More High-Tech Pavilions Set For CES

NEW YORK— The 2003 International CES promotional road show visited the Big Apple, after visits to China, San Francisco, Mexico and Washington, updating the press on the show during its reception at the Essex House, here, last Wednesday evening.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, and Karen Chupka, events and conferences VP of CEA provided details on some of the events that will take place at CES, which will be held in Las Vegas, January 9 to 12, 2003.

Shapiro said that CEA has traveled nationally and internationally to garner more attention and coverage for the show. So far that added attention, and the positive momentum of the past several shows, translates into an estimated 2,000 international exhibitors using 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space to display their wares to 100,000 attendees from 100 different countries for the 2003 event. He added, "We are proud to report that Tradeshow Week announced that CES is the largest show of any kind in North America."

A long list of top technology executives will keynote CES, topped by Microsoft founder Bill Gates (TWICE, October 28, p. 4). Chupka reported that the 2003 event will have the most technology pavilions ever in show history. Among the categories being showcased are: home entertainment, Bluetooth, broadband, imaging technology, Memory Stick, wireless technology and Xtreme Entertainment, which will feature entertainment technology for "the home and on-the-go," CEA said, from such companies as Game Spot and Case Logic.

In mobile technology there will be pavilions on audio books, the Digital Car Showroom, the IDB Pavilion and Telemantics.

Other pavilions include: All Hazard Weather Radio, business solutions, Digital Hollywood, emerging technologies, Gibson Guitar, IrDA, MOST Consortium, MP3 and Internet Audio, Portable Power Center, Polaroid Licensed Products, the RW Product Promotion Initiative and the USB Pavilion.

Home networking will have a major presence at the show. The Tech Home Demo located in the South Hall will display a variety of technology for the kitchen, bedroom, utility room and recreation room. Other home networking pavilions include the Home PNA and Home Plug Powerline Alliance pavilions. And there will be five CES conference sessions on the subject as well as several CES Supersessions.

Home theater will also be a main focus of the show with the entire ground level of the South Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) dedicated to home theater and home networking technology with more than 1,800 exhibitors. In addition, CEA's ThunderDorm, a plexiglass-encased mock-up of the ideal dorm room, makes an appearance at CES to present the ultimate in college living, featuring the latest in DVD, MP3, digital TV and many other technologies. It will be located at the LVCC's South Hall, booth 19117.

And finally, it wouldn't be CES without a focus on HDTV. The show will feature an HDTV Sports Bar, located in the lobby of the South Hall of the LVCC, equipped with the latest HDTVs on the market that will show top sporting events. Snacks and beverages will be for sale, as well as the opportunity to meet sports celebrities and a chance to win a sweepstakes and attend the Super Bowl. Six conference sessions are being held to discuss HDTV at CES as well as three Supersessions.

For more coverage of the 2003 International CES, see www.TWICE.com or www.CESweb.org.