People visit Chinese drone maker DJI's booth at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier consumer electronics show, will become an all-digital event on Jan. 6-9 next year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers said Tuesday.
"Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it's just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person," said Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive officer of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), in a statement.
"Technology helps us all work, learn and connect during the pandemic -- and that innovation will also help us reimagine CES 2021 and bring together the tech community in a meaningful way. By shifting to an all-digital platform for 2021, we can deliver a unique experience that helps our exhibitors connect with existing and new audiences," he added.
The organizers said that CES 2021 will be a new immersive experience, where attendees will have a front row seat to discover and see the latest technology. They noted that the highly personalized experience "will bring a global event to the comfort and safety of your home or office."
With a history of more than 50 years, CES is considered to be the largest and most influential tech trade event on the planet, where the entire technology ecosystem from top-tier giants to emerging start-ups come together to do business and cross-pollinate ideas and innovations.
CES 2020, which drew more than 170,000 attendees and 4,500 companies, took place in Las Vegas in January just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. In the following months, many major events across the country were canceled, delayed or moved online to avoid large gatherings.
Chinese companies have become an important part of CES in recent years. Over 1,000 Chinese companies were listed on the 2020 CES exhibitor directory.
"China remains a top international market at CES, with many Chinese companies exhibiting at the show to build their brand and forge global partnerships," said the CTA in an email to Xinhua in January.
