CES 2012, Here I Come!
Posted On Monday, January 9, 2012 at at 1:27 PM by Dianne Kennedy
i M here in Las Vegas, in my room in Bally's, getting prepared for my annual CES adventure. As an alumnus, I have many valuable lessons-learned for attending this show. This year the name of the show has officially changed to be “International” and when you see the crowd journeying here for the event you can clearly understand why. All reports indicate that this year the number of visitors will increase from 140K to 150K, so being organized is everything.
Lesson #1: Book your hotel and air early. I booked mine back in June 2011 when airfare and hotel rates were reasonable. Today airfare from Chicago tops $900 and a night at a cheap hotel runs over $400 a night – that is, if you can get a room at all.
Lesson #2: Register early so you can have a badge mailed to you before you travel. Last year I had to get a badge when I arrived. This meant many hours in line, waiting for your registration to be located and a badge printed. This can account for hours of lost time.
Lesson #3: Do NOT travel the day before the show opens. The airport is a zoo! Flights are completely booked. Luggage is a huge hassle. Getting a cab to the strip takes over an hour. And then when you reach your hotel expect 1 to 2 hours standing in line in the lobby just to check in!
Lesson #4: Stay at a hotel with monorail access. The convention center is located on the Las Vegas monorail. This provides easy access if you are staying at a hotel with monorail access. If you want to be at the convention center when the show opens, go really early or wait for the opening crowds to wane or once more you can spend hours in line just to get on the monorail. But when compared to trying to find a taxi and navigating roads completely clogged with visitors, the monorail rocks!
Lesson #5: Come prepared. This is not a fashion show, so you should be comfortable. Shoes that you can walk miles in are key. Bring band aids! Even your most reliable soles may begin to pinch and rub after several hours. Also make sure you pack water, a snack and backup phone batteries. There are charging stations, so a phone charger is a good idea.
Lesson #6: Set a plan of attack! The 2012 International CES will feature more than 2,700 global technology companies unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across 15 major product categories including the latest in audio, automotive electronics, connected home technologies, digital imaging, electronic gaming, entertainment/content and more. So know what you want to see and map your course around the expo floor.
Tomorrow the big show opens. Will report highlights then!
