Expo 2019 saw a record number of exhibitors and attendees at the Island’s flagship business event. Organised by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Expo presented more than 60 exhibiting businesses and the warm weather pulled in hundreds of visitors to the Lakeside Park Hotel in Wootton on Wednesday July 17th.
“Expo is all about bringing the business community together,” says the Chamber’s Chief Executive Steven Holbrook. “It is without doubt the biggest day for the Island’s business community. Our exhibitors really raised the bar this year with some really creative stands, making the most of the unique promotional platform that Expo offers. The event also delivered hugely valuable networking opportunities. It’s great to see the Island’s business community supporting itself – engaging with local providers and connecting with customers old and new.”
Expo 2019’s headline sponsor was WightFibre who brought their new mobile store to the event, welcoming attendees on-board their newly converted bus to demonstrate their new ultra-fast broadband.
“Expo 2019 is our key business event of the year,” says WightFibre’s CEO John Irvine. “We had a great time at the event and with our air conditioned bus we were literally the coolest place to be on that hot day! We picked up a lot of interest from businesses at Expo but we also showcased our residential packages too. Showing what we can offer is very powerful and supporting events like Expo gives us a great opportunity to spread the word about the Gigabit Island.”
Seminars came from the Isle of Wight County Press, WightFibre, Isle of Wight Council Regeneration and Alex Tana Coaching. Expo took over the conference rooms at the Lakeside Park Hotel, with extra marquees hosting the Over 50s Start Me Up business entrepreneurs and Island food and drink producers including Island Roasted, the Isle of Wight Distillery, the Tomato Stall, Wight Crystal water and the Island Tea and Coffee Company.
“We’d like to thank everybody who supported Expo this year,” says Steven Holbrook. “We couldn’t do it without our sponsors, our exhibitors and everyone who came through the door. This year was definitely our best yet, with the warm weather definitely working for us. Expo will return next year and we’re already thinking about how to make it even bigger and even busier than this year!”
