tour of the cinema, they were testing everything; even tonight’s movie, Collateral Damage, making sure that it wasn’t damaged.
And after tonight’s opening, starting Saturday the public will be able to enjoy the luxury of the two cinemas. When asked if there’s a demand for two screens, Donchev says its part of the Princess’ plan to corner the entertainment market.
Doncho Donchev
“The strategy of our company has change, with eleven hotels, two in this area, two galleries in Europe. But the strategy is to have bowling, to have cinema, to have casino, to be one centre of entertainment. In the two cinemas, you have different movies. With a difference of half an hour, we start in the first cinema with one good movie. Half an hour after that we start in the second cinema, which will be interesting for the citizens I think.”
With this seven hundred thousand U.S. dollar investment, things at the Princess Hotel and Casino are certainly not static.
Doncho Donchev
“Changes started with first, as you know, after that with the first cinema, now with the second cinema. Two months ago, we had the opening for the bowling, with eight lanes. Now, we start construction of the swimming pool, Olympic size: forty-five metres to twelve metres. Every time you must try to do something new for the first time.”
Two new floors just completed bring the hotel’s room count to one hundred and eighty-one, the largest in the country. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
The Princess entertainment complex also includes a bowling alley and fitness centre.
