CES Visitors React to News

Just as practically everyone from the consumer electronics business was arriving in Las Vegas for the Jan. 7-11 Intl. CES , the Las Vegas Sun newspaper ran a story with the subheadline, “Consumer Electronics Show says it might move to a cheaper city.” It quoted Karen Chupka, Consumer Electronics Assn. vice president of events and conferences, saying astronomical hotel rates were becoming a concern.

A week later, as the show closed, rival paper Las Vegas Review-Journal jumped on the bandwagon (that by then included several national publications) with a story headed, “Some observers wonder if CES is worth trouble and cost.” In it, CEA President Gary Shapiro said the association wasn't looking to move the show, because the only place it would fit is Las Vegas. However, he added, hoteliers that raise rates unreasonably could slowly kill the show by dissuading attendance.

Tradeshow Week decided to hear what attendees themselves had to say about the hullabaloo. Here, in their own words, are some highlights.

Do you think Las Vegas has gotten too expensive?

“Yeah, but I don't think it's any more than other venues I've attended, such as Chicago, because in Vegas you have more space, more room. In Chicago, unless you want to stay in the outskirts, I've seen prices similar to Vegas.”

–nine-time attendee Ryan Csui, director of marketing for RF3 Headsets, whose parent company, Unical, has been in the show about 30 years

“No. I'm from Hawaii. It's about the same.”

–attendee Jimmy Yeung, owner of Jim Appliances

“Las Vegas has gotten too expensive. It used to be low-cost entertainment, meals, things to do. Now, everything's expensive. It's expensive to exhibit. It's expensive to fly. It's expensive to stay. ... The broadband connection we've been given here (at the Las Vegas Convention Center) is very poor, and it's affecting our presentations. And they charge top dollar for it. It's ridiculous; $1,200 or something.”

–Tom Cone, managing director of screencast producer Digital Marketing, first-time exhibitor in Content@CES

“We own a timeshare here, and we eat in, so we manage to keep our costs pretty reasonable. But we noticed the Sahara was pretty empty when we went there last night, and we hear a lot of people saying they're cutting down their attendance by a day or two days.”

–first-time attendee Robert Miller, president and author of Back Pain Relief Alternatives

Have you had to scale back participation because of costs?

“No, because we're here to do business. We're not going to cut back. We bring out the right amount of people to do what we need to do while we're here. Now, if there are some people who, maybe they could go, maybe they could stay? They'll stay behind.”

–Jamie Breneman, director of marketing, NEW Customer Service Companies, a longtime exhibitor in Intl. CES

“I usually do bring someone else with me, but this year I just came by myself. I made reservations in June, and I'm staying in the Ramada out by the Speedway. I've never stayed that far away, and I'm taking cabs, because I didn't want to drive. When you start looking in June for a room in January and everything's $300 a night, and you're coming by yourself, it's kind of discouraging.”

–eight-time attendee David Bledsoe, owner of electrical contracting consultancy Jam Intl.

How much are you paying for a room?

“$67 a night. I don't need to impress anybody. I just sleep there.”

–Bledsoe

“We have timeshares here, so the rate is in the range of $150 per night.”

–Csui

“$260.”

–Doug Figueroa, of longtime exhibiting company Lucasey Mountain Systems

“I'm staying at a hotel I won't name. The first night cost $259. I checked in. I had booked it for Monday through Friday. The second night the rate went from $259 to $889. So, here's how the game works. I waited until Sunday and checked online again. More rooms had opened up, so I rebooked Tuesday at $759, and then the third and fourth night were $259. It's a hotel I frequent, so I got a returning customer rate.

“I understand how the game is played. I block a room at the high rate. Then, I get a room at the lower rate after the show has already started. To a point, I'll suffer the pain and go where I have to go.”

–10-year attendee DelMar Williams, of integration consultancy Williams Systems

Would you go to the show if it were in Chicago or Orlando?

“Yes, because I had to, but it would be a different type of trip. After four years of going to CES in Orlando, I'd be tired of Disney World.”

–Williams

“Maybe, but I prefer Vegas.”

–Yeung

“Orlando? Probably not. Chicago? Maybe, but I wouldn't go every year.”

-Bledsoe

“Orlando? No. Chicago? Probably, but not in January.”

-Miller

“We would. This is a family-owned business, and they'd go to Orlando.”

-Figueroa

What would you think of CEA moving the show?

“Vegas has a lot to offer, as far as hotels, restaurants and entertainment go. I think the fear is, if we leave, where would we go that's going to have all that?”

-Breneman

“I find it difficult to believe the show would move. Emotionally, it's driven by the high prices and the frustration that people have from paying them.”

-Figueroa

Do you think the show has gotten too big?

“This show is really spread out. It's a pain. ... Most of what's here, I'm not interested in. Then again, I should go to CEDIA Expo, but I don't want to. I want to see more.”

-Bledsoe

“Maybe. You go from hall to hall, and your senses are just battered.”

-Cone

“A little bit, yeah. I think when other exhibitors get too big (we have a 4,000 square foot booth, and we're next to Microsoft with 50,000) sometimes you get lost. Our booth isn't necessarily small, but we do get lost. It's kind of become, the big guys are the strongest.”

-Csui

“No. I just wish I had more time to see more vendors. Four days isn't enough.”

-Williams