CES moots move from expensive Las Vegas

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.