Vendors, partners, and attendees without Day 1 access need to shift meetings, demos, and media activity to February 17 onward, compressing the effective public-facing expo window. Security and credentialing requirements on February 16 raise the risk of missed appointments and delivery/setup delays for exhibitors planning on-site activation that day. The confirmed public opening date enables firms to time product launches, staffing, and lead-capture operations to February 17 rather than the inauguration day.