(photo courtesy of the CTA)
How CES 2025 is Transforming Las Vegas and the Tech World
by Ray Smith, Debbie Hall, and Mark Hebert, Exhibit City News
Hyped as the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, and legitimately so, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attracts nearly 140,000 in attendance and covers 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space at Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s a 46-year staple for the nation’s No. 1-ranked convention city.
Since 1978, CES has drawn nearly 5 million attendees to Las Vegas and created an economic impact of more than $6 billion, according to Consumer Technology Association (CTA), organizer of the show. It’s scheduled for Jan. 7-10, 2025, at Las Vegas Convention Center and Venetian Expo Center.
Hotels and Lodging
With 154,662 available lodging rooms in Las Vegas (as of Dec. 31, 2023), CES reports 138,739 total participants, including 40% international attendees from 161 countries, 4,312 registered exhibitors, and 5,355 members of the media. This marks an increase of 20,898 attendees over 2023.
CES attendees utilize a massive portion of the city’s hotels. The CTA secures rooms through the reservation booking site powered by onPeak, the official housing agent for CES 2025. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided at select CES hotels, including the Venetian Expo, Encore at Wynn, Treasure Island, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, and others.
“As a proud partner of CES for over 15 years, Palace Station is excited to welcome the 2025 attendees,” said Paula Sweeney, Director of Sales at Palace Station.
The Workforce Behind CES
Last year, CTA reported 15,000 exhibit booths on the show floor and 53,410 exhibitor personnel. The association does not provide specifics on labor, but estimates suggest thousands of workers, including union and non-union labor, working around the clock.
Phil Jaynes, president of IATSE Local 720, says the union sends 400 to 500 stage technicians to CES, while IBEW Local 357 supplies 300 to 350 electricians. Installations begin three weeks prior to the show.
“CES is a huge consumer of power,” says Billy Spielberg, business agent for IBEW Local 357. “CES alone has enough power to energize a small city.”
Highmark TechSystems trains its eight skilled workers in Fort Wayne, Ind., to assemble double-deck exhibit structures efficiently and safely. Their labor rate is $92.50 an hour.
Registration and Access
Registration at CES includes 26 remote badge pickup locations across the city, such as Harry Reid International Airport and major hotels. Badge options include the Exhibits Plus Pass for $350 or the Deluxe Conference Pass for $1,700.
Attendees are required to pick up badges in person with government-issued ID and proof of registration.
Transportation and the Vegas Loop
Getting to and from CES is a logistical achievement. Traffic snarls near the Las Vegas Convention Center due to ongoing construction of the underground Vegas Loop and renovation work at the convention center itself.
The Vegas Loop, built by Elon Musk’s Boring Co., provides quick access across the LVCC campus. It transports attendees in Tesla vehicles between halls in about two minutes, a time-saver compared to the 20-minute walk.
Public transportation options include the Las Vegas Monorail, which can carry up to 150,000 riders during CES, and taxis, with 1,500 on the road.
Ubers, Lyft, and additional rideshare companies will be utilized throughout the show days. There are dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations across the multiple properties hosting CES events.
Food Service
Las Vegas Convention Center features two restaurants, 18 concession stands, and one Starbucks Café. Sodexo Live!, the exclusive food-service partner, employs a wide range of culinary union workers. Meanwhile, Venetian Expo and Mandalay Bay maintain their own exclusive food and beverage providers.
Trash and Sustainability
Mandalay Bay operates an extensive material diversion program, recycling more than 30 types of materials, while Freeman Exhibitor Support oversees janitorial services at LVCC. Participating exhibitors donate unused materials to charities.
Presentations
CES 2025 will host sessions on advancements in AI, sustainability, vehicle tech, and more. Last year, presentations featured 64 speakers on Jan. 6 and 150 on subsequent days.
Press and Media Coverage
CES attracts one of the largest media turnouts in the tradeshow world. In 2024, CES welcomed 5,355 members of the press—a significant increase from the previous year. Representatives from tech publications, general news outlets, and niche industries descend on Las Vegas to cover the event. Media Day at CES includes exclusive press briefings, offering journalists access to product launches and innovations before the show floor opens.
The CES Media Rooms provide a quiet space for press members to file reports, conduct interviews, and recharge during the event. More than 25,000 media mentions and 35,000 articles about CES 2024 were recorded, resulting in an estimated 277 billion impressions globally.
Celebrities and Sponsorships
CES continues to blend technology and culture, with a star-studded lineup and strategic sponsorships amplifying its global appeal. “CES is a massive media-driven event, offering thousands of media members seamless access through dedicated resources like media rooms with complimentary Wi-Fi, private interview spaces, broadcast towers, and more,” said John T. Kelley, vice president and CES show director.
