Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT sets the course for the next phase of growth

The Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is growing and aims to establish an even stronger presence across all parts of the country in future. The association intends to continue its targeted efforts to increase membership in various regions and cantons, and to this end is focusing on stepped-up regional market development. The aim is to reach companies and professionals from across Switzerland even more effectively and to represent the interests of the various sub-markets within the LiveCom sector, as was stated at the Annual General Meeting in the Festhalle Bern.

The association has also created a platform for ‘Trade Fairs & Venues’, where trade fair organisers, exhibition centres and other stakeholders can discuss shared challenges, developments and policy issues. This national focus is more than just a matter of the association’s growth: the LiveCom sector is economically and socially significant throughout Switzerland – from major international events, trade fairs and conferences to festivals, corporate events and tourist attractions.

Political advocacy: the sector wants to be heard

In parallel with its national expansion, the Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is expanding its political work in close collaboration with the Alliance of Event Organisers’ Associations. “We are actively and collectively championing the political interests of our sector and our members at national level,” says Martin Troxler, Managing Director of the SLA and political advocate.

Last year, too, the Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT championed the concerns of the LiveCom sector at a political level. The focus was, amongst other things, on the new fire safety regulations, the SRG halving initiative, parliamentary initiative 20.406 by Andri Silberschmidt, and the partial revision of the Epidemics Act. Through position statements, workshops and direct dialogue with politicians and authorities, the association brought the industry’s perspective into the political process and advocated for practical and economically viable framework conditions.

Focus on sustainability and the circular economy to be further strengthened

The Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT also intends to further expand its commitment to sustainability and the circular economy and offer its members even more concrete support in future. In 2027, the focus will be on introductory consultancy, the further development of certification, additional certification partners and the expansion of the sustainability toolbox. In the years that follow, training programmes, a series of round-table discussions, reverse monitoring and a collection of best practices are set to be introduced. At the same time, the association intends to strengthen its advisory services in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. The aim is to make sustainability practically useful, economically relevant and implementable in everyday life for the sector.

The XAVER continues to evolve

The Swiss LiveCom industry’s most important awards programme is also set to be further developed in the coming years. The XAVER Award is to be positioned even more strongly as a platform for quality, innovation and industry dialogue. The XAVER LiveComvention, held for the first time this year, represents an important next step in this regard. The ‘unconference’ brings together specialists and executives, clients, service providers and up-and-coming talent, and deliberately focuses on discussion rather than one-way presentations. The Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT intends to expand this format further in future and involve clients even more actively. “The existing award day is to be developed into a more comprehensive multi-event day, bringing together different formats from across the sector,” said Bala Trachsel, Co-President.

Changes in the presidency and new members of the Executive Board

There were also personnel changes at the General Assembly. President Christian Künzli, Danilo Dela Ca and Andy Kern stepped down from their previous roles. The association’s leadership would like to thank them for their commitment and their contribution to the development of the industry association. The Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT will now be led by a co-presidency comprising Bala Trachsel, CEO and founder of the creative agency Republica (Bern), and Nicole Pandiscia, founder and event manager at EventsDesigner Sagl (Ticino). With this new leadership model, the association is aiming for broader support and a variety of perspectives. “The LiveCom sector is facing major changes – from new technologies and sustainability to shifting audience expectations. We do not simply want to observe these developments or react to them, but actively help shape them. As a national association, we want to give our industry a strong voice, promote dialogue and jointly develop solutions that will continue to have an impact in the future,” said the new co-presidents at the Festhalle Bern.

On the Executive Board too, the Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is focusing on additional expertise and even broader representation of the sector. The General Assembly elected Juan Becerra from the Nüssli Group, Michel de Maddalena from evenjo AG, Fabio Marino, Head of Operations as well as co-owner and managing director of Verve Festival AG and Kopfklang GmbH, and Jean-Pierre Pigeon, Managing Director of the 2M2C Montreux Music & Convention Centre, as new members of the board. The four new board members bring diverse perspectives and many years’ experience from the fields of event production, festivals, venues and live communication.