Vista Group Conference Provides State-of-the-Art Industry Software Update for Global Film Industry Customers and Partners

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND and LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2017) - More than 200 cinema professionals from around the world gathered in Auckland, New Zealand last week for the 8^th biennial VISTA Customer Conference. The conference was the largest yet that Vista has held. Vista Group, the world-leading provider of cinema management, film distribution and customer analytics solutions to studios, distributors, exhibitors, and moviegoers, provided state-of-the-industry updates on current and future product developments.

Held Monday, March 6^th through Thursday, March 9^th, delegates from major multi-territory cinema chains through to independents, heard from Vista experts about the latest exciting innovations in Vista Cinema, ranging from mobile apps and food and beverage solutions, through to new products that Vista Group is imagining and developing. Aligned with Vista's strategy of bringing new and improved synergistic solutions to the industry, Vista's aim of 'Rethinking the Business of the Movies' was evident. In-depth product tutorials were available in the 'Vista Lab,' which was configured especially for the event and proved very popular with delegates.

In his opening remarks, VISTA Group CEO Murray Holdaway said: "Vista Group businesses enjoy very close relationships with our customers in over 80 countries around the world. With more than 500 people in New Zealand, the USA, China, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Romania, we are well across the global cinema landscape and that helps us to anticipate what new products will have the most effect on a customer's business."

In a move that highlighted Vista Group's reputation and standing, the opening keynote address was given by New Zealand Government Finance Minister Steven Joyce, formerly Minister of Communications & Information Technology and Minister of Science & Innovation. View remarks from Mr Holdaway and Minister Joyce here.

Minister Joyce has been a longtime supporter of Vista's highly-successful one-stop-shop approach to the software needs of the cinema industry and used Vista to illustrate the overall entrepreneurial spirit that is connected to the extraordinary recent growth in the New Zealand economy.

He attributed the country's solid financial growth to several factors, among them its proximity to the exploding Asia Pacific market including China and Japan, attractive product and service sectors including New Zealand tourism, food and beverage, and an enviable high tech and IT presence. The latter, said Minister Joyce, is best illustrated by Vista Group, which was named New Zealand's 'Hi-Tech Company of the Year' in 2016.