As show staff, exhibitors, and the residential and commercial integration industries start looking ahead to 2024 and next year’s CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo, they continue to reflect back upon this year’s successful shows as we near the close of 2023.
Held in early September at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CEDIA Expo 2023 and its co-located inaugural event, Commercial Integrator Expo 2023, emphasized an increased desire for tradeshows, conferences and events to connect industry professionals. The event for residential and commercial channel professionals was bustling with highly engaging exhibits, interactive educational opportunities and invaluable networking opportunities.
Patrick Laidlaw, director of business development for WAC/AiSPIRE Lighting, noted, “CEDIA Expo 2023 was an event to remember! The attendance was high, the spirits were well, and the conference center had an overall optimism. It felt good to get people back together for a common cause of integration!”
CEDIA Expo & Commercial Integrator Expo Underscored Value of In-Person Interactions
If reactions from exhibitors and attendees are an indication, CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo 2023 allowed custom integration manufacturers to reconnect and re-engage with manufacturer’s representatives, distributors, dealers and integrators to drive businesses forward.
It’s undeniable that face-to-face meetings and casual conversations provide increased value for attendees and exhibitors to form meaningful relationships. CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo 2023 provided a platform to fuel those conversations, leading to mutually beneficial business engagements for attendees and exhibitors.
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The combined show floor provided an opportunity for industry professionals to connect across various events, including educational training, programming features and special events, and a platform for industry professionals – especially first-time attendees – to forge new relationships throughout the residential and commercial communities.
2023 Event Provided Platform for Engaging Activations
High-performance and unique demonstrations touting the latest technology trends are a staple to any industry tradeshow. CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo proved to be no exception.
From high-quality home theater rooms to immersive outdoor patios, the co-located tradeshow provided a first-hand look for industry professionals to experience the endless possibilities for virtually any residential or commercial space.
Erik Buss, technician and installer for Harmonic Series, Inc., in Fort Collins, Colo., called the event a “candy store” for audiovisual enthusiasts.
Destination Outdoors, hosted across the street from the convention center, proved one of the most engaging activations. Coastal Source, Draper At Home and Just Video Walls teamed up to showcase their product lines that withstand harsh, year-round outdoor environments.
“CEDIA Expo continues to bring the right dealers to our booth,” states Jon Bowman, vice president of operations for Coastal Source. “Working with the Emerald staff to develop our Destination Outdoors sponsorship has been a pleasure, with dealer traffic increasing yearly.”
Among the indoor demos, Trinnov Audio, a French company specializing in home theater audio processors, was lauded as one of the most buzzworthy on the show floor. Their demonstration, a project six years in the making, combined best-in-class technologies from Ascendo, madVR Labs, Kaleidescape, Barco, Seymour-Screen Excellence and Officina Acustica to create a show-stopping experience.
“Our plans were ambitious: to present to the custom installation industry a luxury home cinema revealing the ultimate in audio, video and design quality… In partnership with six industry-leading manufacturers, we made presentations to over 1,000 visitors during the three days,” says Chuck Back, managing director at Trinnov.
“There is no other event in the United States that provides this level of opportunity in terms of the quality and the number of qualified attendees.”
Educational Opportunities Continued to Propel Industry Growth
CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo also delivered learning opportunities through robust educational conference programming.
Designed to inspire industry professionals to think more broadly about how they approach their business, CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo introduced new, thought-provoking seminars, engaging Smart Stage and other panels and interactive workshops that explore new opportunities through emerging trends and professional development.
“Education and certification are key to our industry’s growth and accountability as times change,” reiterates Jason Stevenson, owner of Automated Living in Louisville, Ky.
“Attending CEDIA Expo gives you the ability to take advantage of classes, certifications as well as seeing products all at the same event. Anyone serious about this career path should be taking advantage of this.”
The educational slate offered attendees insights on various emerging technologies, including audio, artificial intelligence, light commercial, and lighting, to name a few. Attendees gathered business advice through new, relevant courses on everything from incorporating new products into their sales pitches to growing profits from products they’re selling.
CEDIA Expo 2024 and Commercial Integrator Expo 2024 will take place September 4–7, 2024, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo.
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