chrissy
06-23-2004, 03:17 PM
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373227796
Comdex owners cancel 2004 show
Paul Taylor in New York
Published: June 23 2004 23:25 | Last Updated: June 23 2004 23:25
The annual Comdex technology trade show in Las Vegas, once the most prestigious of technology-industry events, has been cancelled for 2004 by its owners, MediaLive International.
Comdex Las Vegas had been scheduled to open on November 14. But MediaLive said on Wednesday that it would "postpone" the show in order to "reshape the event with the co-operation of information technology leaders."
It is the first time since Comdex began 25 years ago that the event has been cancelled. In its heyday, at the height of the technology bubble, the show attracted over 225,000 visitors and was a highlight of the technology calendar and launch pad for many new technology products.
For those attending the show, it became a logistical nightmare. Hotel rooms were sold out months in advance, taxicab lines were huge and exhibition booth fees soared.
But while the costs associated with exhibiting at Comdex Las Vegas escalated, exhibitor interest and attendance waned. When the internet bubble burst many IT companies privately complained that they could no longer justify the costs of exhibiting at Comdex.
Instead, many switched their focus to the Consumer Electronics Association's bi-annual show which is also held in Las Vegas, or took suites in Las Vegas hotels at the same time as Comdex and invited buyers and journalists to private briefings prompting pointed criticism from Comdex' organisers.
Last year MediaLive, struggling to revive interest in the show, attempted to refocus the event on business IT and screened out some companies that sell only consumer products. As a result exhibit space fell to 150,000 square feet from 325,000 square feet a year earlier and attendance dropped to 40,000 prompting speculation that this year's event would be cancelled.
On Wednesday MediaLive, which has a long-term contract with the Las Vegas Convention Center running through 2007, insisted Comdex Las Vegas would be back in 2005 but said the show's future depends on the ability of a newly formed advisory board comprising major IT vendors to rally support for the annual conference.
MediaLive said its other Comdex shows, in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Scandinavia would be held as planned.
Comdex owners cancel 2004 show
Paul Taylor in New York
Published: June 23 2004 23:25 | Last Updated: June 23 2004 23:25
The annual Comdex technology trade show in Las Vegas, once the most prestigious of technology-industry events, has been cancelled for 2004 by its owners, MediaLive International.
Comdex Las Vegas had been scheduled to open on November 14. But MediaLive said on Wednesday that it would "postpone" the show in order to "reshape the event with the co-operation of information technology leaders."
It is the first time since Comdex began 25 years ago that the event has been cancelled. In its heyday, at the height of the technology bubble, the show attracted over 225,000 visitors and was a highlight of the technology calendar and launch pad for many new technology products.
For those attending the show, it became a logistical nightmare. Hotel rooms were sold out months in advance, taxicab lines were huge and exhibition booth fees soared.
But while the costs associated with exhibiting at Comdex Las Vegas escalated, exhibitor interest and attendance waned. When the internet bubble burst many IT companies privately complained that they could no longer justify the costs of exhibiting at Comdex.
Instead, many switched their focus to the Consumer Electronics Association's bi-annual show which is also held in Las Vegas, or took suites in Las Vegas hotels at the same time as Comdex and invited buyers and journalists to private briefings prompting pointed criticism from Comdex' organisers.
Last year MediaLive, struggling to revive interest in the show, attempted to refocus the event on business IT and screened out some companies that sell only consumer products. As a result exhibit space fell to 150,000 square feet from 325,000 square feet a year earlier and attendance dropped to 40,000 prompting speculation that this year's event would be cancelled.
On Wednesday MediaLive, which has a long-term contract with the Las Vegas Convention Center running through 2007, insisted Comdex Las Vegas would be back in 2005 but said the show's future depends on the ability of a newly formed advisory board comprising major IT vendors to rally support for the annual conference.
MediaLive said its other Comdex shows, in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Scandinavia would be held as planned.