CEDIA Expo will be back in Denver, Colo., on September 6–9, 2023, and all indicators point to it being bigger and better than last year’s event — which itself was a return to form.
The last time CEDIA Expo was in Denver was in 2019, and, obviously, so much has changed since then. Attendees are glad to see their friends again, to actually look at products, and to go to parties. It is all part of what I call the three-legged stool of trade shows. The number one reason people go to shows is to see new products; number two is typically education and training; and number three is networking and, for some, that could be more important than the others.
We will have ample opportunities for all three legs at CEDIA Expo 2023. On the networking front, our popular events will all be back, including the Innovation Hub, CE Pro Awards, CEDIA Awards, CEDIA Member Reception, AV Yoga, and Women in Consumer Technology Networking Reception and Luncheon. The Smart Stage, manufacturer product training, and CEDIA Expo conference will provide an abundance of training and education opportunities.
This year, we have a larger show floor. We’re getting back toward pre-pandemic levels, and we expect to have around 20,000 attendees, which is in the ballpark of what we had before the pandemic. Many of our large-booth exhibitors will be back — Sony, Crestron, Samsung, Harman, Origin Acoustic, Savant, Legrand, Snap One, Lutron — the list goes on. Our focus at the moment has been on signing up new brands. We will once again have our Launchpad area, and we’re expanding the Lighting area on the show floor.
We’re planning to stay in Denver for at least the next three years. We want to see if we can grow the show in a location that has historically been very strong and is easy for people to get to.
New Opportunities
We’ve been working very closely with CEDIA on a brand-new conference program. There have been changes in the marketplace that have accelerated the need for education to stay current, and the CEDIA content program will cover all of it. The manufacturer product training program is also a big educational component of the show and is free for attendees. We usually have more than 30 manufacturers participate, offering close to 100 sessions.
Trade shows should also provide a glimpse of the future, and we have that covered with our Smart Stage “State of the Industry” panels, the IMCCA’s Unified Communications Area, and new sessions with Save.org on sustainability.
Energy management is another up-and-coming topic that will be covered. These days, every third car is an electric vehicle, and there’s a big opportunity for custom integrators to literally tap into that with installing power chargers, generators, and backup systems in their customers’ homes and businesses.
The home ecosystem is very different today than it was before the pandemic. Now we’re talking about AI and robotics, which is amazing, but what’s next? CEDIA Expo will give custom installers a great opportunity to learn about it all in one place, at one time.
Commercial Integrator Expo
In keeping with current trends, this year we’ve launched Commercial Integrator Expo to address the natural evolution that is taking place in this channel. We have been talking the last few years about resimercial, and we’ve seen an uptake in CEDIA channel members doing commercial projects. In fact, when we asked registrants at last year’s Expo, 45 percent said they do commercial projects in addition to residential. And there are a number of brands on the exhibit floor that have shown both commercial and residential solutions in their booths for years.
There are many solutions that work well in both kinds of spaces. For example, a college campus has more than just classrooms — there are dorm rooms, libraries, fitness centers, rec centers — all different kinds of living spaces that are on college campuses where technology is being used. All those universities are trying to keep up with the Joneses in terms of having the latest and greatest tech to attract students and provide the best environments for learning. And that is just one vertical that can benefit from the expertise the CEDIA channel provides.
That’s the driving force for adding Commercial Integrator Expo as part of CEDIA Expo — not just to add more exhibitors to a common show floor, but also to add more content. We’re adding a whole new conference program with NSCA, Digital Signage Federation, IMCCA, and other industry groups sponsoring sessions. We want to have a good offering of commercial topics, not only for the benefit of CEDIA Expo attendees, but also for commercial integrators and technology managers we’re seeking to join us for this inaugural event.
The Commercial Integrator Expo adds more value for CEDIA Expo attendees and exhibitors — particularly those that show both types of products in their booths.
Registration is now open at cediaexpo.com, where you can also keep up to date with all latest additions to the education programs, exhibit floor, and networking opportunities. We hope to see you in Denver!
About the Author
Jason McGraw is the Group Vice President for CEDIA Expo and KBIS, Emerald
