CES, the U.S.’s largest trade show and the world’s most influential technology event, will return to its longstanding home of Las Vegas Jan. 5-8, 2022. Set to take over the Las Vegas Convention Center and other venues along the Las Vegas Strip, including The Venetian/Sands Expo & Convention Center, Aria Convention Centre and Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the behemoth trade show and conference will also produce a digital version for those unable to attend in person. 

“We’re thrilled to return to Las Vegas — home to CES for more than 40 years — and look forward to seeing many new and returning faces,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which owns and produces the show. “Hundreds of executives have told us how much they need CES to meet new and existing customers, find partners, reach media and discover innovation.”

Approximately 1,000 companies have already committed to exhibiting in 2022, with more continuing to sign up. Newcomers including Caterpillar, Indy Autonomous Challenge and Sierra Space planning to make their CES debut next year, according to CTA officials. Exhibitors will also have the opportunity to create a digital presence to engage virtual audiences.

CTA anticipates that nearly 75,000 attendees will convene face-to-face at CES, a considerable drop from what it attracted in 2019, when 175,212 attendees and 4,550 exhibitors spanned more than 2.9 million net square feet of exhibition space. Still, a large global digital audience could likely make up for that shortfall, and CTA officials say the association looks at several different ways to measure success, including attendee numbers, exhibitor sales and ROI, post-event satisfaction surveys from various stakeholders. The success of CES 2022 will take into consideration many of these measurements and will not be defined on one measurement only, they added.

Despite the fact that the show will be spread out among several venues, creating more room to allow for social distancing on the showfloor and in conference rooms, not everyone may feel comfortable attending such a massive event in person. 

Enter the digital portion of the hybrid CES experience. After a successful all-digital edition in 2021, CTA is ready to create a virtual component that will allow digital audiences to experience the spirit of the live event. The CES anchor desk, which debuted at CES 2021, will travel to Las Vegas and connect the digital audience with exhibitors, conference sessions, keynotes and product announcements, with new content to be added post-event that will enable attendees and exhibitors to continue connecting and exploring. 

While going hybrid successfully may seem like a massive undertaking for such a giant show, CTA officials appear undaunted.  

“CTA has had many years of experience creating an exciting live event and prior to CES 2021 [and] we had added many digital elements to the event, including live streaming,” explained Jean Foster, senior vice president of marketing and communications, CTA. “Creating a hybrid event for 2022 is the next phase of that evolution. We will incorporate our learnings from the all-digital CES 2021 to create a truly unique experience.” 

More information about the digital aspect of CES 2022 will be shared at a later date, she added.

CTA will be staying abreast of the latest CDC guidelines and coronavirus safety measures in addition to state and local guidelines. It will follow applicable federal, state and local laws, adapt CES plans accordingly and share updates with its audiences, according to CTA officials.

“Our customers are enthusiastic about returning to a live event in Las Vegas,” said Karen Chupka, executive vice president of CES, CTA. “Global brands and startups have shared that plans are already well underway and are committed to sharing the magic of an in-person CES with even more people from around the world.”

The show’s live return is great news for Las Vegas and the state of Nevada, which is allowing hospitality and event venues to fully re-open to 100% capacity by June 1, setting the stage to lure back its previously booming trade show and meetings business. In 2019 alone, the destination welcomed approximately 6.6 million people for conventions, generating a total economic impact of $11.4 billion, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The city will host its first major in-person trade show in late spring, when World of Concrete returns to the LVCC June 8-10. 

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