CES Dark Chronicles: Hotel showcases and “suite parties” leading way to blackmail and extortion?

While I would classify my time in Vegas for the 2010 CES show as a resounding enjoyment, many smaller vendors whom were unable to display product on the show floor or took to a hotel suite for an additional (less expensive outlet) may see it a different way. Instead of the looking over your shoulder at competitors products, vendors now have another problem to look after — angry CEA employees enforcing bogus crackdowns. According to DailyTech, whom witnessed the scandalous events first hand as well as from a few other sources, tCEA and hotel employees at the Venetian and Palazzo confronted and threatened to kick out those using their *legally paid for* hotel suites for any type of product showcasing.

Seems a little shifty if you ask me. A classic case of greed and jealousy perhaps? The biggest question however is “Why?” I myself went to a few hotel suite events at those very same hotels. At any given point there were at most 50-60 people in one room. How is a 50-60 product shindig going to upset a 6 digit consumer electronics show? Simple answer: It won’t. It’s simple greed. Greed because those close to the matter claim they could either leave their suites sans refund or pay the CEA the entry $10,000 entry fee to display at CES.

Sure sounds like greed (with a healthy dose of blackmail) to me. Will I still attend future CES shows? Sure will. Will I support everything the CEA does? Nope. Like most organizing bodies and groups, the CEA is just like the rest apparently — greedy, juvenile, and insulting.

Anyone else (you will remain anonymousness) see or hear similar “behind-the-scenes” dirt going on?

DailyTech

Tags: blackmail CES consumer electronics extortion gadgets hotel palazzo show venetian