CES moots move from expensive Las Vegas
Playground of the rich too expensive
CES The organisers of the Consumer Electronics Show - where most forthcoming products are announced for the year - are scouting for a cheaper US city to stage the annual convention, the Las Vegas Sun reports.
Exhibitors have complained that the increasing cost of hotel accommodation, food and drink are threatening to price show attendees out of Las Vegas, according to the newspaper.
There's no-where on Earth quite like Vegas, baby
Over 140,000 industry types are expected to attend the event, which opens to the public on Monday. The show has been held in Las Vegas since 1978. Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) executives have requested the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to ask resort hotels to keep prices in check.
Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences for the CES, told the Las Vegas Sun: "It's crazy. The rates have become astronomical. Some of the resorts are requiring a food and beverage guarantee on top of the hotel rooms and that has gone up by 365 per cent in the past two years. Las Vegas is no longer the cost-effective [location] it once was."
Losing the technology show would represent a large economic hit to Las Vegas. The convention authority is holding dates for CES through to 2025, but has only signed leases with the CEA to 2011.
Chupka said the CEA has talked with convention hosts in Chicago and Orlando, both of which have exhibition halls capable of hosting a show as big as CES.
COMMENTS
Florida
If they held CES in Florida I'd even look into visiting (and I'm scared of flying!). I looked into flights to Las Vegas, I was just curious to see how much they were, too expensive for my liking compared to cheapo flights to Orlando.
Even better, if it was in Fort Lauderdale, FL, I could book a room at the Hotel Coral Essex*
Rob
* Those of you who've seen Revenge Of The Nerds 2 will know what I'm on about.
Miami!
They'd be crazy not to consider Miami! East coast destination with plenty of flights from the U.S. and Europe. Excellent weather. Bars, beaches, parties, coke (for those into it), porn star conventions, and other extra-curriculars just like Vegas. One suggestion, though? Learn Spanish. ;)
LV isn't a good place for conventions
Firstly I attend approx 4 trade conventions annually in the US, 3 last year in LV.
I hate the place.
For an international traveller (from London) LV is not easy to get to, very few direct flights and a long way as well. A move towards the East Coast, to a city with an international airport is required. Oh and one other criteria... avoid Chicago, nice town but O'Hare is the Worst Airport In The World and seems to suffer almost continuous delays & cancellations due to poor weather.
I'd like to see it in Orlando or Miami myself and I'll probably go again.
And as for the AEO
Want to bet that attendance at the Adult Entertainment Expo goes through the floor if the CES moves out of town? Or that it moves to wherever the CES moves to? As one of your readers has commented, it is a tits-out kind of glamour.
Of course it begs the question how many people use the CES as a front for going to the AEO? Move the AEO out of town first and see how many people stop going to the CES!
Chicago?
As a resident of Chicago, I'd like CES to come up here. That would make my life easier. I hate the BS you need to go through for commercial flights.
As a realist, f*** no. It would have to happen at McCormick Place. Yes it has 2.7 million square feet of exhibit space, but there is nothing around that area. OK, there is one hotel, a hot dog stand and a few "undercover" data centers in the 350 building. No way the Donald E. Stephens Center could hold this event.
The weather isn't that bad. Today it is a nice 64°F/17.7°C
