According to CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association)'s own published estimates, CEDIA Expo 2008 drew over 25,000 attendees to Denver over the past few days, from electronics manufacturers, CE analysts and consultants, custom installers and press.  This is an overall decrease from last year's figure of 29,000 attendees.

According to the specs, the number of non-exhibiting professionals in attendance increased along with the number of electronic systems contractors taking advantage of CEDIA University training.

To take the edge off, and incent more custom installers to attend this year, CEDIA provided over $500,000 worth of free education at EXPO.   Even so, higher airfares and high hotel rates worked against them in a time when many custom installers are struggling to make ends meet. 

The Big Blue Bear peers in at CEDIA attendees at Denver's Convention Center

You wouldn't know the attendance was down on the show floor, however, with over 500 exhibitors (including more than 90 new companies) showing their wares.  There were plenty of new projectors, Blu-ray Disc players, receivers, speakers, home control products, multi-zone systems, cables and other home theater and home automation gear on display, the best of which we're covering right here on Big Picture Big Sound. 

Over 60 awards were presented to winners of the Electronic Lifestyles® awards at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, September 6. CEDIA Member companies were honored for their design and technology expertise in addition to outstanding strides in product development and technology. A complete list of winners, including photos of home technology systems, is available at www.cedia.org/awards.

CEDIA Expo finishes its final year in Denver today and will be held next fall in Atlanta.

For select coverage of the news and announcements from CEDIA Expo 2008, keep an eye on our Home Theater News.