SANTA MONICA — The Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau announced this week that the city will play host to the new E3 Media and Business Summit, which will be held July 11-13, 2007. The new format will combine elements of the former trade show into a business event celebrating the video game industry’s present and future, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
The event will be open to ESA members and non-members alike and is estimated to attract more than 3,000 people to Santa Monica’s shops and hotels. Companies involved in console, PC, online and mobile game publishing and developing, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals will be eligible to participate. Attendance at all events, meetings and demonstrations will be by invitation only and transportation between venues will be provided to event participants.
“The new E3 event will be more personal, efficient and focused, and it will provide the top stakeholders who make games, sell games and cover games streamlined access to the people and products they most need to see,” said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA.
Misti Kerns, president and CEO of the SMCVB, said, “The collaboration among LA regional communities is critical in order to retain this business for the Los Angeles area. We are very pleased that E3 has chosen our beach city to host this unique event annually.
“The economic impact this corporate group can offer each year, is a win-win for all of us.”
The centerpiece of the three-day event will be an opportunity for both ESA members and non-members to stage major press events, and to have small and more intimate meetings in premier hotel suites and meeting rooms with media, retailers, developer partners and other audiences. In addition, the nearby Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport will be converted into a software showcase where attendees will be able to casually test drive the featured video games planned for the coming holiday season and beyond.
All of the hotels involved will be within easy walking distance of one another with shuttle service available to facilitate movement to nearly 20 hotels, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Barker Hangar, as well as to major off-site press conferences. ESA expects that event bookings will be launched within the next 30 days.
Held in Los Angeles since 1995, the ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the Internet.
