When the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show opens early next week with a record-breaking 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, attendees may find it slower than usual making their way onto the show floor.
As a result of the terrorist acts in September, the Consumer Electronics Association, which owns and manages the International CES, has increased show security. Organizers now require two forms of identification before issuing a show badge, and anyone heading onto the show floor with a bag is subject to search. CEA is not banning bags, but is encouraging attendees to leave them in their hotel rooms or drop them off at the show’s free bag check.
Other security measures introduced for the 2002 CES include requiring merchandise passes for anyone taking products off the show floor, as well as an increased presence for private and public security personnel. CEA says that certain other security measures are confidential. The January 8 to 11 event, showcasing the latest in "workstyle and lifestyle technology," is expecting more than 100,000 attendees.