CES 2024 Guide. First, the Complete Guide to Attending CES 2024: Everything You Need to Know About the CES. At the beginning of every year, CES takes place in Las Vegas, USA.
Formerly known as the Consumer Electric Show, it started out as a showcase for the year’s hottest consumer electronics-focused products, where sellers and buyers could meet and make real-world purchases. As the show has grown in size and scope, it has expanded beyond consumer electronics to include products from the physical and virtual worlds, including autonomous driving, space technology, and metaverses/NFTs.
Contents
1. About CES 2024
1.1. CES 2024 Overview
The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show held in Las Vegas at the beginning of each year. With the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event is shaping up to be even bigger than 2023. The tradition of the world’s largest consumer electronics show will continue in 2024, bringing together tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, and innovation lovers from around the world. The show is a showcase for the latest technology trends, with companies unveiling new products and services. Products on display will range from consumer electronics to high-tech, with key topics including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, smart home technology, and sustainable tech innovations.
1.2. Key trends and expectations for the year ahead
CES 2024 is expected to focus on exploring the future of technology, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and its impact on everyday life, business, healthcare, and more. There will also be in-depth discussions on how advances in virtual and augmented reality technology will change our lives. Smart home technology will also be an important topic, showing how all the devices in your home can be connected to each other, increasing user convenience and quality of life. Finally, sustainable tech innovation is expected to focus on the advancement of environmentally friendly products and solutions. These trends will be an important factor in determining the direction of the tech sector in the coming years.
2. Preparing to attend CES 2024
2.1. Registration and listing tips
To attend CES, you must first pre-register through the official website. The earlier you register, the more benefits and discounts you’ll receive, so it’s a good idea to do so as soon as possible. However, Early Access is already closed, so you can purchase a paid ticket for around $100. There are also tickets for over $1,000 that include access to the conference, but if you’re a first-time attendee, there’s no reason to skip the conference.
Also, Las Vegas gets very crowded during CES, so it’s important to book your accommodations as early as possible. Hotel costs in Las Vegas have also risen dramatically since COVID-19. While the big-name hotels on the main strip are likely to be fully booked or have only expensive rooms left, hotels on the main strip or close to the show floor, such as the Westgate, are good places to stay if possible. As a side note, many of the big-name hotels on the main strip, from the Mandalay Bay Hotel to the Wynn Hotel, offer shuttle buses during CES, so you don’t have to pay extra for transportation.
2.2. Plan and coordinate your trip
CES2024 runs for four days, January 9-12, with different sessions and exhibits each day. You’ll want to check out the full show schedule ahead of time and make a plan to prioritize visiting the sessions and booths you’re interested in. Because the show floor is so large, we recommend visiting Tech East and Tech West for one day each to get a general sense of the flow, and then spend the remaining days visiting exhibits that interest you more.
2.3. Essential apps and information sources
There are a variety of apps and information sources for attending CES. The official CES app provides show information, schedules, maps, and more, and is a great resource for attendees. There are also several travel apps that provide information on transportation, food, and lodging in the Las Vegas area. You can also join relevant social media groups and forums to share information with other attendees and get the latest updates on CES. TripAdvisor is a great app to check out for current dining options.
2.4. Receive your CES attendance badge
Your CES experience starts with picking up your badge. You can pick up your badge at several hotels and at the show floor, but the most convenient and quickest place to do so is at the airport. As soon as you exit the Las Vegas airport, you’ll see a badge pickup booth, and we recommend picking up your badge there and proceeding to your hotel. Picking it up at the show floor can have longer lines than you’d expect, so the airport is the best place to go.
3. Exhibit viewing and networking
Because CES is so large, you need an effective navigation plan. Before the show starts, check out a map of the show floor via the official website or app, and familiarize yourself with the locations of the booths and sessions you’re interested in. It’s also a good idea to download maps to your phone or tablet so you can easily find your way around the show floor. Some booths, especially those of Samsung and LG Electronics, are so popular that you may have to wait for a long time to get in, and some domestic and international exhibitors require advance reservations or control the number of people in the booth.
3.2. Optimize networking and meetings
CES is a great opportunity for business networking. It’s a good idea to meet and chat with professionals in industries you’re interested in, and exchange business cards – although you don’t need to bring a lot of them, as your own can be conveyed by reading a CES badge QR code. Attending networking events or parties during the show is a great way to make new connections. It’s also important to have a flexible schedule, either by scheduling meetings ahead of time or by meeting on-site if needed. Consider using social media or professional networking apps to connect with people of interest.
CES is just as much about innovative products from small companies and startups as it is about the flashy displays from the big players. The most important place to see startups is Eureka Park on the first floor of the Venetian Expo, where you’ll find startups from each country in country-specific zones. These smaller booths often offer novel and innovative ideas, so take the time to visit them. They’re often located on the outskirts of the show floor or in less crowded sections, and you might just make an unexpected and amazing discovery.
4. Experience technology trends and new products
4.1. Notable new technologies and exhibit booths
CES 2024 is a confluence of the latest technologies. Innovations in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, smart home, sustainable technology, and more will be showcased. Do your homework on which technologies to watch for and visit key booths showcasing them. For example, you can experience new user experiences using virtual reality technology, smart home solutions powered by AI, and cutting-edge products using sustainable materials.
