By Jennifer Minagil
CES, Consumer Electronics Show, is the most influential tech event in the world. Thousands of attendees travel from around the globe to display and learn about the changing world of electronics that intend to be made available to the open market. The world's largest companies come together at this show to market, brainstorm, meet partners and show off their newest tech prowess.
When the pandemic changed the face of travel and conventions as a whole, attendance in 2022 dropped drastically (from 170,000 in 2020, down to just 45,000 in 2022). Early forecasting indicates that attendee numbers for 2023 will hit more than 100,000. The return to CES in 2023 anticipates a massive resurgence, not only in interest, but in marketing, publication, creation and distribution. Featuring nearly 1000 new exhibitors and a growing list of Innovation Awards recipients, this year should be the most impressive to date.
Moving on from the statistics that fascinate the nerd in all of us, lets focus on what can help you make the most of your trip to Vegas for CES!
Where to stay
CES offers impressive partnerships both in and out of the Convention Center halls; this includes official partner hotels such as Aria, Resorts World, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, New York New York and more. Reasonably priced reservations so close to the event-start date are limited and prices are rising, so we've done some legwork to help you determine availability at some of the remaining Hotels & Resorts in the area. You're able to book any of the below hotels directly through the app (via our Priceline partner) by tapping on Places & Travel, then tap Book Hotels.
For event dates January 5 through January 8, 2023 (3 night stay)
- Howard Johnson by Wyndham (165 E Tropicana Ave) is offering rates at $123/night. Located 3 miles south of the Convention Center, this no-frills location is adjacent to OYO and MGM Grand.
- Circus Circus (2880 Las Vegas Blvd S) is offering rates at $141/night in the Skyrise Tower, before resort fees. Located just 2 miles west of the Convention Center and walkable with comfortable shoes, this property is under new management and is slowly going through renovations. With one of the most highly acclaimed steakhouses in the valley (The Steak House), this may be a fantastic option.
- Virgin Hotels (4455 Paradise Rd) is offering rates at $159/night, before resort fees. Located 2.1 miles south of the Convention Center with a decent array of entertainment and dining options on-site, this newly renovated property is a sight for sore eyes.
- Downtowner Boutique Hotel (129 N 8th St) is offering rates at $161/night. Located 3.7 miles north of the Convention Center, this hotel is just a few blocks from the Fremont Street Experience and Downtown Container Park, both which offer a massive number of dining and entertainment options.
- The Grandview at Las Vegas (9940 Las Vegas Blvd S) is offering limited rates at $166/night. A non-gaming property located 11.2 miles south of the Convention Center and directly across from the South Point Casino, if you're seeking something away from the hustle and bustle, this may be your ticket.
- South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa (9777 Las Vegas Blvd S) is offering rates at $175/night, before resort fees. Located 10.7 miles south of the Convention Center, this place gives a respite from the traffic and crowds of the Strip while combining a casual yet fun atmosphere. The property offers a wide range of dining options from casual to upscale, with various cuisines. Locals love this place!
If you already have your hotel booked, you can easily find fun activities, bars, and restaurants near your hotel in VegasNearMe. When you are looking at a list, tap the Near button next to the Age Filter button, select Near a Location, then type in your hotel name or address and select it from the search results. VegasNearMe then shows distances from your location, making it easy for you to find things close by. Tap the Near button again and select Near Me in order to find things nearest your current location wherever you are.
Transportation & The Boring Company Loop
The LVCC is located on the North end of the Las Vegas Strip. Walking will always be the cheapest option to get around, however there are many budget-friendly options available to you.
CES 2023 Complimentary Transportation via Shuttle
For attendees of CES, the convention has arranged complimentary shuttle service that will run to and from select locations, including both Hotel and Express Shuttles (and even an airport shuttle service, for a nominal fee). Click
here for a detailed map and pickup/dropoff locations.
The Boring Company Loop
Don't let the name dissuade you. This saving grace to conventioneers tired feet, is an underground tunnel system that transports visitors in Teslas within LVCC and to Resorts World. Currently, there are five different stops. One line connects Resorts World to LVCC for easy transportation between the two. The other three stops are focused on transportation within LVCC as it is an extremely large convention center. Each trip only lasts about 2 minutes and is a very convenient way to get around LVCC. Pricing and availablilty can change depending on the volume of the convention, so be sure to check with a Loop employee.
Driving
You can drive your own vehicle, however parking will likely be limited and quite costly. Nearby hotels will often restrict their parking to hotel guests only during conventions, so be sure to call ahead if you are planning on utilizing this feature.
Taxis & Ride Shares
Taxis and Ride Shares are always available, and are a very quick way to get to your destination without having to worry about parking availability or prices. Ride share prices may vary on the time of day and can get costly during peak times. Ride share pickups are also marked and predetermined at resorts and LVCC, be sure to check the location in your preferred ride share app before you order the ride. You can utilize the VegasNearMe app to hire a ride share by tapping on any Activity, Show, Restaurant, Bar or Gambling location that is near you, and scrolling to the bottom of the screen. Below the location map you'll see buttons for rideshare requests. If you do not already have an account with the selected rideshare company, you'll first be brought to a sign-up screen.
Las Vegas Monorail
Las Vegas has several public transportation options to help you navigate the city. The Monorail offers stops at the LVCC, Sahara, Westgate, Harrah's/The LINQ, Flamingo, The Horseshoe/Paris, and MGM Grand. The beautiful thing is that the LV Monorail is very easy to navigate. They offer one-ride passes and unlimited day passes which are cheaper when bought online or through their app. Nevada residents may receive a discounted fare of $1 per ride with a government-issued identification card, and visitors at $5 per ride. Multi-day passes are available, from 24 hours ($13.45) up to 7 days in length ($57.50).
