CES Named Largest Show For 6th Straight Year
By Steve Smith -- TWICE, 6/18/2007
ARLINGTON, VA. —The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) reported that Tradeshow Week named the 2006 edition at the top of its list of the largest annual trade shows in the United States and Canada for the sixth straight year, a day after announcing that the 2007 edition set new records.
"Having the International CES ranked at the top of the Tradeshow Week 200 list for the sixth year in a row is an incredible honor and a true testament to the dynamic growth of the global consumer electronics industry," said Gary Shapiro, president/CEO of CEA, producer of the International CES. "We showcase and produce several major shows-within-a-show at CES for all technology sectors including audio, content, digital imaging, IT, home theater and wireless. This ranking reinforces the International CES as the must-attend global event for all communities within the consumer technology industry."
Tradeshow Week is published by Reed Business Information, parent company of TWICE.
Karen Chupka, CEA events and conferences senior VP, said, "The successful addition of the Sands in 2006 fueled an additional expansion to The Venetian in 2007, which housed the high-performance audio and home theater markets, as well as all CES keynotes. As our industry continues to expand, introducing new cutting-edge technology and products, we look forward to the 2008 International CES serving as the global launch pad for consumer technology."
CEA also reported that an independent audit showed the 2007 show had its largest show floor and international attendees in its history. The 2007 International CES audit, conducted by VERIS Consulting, revealed that the industry tradeshow drew a record 27,020 international attendees, with overall attendance totaling 143,695 industry professionals during CES' four-day run in Las Vegas, Jan. 8-11.
VERIS is certified by The Exhibition and Event Industry Audit Commission to perform audits. The 2007 show was the largest CES in history in terms of both international attendance and square footage. International attendees, representing 140 countries, reached an all-time high, increasing by more than 5 percent over 2006. A total of 48 formal delegations attended CES in 2007, including six attending for the first time from Australia, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Morocco and Peru.
With the addition of CES' newest venue, the Sands Expo and Convention Center/The Venetian, total exhibit space also reached an all-time high. More than 2,700 exhibitors showcased their newest products in a record breaking 1.8 million net square feet of space.
With more than 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space already sold, the 2008 International CES will be held Monday, Jan. 7 through Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Las Vegas. Pre-show events will begin on Saturday, Jan. 5.
