The Consumer Electronics Association announced today that 2009 International CES® drew more than 113,000 industry professionals, exceeding an on-site estimate of 110,000. CEA verifies attendance through an independent audit, performed by VERIS Consulting LLC, which confirmed that the 2009 show drew 113,085 industry professionals during the tradeshow’s four-day run in Las Vegas, Nev., January 8-11.
The VERIS audit differentiates the International CES from other industry tradeshows in that each CES attendee is only counted once, and only sold exhibit space is used to calculate show size, versus other events that include complimentary and bartered space and show usage space such as registration areas.
“This audit report confirms that the 2009 International CES succeeded, despite an economic downturn, in attracting top executives, retail buyers, content providers, entertainment executives, venture capitalists, engineers, government officials and media from around the globe,” says Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association, producer of CES. “Our CES exhibitors commend us on attracting top-level decision makers, which allowed them to start the year off right by doing a considerable amount of business with global partners.”
2,700 worldwide companies, including 300 new exhibitors, unveiled an estimated 20,000 new technology products across 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space on the CES show floor. More, 140 countries were represented by 22,000 international attendees. The largest contingents of attendees from outside the United States came from the following countries: Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, United Kingdom, China, France, Taiwan, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Israel and Sweden.
Major name companies in the audio, accessories, broadcasting, cable, content, digital imaging, electronic gaming, emerging technology, home networking, home theater, mobile electronics, video and wireless industries continue to use CES as the catalyst for new technologies. More than 4,500 attendees represented companies with more than $500 million in total annual sales.
A leading number of senior level executives and final decision makers conduct business at CES. According to the VERIS audit, 46 percent of all attendees were senior level executives, director level and above, on par with last year, and more than 20 percent of attendees were presidents, CEOs or business owners. More than one third of attendees are final decision makers when it comes to new product purchases and partnerships.
The audit also confirms that CES attracts business leaders from diverse areas including entertainment, retail, education, engineering and venture capital industries. This year, more than 12,000 buyers, 6,000 manufacturers and 2,800 engineers came to CES along with more than 6,000 attendees from the software development/publishing, content development and entertainment industries.
For more information, visit www.ce.org.
