CES 2016 To Cap Attendance at 176,000, Plans $100 Registration Fees

Saying CES is “reaching space capacity” and no longer can “accommodate every qualified individual,” CEA is taking steps to cap attendance at 176,000 for January's show by instituting registration fees and doubling down on its qualification procedures, it said in a Wednesday announcement. CEA announced the new policies as it said “verified” attendance for the 2015 show reached a record 176,676, following an independent audit by its longtime contractor Veris Consulting. CEA will seek to cap attendance “close to a level comparable to the 2015 CES, in an effort to ensure that attendees continue to have a quality experience,” it said. In a procedure it called “enhanced credentialing,” new CES registrants or returnees who did not attend CES at least once in the past two years will need to provide proof of their “industry affiliation,” such as a link to a company website listing them on an employee roster, CEA said. All registrants will be assessed a $100 fee beginning July 8 when registration launches, it said. “Loyal alumni” who attended the 2014 or 2015 CES will be offered a free 30-day window before the $100 fee takes effect July 8, it said. Registration fees will triple to $300 beginning Dec. 21 “to encourage more registrants to sign up” before that deadline and to “allow CEA ample time to verify credentials for those who register after that date,” it said. Registration for “qualified media” will remain free, it said. Though the new fees structure is wider-scale than ever before, it's not the first time CES has charged for registration, Karen Chupka, CEA senior vice president-International CES and corporate business strategy, emailed us Wednesday. CES has charged $100 at least the past four shows for an “exhibits plus pass” for those who applied Sept. 1 or after, Chupka said. The onsite fee for that pass doubled to $200 “beginning a couple of days before the show,” she said. CEA has no estimate on how much revenue the new registration fee procedure may raise “as the new policy encourages people to register earlier (allowing us more time to review credentials),” she said.