CES 2016: 170 000 visitors included 50 000 non-US

CES 2016 wrapped this weekend with more than 170 000 industry professionals, including more than 50 000 from outside the USA, having been drawn to this Las Vegas business event driving the global technology industry. 

“At CES 2016 everyone saw that tech is about more than single products and services, it is about improving our world and providing hope for our future. It was awe-inspiring to see traditional and non-traditional ‘tech’ industries meet to brainstorm, partner and collaborate on ways to do business and address global issues,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

“Technology now touches every facet of our lives, from improving our workouts and the way we sleep, to keeping us safe on the roads and in our homes and even preventing or treating illnesses. CES has cemented its position as the global gathering place for all industries to be wowed by the tens of thousands of ways that technology is changing the world as we know it.”

“CES is the one place where expanding global innovation, the technology community and government can join and showcase a better future for us all,” said John Penny, chief strategy officer, Starz.

CES once again confirmed its position as the global stage for innovation, with attendees from more than 150 countries and more than 100 official delegations, including the first Cuban delegation organized by the Cuban Embassy of the U.S.

“CES allows us to reach almost all of our key global partners – dealers, technology partners, suppliers and a huge press core from around the world – in a single efficient place,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO, Gibson Brands Inc. “It is not possible to touch base with so many relationships anywhere else. To have such intensity in a fun, hospitable and well organized show makes attendance a pleasure.”

Emerging innovation was at the heart of this year’s show with 500 startup companies in the Eureka Park Marketplace, up from 375 in 2015. “Eureka Park was incredibly inspiring,” said Paul Sabbah, president, Stamford International Inc.  “The exhibitors see a future that many of us have forgotten was ever there.”

From automotive technology and unmanned systems to wearables and 3D printing, the breadth and depth of innovation on display at CES is unmatched and growing. “You see so many important trends at CES,” said David Hagan, chairman and CEO, Boingo Wireless. “This week we saw that devices are no longer just connecting to the Internet, they are increasingly connected to each other.”

CES 2016 welcomed government officials including every member of the Federal Communications Commission and four members of the Federal Trade Commission. Two cabinet level officials, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Forman, as well as U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Mark Warner and Representatives Darrell Issa and Will Hurd also were in attendance. Other top level government attendees at CES included representatives from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Environmental Protection Agency, the International Trade Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, NASA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, among other government agencies.

With more than 6,000 members of the media in attendance, CES 2016 garnered worldwide media coverage. The show also received impressive social media momentum, including 1,278,870 mentions of the #CES2016 hashtag and 15.2 billion total potential social media impressions from January 5-9.

“We had amazing press coverage,” said Pat Lavalle, president and CEO, VOXX International. “We were able to see our customers, government guests and international partners all in one place. CES is the most efficient place in the world to do business.”

While attendance numbers reached a record high, improvements to show operations enabled attendees to navigate CES 2016 with ease. For the first time, Uber and Lyft were allowed to operate in Las Vegas, increasing transportation options for attendees. “Having Uber and Lyft available here was just amazing,” said Lee Cheng, chief legal officer, senior vice president, corporate development and corporate secretary, Newegg Inc. “It made it so much easier and convenient to get around and attend meetings.”

CTA will release final CES 2016 attendance figures upon completion of the show’s independent audit late this spring. CES will return to Las Vegas Thursday, January 5 through Sunday, January 8, 2017. For the latest CES news and videos, visit CESweb.org and CESweb.org/videos. B-roll for CES 2016 also is available online.