CES Trade Show: The Complete Guide
For many reasons, consumer electronics and technology trade shows are essential for the tech industry. They provide a platform for tech companies to showcase their new product innovations and determine market demand.
Meanwhile, visitors can discover the latest and greatest from the world of consumer electronics and tech and stay updated about current trends.
These shows also offer a dedicated platform for networking with and learning from industry leaders and experts.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the consumer tech industry’s biggest and most reputed trade shows.
In this article, we will delve into the history of the CES Trade Show and its importance for exhibitors and attendees.
We will also share accommodation options so you can enjoy a comfortable stay while attending the show.
Let’s dive in.
What Is the CES Trade Show?
The CES Trade Show is often considered the Super Bowl for the international consumer technology and electronics industry. It is a staple among the technology trade shows in the United States.
The world’s top tech companies, niche tech startups, and industry leaders regularly make their presence felt at this show. They showcase their best innovations and share their ideas with the world here.
The CES Trade Show takes place every January in Las Vegas. It provides four action-packed days of product launches, expert talks, networking opportunities, and more.
More than 5,000 exhibitors and 180,000 attendees, including high-level executives from all over the world, regularly attend this top tech show.
Around 7,000 media representatives cover the show and the new trends that surface from it. Media Days, an exclusive media-only event at the show, offers a full preview of the new product launches here.
History of CES
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) owns and hosts the CES Trade Show, the technology sector’s flagship trade fair.
The CTA is a well-known trade organization that promotes and supports companies from the consumer and business tech industry worldwide. It tracks the latest industry trends and predicts consumer tech sales, especially in the United States.
It held the first edition of the CES Trade Show in June 1967 in New York City. This edition saw an attendance of around 250 exhibitors and 17,500 visitors.
Between 1978 and 1994, the association held the show twice every year. They held one every January in Las Vegas called the Winter Consumer Electronics Show (WCES).
The second one—called the Summer Consumer Electronics Show (SCES)—took place every June in Chicago.
In 1995, they successfully conducted the winter show in Las Vegas. However, the organizers found that the summer shows in Chicago were starting to lose steam.
So, that year, they decided to have the show travel across different cities—with a planned show in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
However, they finally scrapped the Philadelphia show when the inaugural E3 gaming show, slated to be held in May on the West Coast, became a source of increasing competition.
In 1996, they held the winter show again in Las Vegas in January and the summer show in Orlando, Florida. Sadly, it saw abysmal attendance from the traditional exhibitors.
They planned to organize the following summer show along with Spring COMDEX in Atlanta. The association had to call off this summer CES show, too, when only about two dozen exhibitors registered for it.
Finally, in 1998, the show began reappearing in its once-a-year format with Las Vegas as the fixed venue. The CES Trade Show is one of the most influential tech trade events in Las Vegas.
It takes approximately 18 days to set up, run, and dismantle the show.
Today, the tech show has grown manifold and covers traditional and non-traditional tech industries.
Who Is CES For?
The CES Trade Show is a trade-only event. So, the public cannot attend this show. It caters exclusively to businesses and professionals affiliated with the consumer technology industry.
To attend the show, registrants must submit their business credentials to the CTA in advance.
Once the CTA verifies the registrant’s affiliation with the consumer technology industry, they can proceed with the other registration formalities and attend or exhibit at the show.
Past visitors and exhibitors can use the same CTA/CES account credentials for CES 2023 and future shows.
Why Should I Attend the CES Trade Show?
The CES Trade Show is an incredible forum where tech experts and powerhouses gather under one roof to discover new tech trends.
If you are wondering why you must attend this show, here are the key reasons that make it a must-visit:
An Extensive Array of Product Categories
CES 2023 will welcome thousands of international exhibitors eager to showcase around 20,000 new, innovative tech products.
There will be many tech manufacturers, product developers, suppliers, techies, and others from the industry.
So, attendees can gather at the exhibition halls to browse consumer tech hardware, content, media systems, and so on.
They can explore an unmatched breadth of product assortments such as AI, AR, VR, 5G connectivity, smart cities, self-driving cars, robotics, fintech, sports, and more.
They can discover key technological innovations from 24 product categories that enhance people’s lives and work. They can also talk to manufacturers and developers directly and resolve their queries about the products instantly.
Networking Opportunities
With so many startups, leading tech companies, and industry experts under one roof, attendees can easily connect with these industry players.
They can network with the biggest names in the world of consumer tech and develop profitable and valuable partnerships that can help them bring about innovation in the field.
Educational Sessions
The annual consumer tech and electronics expo will open its doors to leading tech powerhouses and leaders who are paving the future of technology.
HTC, NVIDIA, and TikTok are only a few of the key presenters at the show. The CTA has always hosted an event rich in educational sessions, and the 2023 edition will be no different.
