CEDIA Expo will remain an important home integration event, mainly addressing the domestic US market, as it was predominantly in all its history. In contrast, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), which is a major international trade-show of much larger proportions, will no longer take place in June 2021, as it was recently confirmed. The pandemic situation in Europe doesn't allow much margin for planning crowd gatherings until vaccination reaches a considerable percentage of the population. And more importantly, companies are still reluctant to approve and commit to these events given the risks and the uncertainty surrounding international travel. ISE is now planned to return in 2022, back to its original calendar at the end of February, and for the first time in Barcelona.
ISE is promoted in partnership by the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) and the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA), owner of the InfoComm show, which is also currently scheduled to take place in Orlando, FL, October 23-29.
The return of CEDIA Expo, talking place in the first days of September will signal the return of the audio and AV industry to in-person events in North-America, even if still highly restricted by mandatory safety measures and the certainty that visitors will be predominantly domestic. The choice of Indianapolis and venue to host the event was mainly determined by the new show promoter, Emerald Expositions, precisely because of its central location in the US.
CEDIA, the international home technology trade association, has changed significantly in the past three years and is now a very different organization. Functioning as global trade association for companies that design, manufacture, and integrate technology in the home, CEDIA is also now fully focused on education, certification, and advocacy.
The association is also now in the middle of the process to find a new President and CEO. Tabatha O’Connor, the former Global President and CEO of CEDIA, ended her term in January 2021, after a period of profound transformation for the organization. In 2016, the association integrated its North American and worldwide operations to form a single integrated global organization, in an effort to create more efficient operations, a more consistent member experience, and a stronger brand presence. In 2017, CEDIA sold its North American tradeshow - CEDIA Expo - to Emerald Expositions while retaining ownership of the education program.
Therefore it's not surprising to see that the announcement of CEDIA Expo 2021 is mainly an isolated effort from Emerald Expositions, without visible involvement from CEDIA - the association - at the time of publishing.
CEDIA Expo remains a unique opportunity for manufacturers to meet thousands of home technology integration professionals. In the past, CEDIA Expo attracted nearly 500 exhibitors to the leading event in smart and home technology. And the trade show was a vibrant opportunity for many audio companies to promote new products, breakthrough innovations and targeted training in home tech integration. See our CEDIA 2019 Show Report here.
With the recent expansion of the industry toward the smart home and the expansion of integrated technologies under the same control standards, the CEDIA Expo concept was ready to enter a new expansion phase, much in line with what is already visible at Integrated Systems Europe. The return of the show post-pandemic might prove important to signal if that convergence is still in place, since it would attract major players within the technology giant, such as Google and Amazon - all present in 2019.
For now, CEDIA Expo 2021 remains strongly supported by the more traditional home theater manufacturers, and home technology integration professionals, which know the demand is stronger than ever in the residential space. As the CEDIA Expo website promotes, home technology is a $14 billion industry, and CEDIA offers the right recipe of industry excitement, channel marketing, technology promotion, with professional development and in-depth training.
The 2021 event will be a challenging opportunity for exhibitors and visitors, and that is probably the reason why the promoters are being extremely cautious in promoting specifics, and focusing instead on explaining the safety, security and health measures that are being confirmed by state and local authorities, and the Indiana Convention Center. For now, we learn that social distancing and face masks will be required at all times, there will be daily temperature screenings required, daily, heightened cleaning and sanitizing of all public spaces, and aisle widths on the exhibit floor will be increased. The website offers a CEDIA Expo / Emerald Preparedness, Prevention & Response Plan document available with all the details.
The Indiana Convention Center is now equipped with a renewed 24/7 air circulation, hospital-grade air filters, and plexiglass shields at all service areas. Inside the convention center distances will be tightly managed - six-foot physical distancing measures for floor plans, seating areas, and crowd management - with limited and designated entry and exit doors, and one-way travel markers in hallways and corridors.
For more details see: https://cediaexpo.com/hotel-travel/health-and-safety/
Emerald Expositions will also confirm the list of official partner hotels, which will also enforce similar health control measures. Discounted housing will open June 9, 2021, the month when the organization also promises to publish conference and education schedules. For now, there is a list of exhibitors and a show floor plan, showing available areas.
www.emeraldx.com | www.cedia.net
www.cediaexpo.com
