Above Photo from left to right: CTA’s director of research, Lesley Rohrbaugh, with Kinsey Fabrizio, John Kelley and Gary Shapiro
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) put its CES 2023 plans on view in a press preview held Nov. 16 in New York City. Gary Shapiro, CTA’s president and CEO, noted that the show’s theme, innovation, has broadened to encompass a related theme of “human security” – an initiative using technology to cultivate worldwide collaboration across industries to improve the human experience.
He also said show management had “learned a lot from the physical environment” at CES 2022, and is leveraging that knowledge to help shape the show this year. Plans are for a more “touchless” venue experience with an eye towards creating a healthy environment where attendees can conduct business.
In a statement issued earlier than the preview event, Shapiro noted that CTA is “proactively committed to creating an environment that reduces health risks for our attendees… In-person events such as CES are critical to advancing business. A more touchless venue experience at CES 2023 will provide a roadmap for future industry events on health and safety efforts for attendees.” These health and safety measures will include fresh air flow and filtration, hand sanitizing stations and touchless public facilities.
Kinsey Fabrizio, CTA’s senior vice president, membership & CES sales, reported “momentum” to date from exhibitors, saying the show floor is 50 percent bigger than last year, with over 2,000 exhibitors and 2,500 media registered to date. “People are excited to be back in person,” added John Kelley, CTA’s vice president and acting show director of CES, echoing Fabrizio about the escalation of the show’s momentum. He said CES is currently on track to welcome 100,000 in-person attendees.
While in-person attendance, Shapiro said, offers “the serendipity of discovery you can’t get online,” further honing of the hybrid in-person/virtual aspect of the show is in the works, according to Kelley. Over 100 recorded conference sessions and multiple livestreamed sessions, including keynotes, will be made available, and virtual-content availability will be extended two months after the show’s conclusion, he added.
Already announced is the C Space keynote conversation featuring Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian and MediaLink Founder and CEO Michael E. Kassan. The keynote, “Building Connection & Community in a Non-Stop World,” will explore how successful consumer brands are combining technology with ingenuity to engage dedicated followers and create superfans, according to the description offered by CTA.
Nancy is a contributing editor for Dealerscope.
