Emerald Digs In, Says CEDIA Expo Will Go On, as Dropout List Grows
CEDIA Expo owner Emerald doubled down on the company’s commitment to hold the trade event in Indianapolis Sept. 1-3, even as exhibitors continue to abandon the event due to health concerns over the COVID-19 delta variant. Jason McGraw, Emerald Group vice president-CEDIA Expo and KBIS, told the company's CEPro trade publication Wednesday, “The show is 100% going on. Contrary to rumors out there, CEDIA Expo 2021 is still happening.”
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The number of exhibitors has been whittled down to 150; the trade show company was originally hoping for 300. Last week, Emerald advertised that 250 brands were exhibiting. Savant was still listed as an exhibitor Wednesday, though it was the first prominent name to pull out of the show last week (see 2108100051). Lutron, which held a YouTube product unveil Wednesday with Josh.ai. to announce voice control integration for Lutron lighting control systems, wasn't listed as an exhibitor Wednesday. Lutron didn't respond to questions.
Emerald’s affirmation came after tier 1 TV maker LG followed Samsung and Sony in skipping CEDIA Expo this year. LG told dealers Wednesday that due to the “uncertain track of the Delta variant” skipping is necessary to ensure safety for its employees, customers and industry collaborators. The company will contact partners to schedule virtual meetings and encouraged custom installers to join its Pinnacle Program, which helps dealers in the channel integrate LG products through support programs, exclusive pricing, online learning tools and tech support. LG didn't respond to questions about whether it will still be part of a "first look" virtual press tour Aug. 25 (see 2108090054). LG was one of 10 companies chosen to participate, along with Perlisten Audio, which also pulled out of the show. Perlisten is no longer participating in the press tour, a spokesperson said.
Also Wednesday, Trinnov Audio emailed it canceled its CEDIA Expo booth and has no plans to have anyone on site in Indianapolis. The company’s participation would have been limited to three employees, with none of the management team from Paris able to attend because of U.S. travel restrictions, it said. JVC, listed as a "new" exhibitor, also withdrew from the show, a spokesperson told us.
“While a number of brands have made the determination not to attend this year’s CEDIA Expo, we want to assure you that the show will still run as scheduled,” said Emerald. “We support each brand’s decision wholeheartedly, and we know there are difficult choices to be made. We also want to ensure that those who have made significant investments in time and resources in preparation for Expo will have a place to exhibit, network, and learn,” it said. Noting the show will “undoubtedly be smaller,” Emerald said that allows “more time for quality, one-on-one relationship building.”
The health and safety of all CEDIA Expo attendees remains Emerald’s “top priority,” it said, noting the Indiana Convention Center received the Global Biorisk Advisory Council Star rating “for providing a clean and healthy environment for events.” It repeated the Expo's health and safety plan that follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We strongly encourage all vaccinated attendees to wear masks and unvaccinated attendees are still required to wear masks at the show.”