“A few days after the Philippine launch of Pokemon GO, mall operators reported a surge in foot traffic from people hooked on the augmented reality mobile phone-based game,” reports Doris Dumlao-Abadilla in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Maricris Bernardino, Ayala Malls head of marketing, said, “Since the launch of Pokemon Go in the Philippines, our parks and malls have filled with Pokemon hunters. Gamers continue to play and visit our malls despite the rains.” Several unique Pokemon monsters have reportedly been found in Ayala Malls’ gardens and parks.
For his part, Harold Brian Geronimo, assistant vice president at Megaworld Corp, noted that Eastwood City’s daily average foot traffic “more than doubled” after the launch of Pokemon GO. Geronimo added that foot traffic was also higher than McKinley Hill, Burgos Circle, and Venice Piazza. This, he explained, led to an incease in dining sales.
It’s the same case with SM Supermalls. In fact, last Fri night, Aug 12, SM hosted a nationwide Pokemon GO “lure party” across its 50 SM Supermalls and SMDC Properties.
CNN Philippines reports that Robinsons Malls, Araneta Center, Bonifacio High Street, UP Ayalaland Technohub, Greenfield District Central Park, The Podium Mall, and Capitol Commons also hosted lure parties last Aug 12.
