Chook, a strategy, design and development agency that specialises in bespoke digital experiences, has received international acclaim at the 28th Annual Webby Awards and clinched the Best in Show in the SEO effectiveness category at the Australian Web Awards for the HOYTS’ Australia and New Zealand websites.
Lead image: Adam Dipper and James Hartcher, Chook
The prestigious International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences named Chook a Webby honouree for Best Practices in Websites and Mobile Sites, a notable achievement that placed Chook’s work with HOYTS among the top 25% of the 13,000 projects submitted to this year’s Webby Awards.
Now in its 19th year, the Australian Web Awards (AWA) champion technical excellence across all digital disciplines in the web industry. The HOYTS website won Best in Show in the SEO effectiveness category for its SEO strategy, achieving the highest rating in core judging disciplines.
The HOYTS website also received the Enterprise Business Award at the Australian Web Awards for its impact on business goals, product development, customer service, and brand awareness. It was also a finalist for the Entertainment & Events category.
“Being recognised by both the Webby Awards and the Australian Web Awards is a tremendous honour for our team. We’ve loved working on this project, and for me this journey with HOYTS began 27 years ago when they took a chance on me as one of my first clients whilst still finishing high school,” said James Hartcher, founder of Chook.
“A couple of decades later, Chook was engaged by HOYTS to redesign and rebuild the Australian and New Zealand websites. We needed to ensure the new sites were resilient, staying online during peak ticket sales and technical issues. From a UX perspective, HOYTS wanted a simplified session time browsing experience, easy content discovery, and a quick checkout process”.
“After two years of development and testing, we launched the new sites in 2023 and the feedback has been hugely positive. We’re proud of the work we do and these accolades are a testament to our commitment to innovate in a playful way, be creative, and deliver cutting-edge digital solutions that resonate with users and drive business success”.
The HOYTS website, designed by Chook, has set a new standard in the entertainment industry with its fast, stable performance. It features a streamlined checkout process with quick session switching and offers digital passes for tickets and member cards, easily saved to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Additionally, it enhances the member experience with a comprehensive dashboard for managing tickets, gift cards, rewards and more, ensuring a seamless experience for moviegoers.
“Working with Chook has been an incredible experience. Their innovative approach and dedication to creating user-centric digital solutions have significantly enhanced our online presence. The recognition that the HOYTS website has received is well-deserved and highlights the exceptional talent and creativity that defines Chook as one of the best in this space,” said Adam Wrightson, group IT director, HOYTS Cinema Technology Group.
Chook has been at the forefront of digital innovation since its inception, crafting interactive and immersive digital experiences that set new standards in the industry. Their work with HOYTS exemplifies their ability to blend artistic flair with technological prowess, resulting in digital experiences that are both aesthetically captivating and functionally superior.
