Q&A with Karen Chupka,
Senior Vice President, CES; Corporate Business Strategy,
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
What are CES’s current and projected show needs, and how is Las Vegas responding?
CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology, drawing 3,800 exhibitors and more than 160,000 attendees. Now approaching its 50th show, the first CES took place in New York City in 1967 and moved to Las Vegas in 1978, where it continues to be held each January.
Las Vegas is an ideal location for a show the size and scope of CES. The city is home to top convention facilities, world-renowned dining and fine hotels that can accommodate up to 150,000 people. As owner and producer of the show, The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has a long working relationship with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the city of Las Vegas and the leaders of the convention centers.
CES spans more than 2.47 million net square feet, with exhibits covering the entire city, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, a designated World Trade Center site; Sands Expo and Convention Center; The Venetian; and Mandalay Bay.
As CES continues to expand, it is essential that the city of Las Vegas expand to accommodate the event. The city is currently evaluating expansion and renovation plans that would take place in the coming years. Our hope is that these plans are approved. Without the expansions CES cannot continue to grow at its current pace in Las Vegas. In fact, CTA instituted an attendance cap of 175,000 attendees at CES 2016, and will do so again at CES 2017, due to the lack of expansion options in Las Vegas. Renovated and, more importantly, expanded convention facilities and meeting space would continue to make Las Vegas a global competitor for tradeshows and events.