The city of Las Vegas is not just about the glitz and glamour. It is also home to numerous meetings, conventions, and conferences every year. In fact, over 22,000 conventions happen annually in Sin City. Attendees for these events have reached over 6.3 million visitors. One of the largest trade shows that occur annually is the Consumer Electronics Show, commonly referred to as CES. The Consumer Electronics Show usually occurs in January and starts every year off strong for the Las Vegas convention and trade show scene.

A Brief Overview

CES is the largest tech trade show where companies span miles of exhibits throughout the Las Vegas Trip. The Consumer Technology Association organizes the show every year. Numerous brands unveil their latest innovations during the trade show and also host presentations of new products within the consumer electronics industry. It is where 360 cameras, drones, self-driving vehicles, and flying cars are showcased for the public interest. Their goal is to publicized technological solutions and inventions from all over the world. More than 4,400 companies exhibit their inventions at CES. The show itself physically takes up over 2.7 million square feet and over 150,000 people attend the trade show every year.

Tips for Corporate Travelers and Attendees

Expect the trade show to be hectic. Because it is so large physically and occurs over a few days, it will be exhausting. Get the most out of your experience by keeping some of these key tips in mind:

• Travel light and wear comfortable shoes – Learn the bag restrictions at the trade show and wear shoes that you feel comfortable walking in all day.
• Drink lots of water and get enough sleep – To perform at your best, it is crucial to get enough rest and stay hydrated.
  Print out a map of all the exhibit floors and venues – Strategize where you want to go in order to avoid crowds and learn the locations of each exhibit.
• Bring a lot of business cards – The trade show is a perfect networking opportunity because you will be meeting a lot of professionals within the tech industry. Swap phone numbers with fellow attendees and coordinate with other tech professionals.
• Arrive early for presentations – Lines for keynotes are long, so arriving early will guarantee you a better experience.
  Familiarize yourself with the schedule – Because the trade show spans several hotels, it is important to know which brands are exhibiting at which locations and when they will be present.
• Bring back up batteries – Whether it’s for your smartphone, your camera, or your laptop, having an extra battery or power pack will come in handy.
• Make the most out of your mobile apps – With the iRide AWG mobile app, you can conveniently arrange for transportation services from your mobile phone.

Navigating the Trade Show

Because the trade show is so large, it occurs 11 official locations across the Las Vegas Strip including Wynn Las Vegas, Encore at the Wynn, Aria, Park MGM, and Vdara. Each area of the trade show has been divided into one of the three categories: Tech East, Tech West, and Tech South depending on location. In order to maximize your time at the trade show, familiar yourself with each of the CES venues. Learn which companies are exhibiting at each area. There are over 24 product categories and 25 marketing places to explore throughout the show.

Shuttle Services and Ridesharing

Some hotels offer complimentary shuttle services to and from trade show locations. Some shuttle services may have ADA accessible transportation, but you must request it in advance. Keep in mind that with over 150,000 visitors and varying hours of operation, shuttle services may take some time. If you do plan on using a shuttle service, account for extra travel time during peak hours. While ridesharing is a popular method of travel in metropolitan cities, trade show officials ask attendees to pay close attention while using these apps. During the largest tech trade show, pick up locations for ridesharing may be restricted. Designed areas for rideshare pick up also differ at every hotel and casino. Rates are more likely to be inflated due to a high volume of requests because of the trade show.

Parking

Attendees can attest to the fact that parking for the Consumer Electronics Show is not enough. With so many visitors staying at the hotels and using rental cars, private transportation services are the most efficient way of traveling.  At the end of every exhibit day, be prepared to see long lines and filled parking spots. It will be difficult to avoid crowds heading for parking garages.

Private Transportation

Using chauffeured transportation to travel to and from CES is a great option for anyone looking for a convenient solution. AWG Ambassador’s chauffeurs are experienced at navigating Las Vegas, especially during high traffic events such as the Consumer Electronics Show. Luxury car services are perfect for point to point transportation. Private chauffeurs tend to have more geographical knowledge. They also specialize in being prompt, so you can arrive at the trade show on time and leave on time. With private transportation in Las Vegas, you don’t have to worry about cancellations, surge pricing, or your safety. Experience the Consumer Electronics Show like a VIP with AWG Ambassador. Contact Us today for more information.