CeBIT subject to massive price hike

Last year’s on the door price was a more tolerable $25, but organisers Hannover Fairs have made the change due to the “high cost of maintaining registration processing staff at the venue”.

The IT tradeshow will run between the 1 and 3 of May at Sydney’s Darling Harbour, but attendees can get reduced prices if they register online before the event.

A Hannover Fairs Australia spokesperson, said in a statement to CRN: “We are encouraging visitors to pre-register to attend CeBIT and registration is available online. This is to primarily avoid long delays for visitors at the registration desk at the show.”

The spokesperson said if visitors do not register online but wish to register at Darling Harbour on the day of attendance, there will be a $60 fee. The fee has increased from $25 last year because of the high cost of maintaining registration processing staff at the venue. It has also been increased because Hannover Fairs Australia is encouraging pre-registration.

Kevin Hartin, A/NZ channel manager at Nvidia, said: “I’ll go along and have a look, but will be getting a pass from one of my channel partners. I know in the past one of the problems with CeBIT has been too many people attending who are not relevant to exhibitors.”

Hartin said the on the door price seems harsh, but it will keep out people who are not serious about the technology.

“An on-line registration fee of $25 is able to be waived through one of the many promotional and media deals that CeBIT has in place, including one with
CRN which allows readers to register on-line for free. All exhibitors are also being given free registration passes to pass on to their clients to encourage them to attend the show.”

Hannover Fairs added that CRN readers are urged to register using the CRN promotional code - CRN123 - to receive free registration.