RTC Bus
There are RTC bus stops all around LVCC, and tickets can be purchased on the rideRTC app or at ticket vending machines, as well as select 7-Eleven stores, Circle K stores and Vons grocery stores. The bus system is slightly more difficult to navigate than the Monorail, but it can transport you to Downtown or anywhere else in Las Vegas. The rideRTC app is very helpful in providing pricing options based on location in the Buy Passes button, or you can tap the menu in the upper-right corner to find Trip Tools (Ride tracker, Routes/Maps/Schedules, etc). The closest stops to Las Vegas Convention Center are just north of Convention Center Drive, on the east side of Paradise if you wish to head north, and on the west side of Paradise if you wish to head south. There are additional stops in both directions roughly a block away, and maps on the rideRTC app will direct you. A 2 hour pass is $6, while a 24-hr pass is $8 and a 3-day pass $20.
Places to Eat
If the food courts inside the Convention Center don't whet your appetite after a long day, have no fear. There are hundreds of places to dine near the Convention Center, and we've tagged some of the best nearby eateries below. From Steakhouses and Asian cuisine to some locals favorites such as Bagelmania and The Peppermill - there is a wide range of options to satisfy any palate. Firefly has some of the most delicious Sangria you've ever sipped. Musashi has amazing midnight seating deals on weekends. We're drooling just thinking about all of this, honestly!
If you're looking for something more than what we have included below, open up the VegasNearMe app, and tap on Eat & Drink to begin your search.
Bars, Speakeasies & Strip Clubs
When your day of tech talk is complete and you want to wind down, perhaps it's time to check out a local watering hole. If you're a sports fan and are in need of some updated scores, give some of the biggest Sportsbooks in Southern Nevada a try. If a typical bar scene isn't quite your thing, change it up and experience a Speakeasy. Usually a ways off the beaten path and secreted away, many times you must be in the know to gain access; think back to the days of using secret passwords with your friends. For another kind of unique vibe, check out The Fireside Lounge inside Peppermill. Another little-known spot is the North Show Terrace; it's tucked slightly out of the way, but worth it for a great cocktail selection and an unobstructed view of the Lake of Dreams show. Last but not least, if you're seeking adult entertainment, we've tagged some of the closest and best rated Gentlemen's clubs in the area.
Hot Tip: Take a peek at the Deals section of VegasNearMe for a discounted bottle package at Palomino.
Shows & Events on Thursday January 5, 2023
Today's CES Keynote Speakers include:
Venetian Palazzo Ballroom at 8:30am: John May (CEO of John Deere), Carmichael Roberts (Breakthrough Energy Ventures Founder), Gary Shapiro (President & CEO of the Consumer Technology Association), Kinsey Fabrizio (Senior VP of the Consumer Technology Association) and John T. Kelley (VP of the Consumer Technology Association).
ARIA's Mariposa Ballroom at 11:00am: Ed Bastian (CEO of Delta Airlines), Jeremi Gorman (President of Netflix), Laura Jones (CMO of Instacart), Michael Kassan (CEO of MediaLink), Francine Li (Global Head of Marketing with Riot Games) and Travis Montaque (CEO of Group Black).
Venetian Palazzo Ballroom at 2:00pm: Carlos Tevaras (CEO of Stellantis)
Las Vegas Convention Center's West Hall at 4:00pm: Carlos M. Nunez, M.D. (CMO of ResMed), Dr. Anne Docimo (CMO of UnitedHealthcare), Dr. Stephen Klasko (Executive in Residence of General Catalyst), Dr. Vidya Raman-Tangella (CMO of Teladoc Health) and Dr. Susan Turney (CEO of Marshfield Clinic Health System).
After your business day has wrapped, give some of our world-class shows a try! We've chosen some of our current favorites for you to check out.
Shows & Events on Friday January 6, 2023
Today's CES Keynote Speakers include:
Las Vegas Convention Center's West Hall at 10:00am: Elizabeth Gore (President & Co-founder of Hello Alice), Jenny Abramson (Founder & Managing Partner of Rethink Impact), and Lindsay Jurist-Rosner (CEO & Co-founder of Wellthy)
By invitation only, speakers Liz Claman (Anchor with Fox Business) and Adena T. Friedman (President & CEO of Nasdaq) will speak at 7:00pm.
After your business day has wrapped, give some of our world-class shows a try! We've chosen some of our current favorites below for you to check out. Tonight, our newest sports team, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs take to the field at Mandalay Bay in the Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Shows & Events on Saturday January 7, 2023
After your business day has wrapped, give some of our world-class shows a try! We've chosen some of our current favorites below for you to check out. For the Hockey fans out there, the Las Vegas Golden Knights take to the ice at T-Mobile Arena against the Los Angeles Kings.
Shows & Events on Sunday January 8, 2023
If you don't have a return flight scheduled this evening, give some of our world-class shows a try! We've chosen some of our current favorites below for you to check out. For the Basketball fans out there, the NBA G League Ignite take to the court at the Dollar Loan Center arena.
The team at VegasNearMe hopes that this article has helped you find something fun and exciting to check out, when you have a bit of free time during CES. If it's fun to do or see, it's on VegasNearMe! If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.
