Consumer Electronics Show
Las Vegas, Nevada -- 2007

No expense was spared as hundreds of thousands of square feet of convention center display space were lavishly transformed with sprays of fabric, color and shape. Real and virtual presenters demonstrated the latest in technology, electronics and eye-popping gadgetry that included huge plasma screens, the latest in telephony, automotive aftermarket products, video entertainment, digital security and just about anything you can imagine that involves technology.   

The Consumer Electronics Show is truly the big daddy of techie trade shows, and for the past two years, our attendance there has been with the hopes of bringing to our IT Expo event some of the pizzazz and showmanship CES has become famous for. I was truly impressed and thankful for the CES Concierge Center, which offered complimentary massages, long distance phone and internet services, water, beer and lots of cool goodies. My gift bag overflowed with the marketing materials of countless companies whose creative impressed me enough to make me want to carry it for the approximately 8 hours I toured the event.    

For the larger vendors, office cubicles, where productive face to face meetings could occur, were built right into the display and a small army of well informed vendor staff offered insight into the very latest products and services. For smaller exhibitors making an impression was harder, yet it was apparent that this was an activity that gave them opportunities not found through traditional marketing efforts.

So, as we design IT Expo 2007, we cast an eye towards the glitz of Las Vegas, tip our hats to the ‘big boys’,  and move forward with what we think is Alaska’s most effective IT business opportunity.  Look for some additions this year in display concepts and wow factor but also know that we recognize what works here, and making sure our attendees are truly your peers and customers is our main focus.