CES Kicks Out Vendors
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:01 pm
Article
If a vendor pays for a room, s/he should be able to use it as s/he feels fit!
This year many returned to the show, but they returned a bit wiser -- or so they thought. They deployed similar techniques (in suite meetings and product displays, etc.). That's where the trouble started.
The CES management became quite irate over vendors independently showing at hotels. You see, while casinos traditionally do decreased gambling business during the week of CES (this was readily apparent this year), they are reimbursed both by additional patronage of both the nightlife and food, but also directly by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The traditional food chain continued with the CEA, which in turn received this revenue from sponsors and businesses who wanted to display products or hold meetings at the show.
However, facing some smaller parties avoiding paying exhibition fees and exhibiting in their rooms, the CES began cracking down today. They requested that hotel security kick out any vendors holding meetings or exhibiting in their rooms. DailyTech was surprised to hear of this, beginning at a lunch meeting. A vendor, to remain anonymous, claimed that they were coerced into paying an additional $10,000 exhibition fee to the CEA, despite having fully paid for their suite. The alternative was to be kicked out of their suite and be unable to exhibit or meet with clients.
If a vendor pays for a room, s/he should be able to use it as s/he feels fit!
