The ties between American and Greek businesses have never been stronger. Bridging the two once again is the Hermes Expo International, now entering its 27th year.
This year’s Expo takes place for a first time will be offered in Center City Philadelphia, at the Arts Ballroom on 1324 Locust Street (Locust & Broad Streets) and continuous the very next day at St Peter’s Church 619 Lexington Ave, New York, NY.
This year’s Expo is particularly significant since it will be organizing a trade mission with to the HELEXPO in September 2018 with American companies looking to do business in Greece and in South Eastern Europe. The United States is the honored country at the HELEXPO, which takes place in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The mission of the Hermes Expo is to build and solidify business ties between Greek-American business owners, Phil Hellenes, regional and international businesses. The Expo offers many choices and opportunities to network, to form partnerships and strategic alliances as it enables and facilitates business growth.
Many municipalities, including Thessaloniki, Greece and Philadelphia, PA have been brought together by the work of Hermes Expo trade missions and exchange; opening markets for thousands of products and services, signed a business and cultural exchange agreement.
“For the past quarter century, the Expo’s purpose and reason for being has been to connect professionals and businesses, importers and buyers,” says Paul Kotrotsios, founder and president of the Expo. “Helping others form business alliances and partnerships in today’s unpredictable and uncertain economic environment is of paramount necessity.”
Thanks to the Expo, there are many examples where long-lasting and profitable business relationships formed. “As we pass this milestone and look ahead, we continue to look for ways to enable, facilitate and explore new ways and possibilities to promote Greek products and services in the United States.”
An International Trade Show
As the premier Greek American trade show in the region, the Hermes Expo continues to expand the number of vendors displaying and showcasing a wide variety of businesses, products and services in the hospitality industry, food services, banking and finance, travel, tourism-culture and gastronomy, construction, energy saving new technology, art & culture, law, medicine, government and more.
The Theodoros Spyropoulos Seminar Series
The Expo will again offer its seminar series, dedicated to the Late Greek visionary and Greek American philanthropist, Theodoros Spyropoulos, a proud Greek American philanthropist who built a successful business. In memory of this successful businessman, the Hermes Expo launched the yearly series and presentations four years ago, giving attendees an opportunity to hear from leading business and political leaders on issues important to our community.
Awards dinner
The Expo includes a cocktail reception and awards dinner at ESTIA Restaurant Ballroom on Wednesday, April 25, in Philadelphia. The dinner honors individuals and companies for their outstanding works and contributions to society.
Last year’s honorees included Dr. Peter Stavrianidis, owner of Venus Jewelers & Gemologists in Somerset, N.J. and a political activist and lobbyist for Hellenic and Pontian issues; Harry Papadakes of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church of Valley Forge, Dr. Antonis Pratsos of Main Line Health, and Delaware County Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone.
Scholarship awards
For the fourth year, the Hellenic News of America, Hermes Expo and MAGAF (Mid-Atlantic Greek-American Foundation) will present the Eleftheria Scholarship Awards to high school seniors and college students who submitted winning essays. A committee of 14 leading academicians, publishers, physicians and other professionals review and select the winning essays. Last year, $30,000 in scholarship funds were awarded. Please visit hermesexpo.com and submit your Essay by April 15, 2018.
About the Hermes Expo
Historically, the Hermes Expo has been a series of networking events held annually in New York, Chicago, Atlantic City and suburban Philadelphia. Besides executive and exclusive level networking opportunities, it can provide B2B meetings upon request. There are also professional development seminars, educational panels and trade show exhibitions for companies to showcase their products and services in front of potential customers form the United States and Europe.
Hermes Expo International has been promoting commerce, communications and culture since 1992. It brings together thousands of business owners and attendees from diverse industries and professional services from North America, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean looking to expand their business connections and establish new economic ties.
The Expo opened in Atlantic City in 1992 and was held there every year until it moved to Concordville, PA in the Philadelphia area in 2014. The Hermes Expo is the only one of its kind in an age of rapid change and technology, enduring as a traditional marketplace.
Future of Hermes Expo International
On a global level, the Hermes Expo is a great platform for top American brands to connect with ethnic markets in the United States and vice versa. Originally geared to act as a voice for investment/business networking opportunities amongst the regional and global Hellenic community, Hermes Expo’s success has expanded to other ethnic groups.
For more information, sponsorships, and/or participation in the exhibits, seminars and B2B meetings, please call 610-446-1463 or e-mail: [email protected]. You can also visit our website at www.hermesexpo.com.