You can expect to attend key sessions on smart cities, 5G and mobile communications, digital retail, cybersecurity, food tech, sports tech, and space tech.
CES has also hosted exciting events like autonomous race-car challenges that help advance autonomous technology. Such events also allow STEM university students to kick-start a career in tech.
The upcoming edition will also feature educational and innovative events that will benefit attendees.
Why Should I Exhibit at the CES Trade Show?
The CES Trade Show offers a fantastic opportunity for exhibitors to grow their clientele and business at the show. If you’re looking for reasons to exhibit at this tech show, here are some top factors that make it stand out:
Product Innovations
Like any industry, the tech industry is all about innovation and growth. The CES Trade Show provides a global stage for entrepreneurs and product developers to present their new products and wow customers.
It offers a low-cost marketing channel where a large number of attendees from around the world can check out a brand’s latest innovations and speak to manufacturers directly.
It also allows manufacturers to understand what ticks customers’ boxes and if there will be demand for their products.
They can use customer feedback to improve their products and create more successful launches.
Business Networking
The show offers a plethora of networking opportunities for tech companies looking to expand their business network.
Businesses can meet other startups, global powerhouses, industry experts, exhibit companies, and other professionals from the tech sector.
They can have in-depth discussions with them and strike ethical, win-win partnerships that can help them grow their business sustainably.
Cultivating Brand Awareness
More than 170,000 visitors are expected to attend the CES 2023 edition. Out of that, more than 58,000 attendees are from outside the United States and will represent over 160 countries.
So, tech companies, especially startups, get an extraordinary chance to present their brand offerings to a large crowd and put the spotlight on their business at the show.
They can employ effective marketing tactics such as promotional offers and attractive displays to bring more footfall to their booth.
This can help them reach more customers, generate leads, and improve their brand visibility and bottom line.
Strengthening Customer Relationships
The CES Trade Show is not only a place for finding new customers but also reconnecting with the old ones.
If you cannot connect with your existing customers due to the pandemic or other reasons, you can meet your crowd here at the show.
You can also bring lost customers back into the fold with enticing marketing strategies and product launches that they’ll love.
Learning
The CES 2023 will have a conference program highlighting the latest advancements in different tech fields.
Businesses can learn about AI, robotics, vehicle tech, advanced mobility, environment and sustainability, metaverse and gaming, digital health, smart home and lifestyle, home entertainment and streaming, and more.
The show will also cover new topics such as the creator economy, Web3, and NFTs.
When And Where Is The CES Trade Show?
The CES Trade Show 2023 edition will go on from January 5, 2023, to January 8, 2023.
The show will be held at the usual venue at the famed Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109.
Accommodation Guide
The CES Trade Show 2023 offers a fantastic selection of hotels in Las Vegas where you can easily secure a room for your stay during the show.
For this, the organizers have partnered with the hotel provider onPeak as the official housing agent. onPeak offers excellent customer support and flexibility and provides the best rates.
Booking early with onPeak will help you get the best room selection and prices. You can make individual reservations for up to nine rooms on a single night.
You can request a group block if you need ten or more rooms on a single night.
Here are some leading hotel options onPeak offers to exhibitors and attendees:
- Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World
- Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
- Luxor Resort & Casino
- MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
- Park MGM
- Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
- Wynn Las Vegas
- Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
- The Signature at MGM Grand
- The D Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
- TI – Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
- Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World Hotel
- Excalibur Hotel & Casino
- The Mirage
- The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod
- ARIA Resort & Casino
- Circa Resort & Casino
- The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
- The Palazzo at The Venetian
- Plaza Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
- Bellagio Hotel & Casino
- Alexis Park Resort
- Delano Las Vegas
- New York-New York Hotel & Casino
- Palace Station Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
- Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort
- Vdara Hotel & Spa
- Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
You can also book other hotels in the area. Some of them include the following:
- SAHARA Las Vegas
- Residence Inn by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center
- Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Convention Center
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas Nevada Hotel
- Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
- The Platinum Hotel & Spa
- Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino
- Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Conclusion
The CES Trade Show is one of the most important trade shows for the tech industry. So, you can be sure that you will benefit greatly from this event, whether you’re an exhibitor or an attendee.
You can launch or discover new tech products, connect with new and old customers, network with business partners, learn, and stay updated about the latest trends in tech town. And if you get interested in twisting the tech a little, to put a Japanese flavor on it, check out anime conventions!
If you plan to exhibit at this trade show and are on the hunt for show supplies, we’ve got you covered. We at American Image provide a wide range of trade show booths, appealing graphics, and supplies for exhibitors. You can also get them at attractive rates to suit your budget. Explore our catalog of products and services on our website or contact us to know more.
