CES success spurring expansion into Sands

Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

The International Consumer Electronics Show, fresh off a record turnout for its convention in Las Vegas last week, will expand into the Sands Expo Center when the event returns in 2006.

A spokeswoman for the sponsoring Consumer Electronics Association said Thursday that several high-profile sectors of the show would be moved to the private convention center attached to the Venetian.

The CEA sold a record 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space for the four-day show that concluded Sunday. The 2005 CES was staged at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Las Vegas Hilton, the Alexis Park and some seminars were conducted at the Renaissance hotel.

"We did a lot right this year," said Tara Dunion, a spokeswoman for the CEA. "We've heard from a number of attendees and exhibitors about their experiences. Not only was it a big show, but our focus was on quality and the people we've talked to were happy about the quality."

The CEA announced earlier this week that an estimated 142,585 people attended the show -- an increase of more than 7 percent from a year ago. In addition, there were a record 2,550 exhibitors and international attendance climbed to 23,028 from 18,000 at the 2004 CES.

"The 2005 International CES succeeded by every measure," said Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive of the CEA in a post-convention statement. "From the international audience, major media and top buyers that came to the International CES, to the top-notch keynotes and conferences, government leaders and exhibitors showcasing the amazing breadth and depth of the CE industry, this event was the place to be over the past week for anyone involved in the global consumer technology industry."

When the CEA moves a portion of the show to the Sands Expo Center next year, several of the plum components of this year's show will shift to the new venue.

Dunion said the Sands would become home to digital imaging and production companies and the CES "Innovations Plus" pavilion. Those exhibits include the makers of digital cameras and home recording technologies -- gadgets that create CDs and DVDs in a home studio environment.

"About 20 to 25 percent of our attendees visited those venues this year," Dunion said. "With those products coming down in price and more accessible to the public, they are extremely popular."

Many of the digital imaging products were housed this year in temporary structures erected in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center this year. Dunion said the CEA signed a two-year commitment with the Sands Expo Center to occupy Halls B and C at the two-story, 1.1 million-square-foot center.

Halls B and C have 189,000 and 188,000 square feet of exhibit space available, respectively, according to floor plans of the venue.

Officials with the Sands Expo Center could not be reached for comment on the contract or on whether the Adult Entertainment Expo, which used the Sands Expo Center during CES this year, would continue to occupy its space.

Dunion said conventioneers attending CES also were enthused with traffic flow around the convention center and at the smooth flow of crowds leaving Las Vegas from McCarran International Airport.

Dunion said CEA officials had little time to publicize the availability of the Las Vegas Monorail to shuttle people to and from the convention center.

Monorail officials said the system carried nearly 150,000 passengers generating $450,000 in revenue during the show.

Dunion said conventioneers still managed to find the and use the system with heavy crowds reported on trains at the opening and closing of the trade show floor each day and prior to major keynote addresses, which were staged at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

Lines at the airport were well-managed, Dunion said, with no major backups reported on Sunday, which normally is a busy day even without a major convention in town. Last year, CES delegates were frustrated with lines that were three to four hours long. Since then, McCarran officials have installed more security checkpoint stations and the airport geared up for high usage Sunday and Monday.

The management of lines and traffic flow at CES was considered a major test of resources, especially considering that CES could ultimately be the city's largest convention of the year. Las Vegas will get another test beginning Monday when the World of Concrete convention opens its five-day show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

About 75,000 people are expected to attend the event, which features tools and products for the construction industry and 46 seminars on a variety of industry topics.