The HIA-LI Business Trade Show: Connecting Long Island’s Business Community and Promoting Economic Development

The HIA-LI Business Trade Show, held at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, attracted nearly 4,000 members of the business community with over 250 exhibitors participating. This annual business-to-business event has been running for 36 years and offers excellent networking opportunities to professionals from various industries such as technology, energy, manufacturing, finance, hospitality, healthcare, media, education, government, and workforce development.

The trade show drew attendees from all walks of life who were eager to learn about new business opportunities and connect with other professionals in their field. According to HIA-LI, 78% of attendees were upper management decision-makers who found the trade show to be an excellent platform for businesses to make connections and explore new ventures.

President and CEO Terri Alessi-Miceli highlighted the importance of the event in promoting economic development on Long Island. She emphasized that the goal was to help professionals create meaningful connections and discover potential ventures while also serving as a platform for economic development discussions on Long Island.

The trade show featured several keynote speakers who shared their insights on various topics such as retail transformation, expanding networks, and direct response marketing strategies. Additionally, there were several breakout sessions where participants could learn more about specific industries or topics they were interested in. One standout session was a procurement workshop hosted by Sands New York which aimed to connect local businesses with Sands staff to explore new business prospects and encourage community engagement.

Speed networking sessions were also held throughout the day to facilitate quick introductions between participants and enable them to meet a wide range of business professionals in a short amount of time. Overall, the HIA-LI Business Trade Show provided a valuable platform for professionals to connect, learn, and explore new business opportunities while also contributing to economic development on Long Island.

In conclusion, the HIA-LI Business Trade Show was a resounding success with over 4000 attendees drawn from diverse backgrounds across different industries. The event provided an excellent opportunity for businesses looking for new ventures while also creating meaningful connections among industry leaders through breakout sessions and speed networking sessions. As President Alessi-Miceli stated it best – this event is crucial in promoting economic development discussions on Long Island while offering a unique opportunity for industry leaders to explore potential partnerships that can benefit their businesses in the long run.