4.2. Take advantage of live experiences and demo sessions
At CES, there are many demo sessions where you can get hands-on with new technologies. Attending these sessions will give you a deeper understanding of the technology and allow you to see how the products work in action. Some booths also offer the opportunity to demo or experience the products in real time, so be sure to take advantage of these opportunities.
4.3. Understanding innovative products and services
It’s important to have a deep understanding of the products and services being showcased at the trade show. Think about how the new technology can be applied to your daily life or business, or how it can have a positive impact on society. It’s also a good idea to speak directly with product developers or company representatives to gain insight into their vision and technology.
5. Tips for on-site tours
Attending CES can be an exciting, but also physically and mentally demanding activity. You can walk as few as 10,000 steps a day and as many as 20,000 steps a day, so spending long hours on the floor and visiting various booths and sessions can be physically challenging, and you need to be especially mindful of your health and safety.
5.1. Tips for staying healthy
- Stay hydrated: Trade show floors can be hot and dry with large crowds and machines running. It’s important to stay hydrated. Carry a water bottle with you at all times and drink water regularly.
- Use a backpack: While eco-bags are handed out on-site, a backpack is a great way to pick up pamphlets, magazines, and other items, and to carry light food and water.
- Eat properly: You’ll need nutritious meals for an active day. It’s a good idea to prepare and carry healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts, and energy bars. There are restaurants in the exhibition center, but none of them offer flavors that are suitable for Koreans. Salads, pasta, pizza, and some Hawaiian food are available, but they’re not necessarily suitable for Korean tastes, so consider packing your own snacks.
- Choose comfortable clothes and shoes: The show floor is large and requires a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes and clothing are a must. Choose shoes with good cushioning to reduce foot fatigue.
- Take regular breaks: If you’re traveling from abroad, you may be jet-lagged and walking and visiting exhibits for long periods of time can be more exhausting than you think. It’s better to take regular, short breaks to keep yourself refreshed and in good shape.
- Maintain personal hygiene: Even though COVID-19 is over, this is a large-scale event, so use hand sanitizer if possible to maintain personal hygiene.
5.2. Stay safe at trade shows
- Managing personal belongings: While there is less risk of pickpockets than in Europe, the sheer volume of people at the show means that foreigners need to be careful with important items like passports. Unless you plan to buy something like alcohol, it’s best to leave your passport in your hotel room for simple show tours.
- Transportation: Hotels on the main strip regularly run shuttle buses to the CES show floor. Anyone with a CES badge is allowed to board. However, the Venetian is usually a short walk away, and farther away, such as the LVCC, you may need to use shuttles, Uber, or a lift. In the case of LVCC, you can also take the monorail, but keep in mind that the station is farther away than you might think.
- Tip for using Uber and Lyft: When using car-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, try not to take photos of the show floor during the same time as the exhibits are opening, as you may end up waiting in traffic for longer than you’d like. In this case, it’s much more time-saving to set a destination that’s a bit further away from the show floor and walk a bit.
5.3. Small tips for foreigners
- Convenience stores: Unlike other tourist destinations, Las Vegas hotels are geared toward casino-centric leisure, so they’re a bit stingy about providing free amenities and things like drinks. In this case, I recommend picking up a few drinks, snacks, and other things at convenience stores like Walgreens and CVS on the main road outside your hotel.
- A coffee pot for hot water: You can order from your hotel’s room service to enjoy coffee, tea, or instant ramen, but you won’t have the freedom to do so, so you might want to buy a coffee pot from a convenience store for between $10 and $20.
- Exhibition Pamphlets: You’ll find magazines and pamphlets in the exhibition halls. I recommend taking a picture of these pamphlets with your smartphone in your hotel room and bringing it back as an image.
- Last day of the exhibition: CES usually lasts about four days, with three days being lively and the last four days being when companies pack up their booths. Of course, places like the startup booths are lively, but try to see everything you need to see by day three if possible.
- 110V power strips: The US uses 110V in the shape of an 11, as we all know. You can bring multiple adapters for international travel, but I personally like to bring a single power strip. You can either use a 110V adapter only where you plug it in, or if you have a dedicated 110V travel power strip, you can use your existing outlets. The products in the shop below are the ones I usually use. It has a variety of outlets for electronic devices like smartphones and adapters for laptops. (Buy link)
Attending a trade show should be an enjoyable experience, and these health and safety tips will help you stay safe and comfortable at CES 2024. Your experience at a trade show isn’t just about seeing and learning about new technologies, it can also teach you important lessons about how to stay healthy and safe.
6. CES 2024 recap and wrap-up
Attending CES is more than just visiting the show floor, you’ll find great value in organizing and leveraging the experiences and knowledge you’ve gained. After the show, here’s how to effectively organize and digest what you saw.
6.1. Organize exhibition highlights
- Utilize notes and photos: Use photos and notes taken during the show to revisit meaningful trends. Add a brief description of each photo and note to record key features and impressions of the show.
- Check local media articles and brokerage reports: While you’re at the show, keep an eye out for articles about the show from various local media outlets to see what you may not have seen on the show floor. Some companies that actually won awards didn’t even have a booth, so this is a necessary step to organize the overall context.
- Organize seminars and talks: Try to organize your own CES themes or trending keywords for the year. This will be a great asset as you continue to accumulate them.
CES is an event that has a huge resonance on the ground that people who aren’t there can’t feel. It’s a place where you can feel and see how the world is changing, so don’t just watch it, remember it, and document it.