CES Announces Plans to Proceed With Live Show in January

LAS VEGAS — Consumer Electronics Show organizers announced today that they are going ahead with plans to proceed with CES 2021 in January with widened aisles and frequent sanitizing. The massive annual gathering in Las Vegas, typically drawing more than 150,000 people, spans three million square feet of exhibit space and features 36 product categories. Sex tech wearables is one of the categories. CES has grown its sex tech vendor roster at a steady pace through the years.   Last year, scores of adult wearable device companies showed their wares at the four-day show, including Pulse, Ohmibod, Lora DiCarlo, Come Play Inc., Crave, Morari Medical, XR Brands, Mystery Vibe and Satisfyer, among others. While pleasure products are now the only adult-oriented goods at the show, CES historically had a place on its showroom floors for adult products, specifically videos. But all that changed when AVN’s Paul Fishbein started the Adult Entertainment Expo in 1998, securing all the top adult companies that once showed off their wares at CES. From 1998 to 2011, AEE ran concurrently with CES, giving the adult entertainment industry a dedicated convention and CES show goers, who were given free entrances to AEE, an X-rated escape from the mainstream show. Today’s CES announcement comes just two months after a report surfaced claiming the 2020 conference played a key role in spreading the virus throughout the U.S. But Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CTA, which owns and produces CES, emphasized that the association is not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to the event. “You can expect to see a wider selection of livestreamed CES content, along with many other engaging digital and virtual opportunities, enabling you to connect with the world's leading technology innovators, thought leaders and policymakers,” Shapiro said. “We will showcase our exhibitors' products, technology breakthroughs and ideas to the world, both physically in Las Vegas and digitally.” Those attending CES 2021 will be asked to wear masks and avoid shaking hands with others. Cashless systems and contactless thermal scans at key entry points will be employed. CTA also plans to have on-site access to health services and medical aid. The Las Vegas Convention Center, the primary venue where CES is held, is scheduled to complete a $980 million expansion just in time for next year’s show, set for Jan. 6-9. AVN’s 2021 AEE show, as well as its AVN Novelty Expo, GayVN Awards and AVN Awards, is scheduled in mid-January only nine days after CES. The showcased AVN events will be held at the new Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, formerly the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.