CES 2024 featured an impressive array of celebrity participants, including Robert Downey Jr., Mark Cuban, Ludacris, and T-Pain, who engaged in panels, product launches, and exclusive interviews. Kelley noted, “We have a dedicated team on-site to ensure smooth coordination of their appearances, from registration and security to show floor tours and interviews.”
Looking ahead, CES 2025 will continue the tradition, with will.i.am, Black Eyed Peas frontman and prominent AI investor, unveiling a groundbreaking partnership during LG’s “Affectionate Intelligence” press conference. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Delta CEO Ed Bastian will headline keynotes at iconic venues like The Sphere, exploring advancements in AI and robotics.
Sponsorship opportunities are also central to CES’s success. “Sponsorship packages include conference programming, lounges, the CES app, and other high-visibility platforms designed to connect with both in-person and virtual attendees,” said Kelley. From branded giveaways to immersive venue branding, these activations offer brands unparalleled engagement and visibility among a tech-savvy global audience.
With its unique blend of celebrity influence, cutting-edge sponsorships, and robust media support, CES 2025 is poised to remain the ultimate platform where technology and culture converge, driving innovation on a global scale.
Security
Security at CES includes K-9 units, metal detectors, and strict access control. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department collaborates with CES organizers to ensure safety across all venues.
Wi-Fi and Tech Resources for Media
CES stands as a global leader in showcasing cutting-edge technology, and its infrastructure mirrors that innovation. According to Jonathan Fecchino, President and Director of Sales at ProductionNET/SJP, CES operates on a robust internet network designed to meet the connectivity demands of over 138,000 attendees and 4,300 exhibitors.
The event offers a staggering 50–100 Gbps of total bandwidth, ensuring uninterrupted service for exhibitors demonstrating advanced technologies such as AR/VR, IoT, and live-streaming applications. Public Wi-Fi is engineered to support over 50,000 simultaneous connections during peak periods, with thousands of enterprise-grade access points strategically positioned across the Las Vegas Convention Center and other event venues.
Fecchino highlighted that vendors benefit from custom private networks and VLANs, providing secure, high-speed connections for demos and data transfers. Additionally, temporary infrastructure, such as Cellular-on-Wheels (COWs) and on-site edge computing devices, bolsters connectivity for latency-sensitive applications.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated IT team of over 200 specialists manages the network, offers real-time support, and monitors systems through a centralized Network Operations Center (NOC). These advanced measures ensure seamless connectivity, solidifying CES as a tech showcase in every sense of the word.
Complete CES 2024 By the Numbers
1,000+ Speakers: Participated in CES 2024 conference sessions.
1,400+ Startups: Exhibited in Eureka Park, a record-breaking number.
1,500 Taxis: Estimated to be on the road during CES for attendee transport.
2.5+ Million Square Feet: Net exhibit space, a 15% increase over CES 2023.
3,000+ Innovation Awards Submissions: A record high, including a new category for AI.
4,300+ Exhibitors: Participated in CES 2024, including startups and Fortune 500 companies.
5,000+ Media Members: Includes global media and content creators (audit: 5,355).
5 Billion Pounds: Electronics recycled since 2011 through CTA’s eCycling Leadership Initiative.
15,000 Exhibit Booths: On the show floor.
20,898 Additional Attendees: Increase in attendance from CES 2023.
25,000+ Media Mentions: Generated globally during CES 2024.
26 Badge Pickup Locations: Set up across Las Vegas for attendee convenience.
35,000 Articles: Published globally about CES 2024.
40% International Attendees: Representing more than 150 countries, regions, and territories.
53,410 Exhibitor Personnel: Present on the show floor during CES 2024.
56,432 International Attendees: Verified in the audit as 40% of total attendees.
60% of Fortune 500 Companies: Represented at CES 2024.
63,680 Green Grant Dollars: Awarded to ImpactNV for tree-planting initiatives.
69,294 Senior Executives: Attended CES 2024, a 15% increase from 2023.
92.50 USD/Hour: Hourly labor rate for skilled exhibit structure workers.
125,000 USD: Total Green Grants awarded to three Nevada-based organizations.
135,000+ Attendees: Pre-audit estimate for CES 2024 (audit confirmed 138,739).
138,739 Total Attendees: Confirmed by CES 2024 audit.
154,662 Lodging Rooms: Available in Las Vegas as of Dec. 31, 2023.
277 Billion Impressions: Generated globally from CES 2024 coverage.
302 Fortune Global 500 Companies: Represented at CES 2024.
350 Electricians: Estimated from IBEW Local 357 to assist during CES.
400–500 Stage Technicians: Supplied by IATSE Local 720 for the event.
800,000 USD: Total Green Grants provided by CTA to Las Vegas over the last 10 years.
This story originally appeared as a truncated version in the Q1 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 74. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_q1_2025/74.
