Today CEDIA EXPO 2009 began the CEDIA University Training Courses, where more courses will be offered this year than ever before, while exhibitors were putting the finishing touches on their stands in the new venue, the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The hype is high as pre-registration is strong and over 50% of visitors have identified themselves as key decision-makers within their companies, which is good for business as confirmed by recent surveys. CEDIA is also welcoming over 75 new exhibitors this year.

To help its members make most of the Expo and their budget, CEDIA has innovated by organizing intensive Sunday-only education this year. Among the new topics, members can learn how to diversify their services by getting more knowledge about how to make money from the potential revenue streams related to green and retrofit opportunities.

This year is CEDIA’s 20th Anniversary, which started way back in 1989 in very different surroundings.

CEDIA will also host the Designer Awards for the best installations in the following categories: Large Home Theater, Integrated Home, Media Room, Hidden Installation, Special Project, Showroom, Green Business Practices Recognition, Theme, Documentation, and Dressed System, special recognition will be given at CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles® Awards Banquet for other achievements as well.

Three Best New Technology and thirty Best New Product Finalists have been determined by a diverse panel of CEDIA residential electronic systems contractor judges.

We’ll be bringing you all the details on hot award winning products. Just for the record, we attended today several press conferences with new products that were not at IFA, so stay posted!