Xaver gold for Mini-Migros and Gotthard opening ceremony

In a varied and entertaining program, the best projects were presented on stage and awarded a bronze, silver or even gold Xaver Award.

Since there were no nominees this year, the suspense was there until the very end, according to the announcement. The Xaver Award is the most important award for the Swiss Live Communication industry. The Expo-Event.Live Communication Association Switzerland congratulates the following Xaver Award winners and presents two Gold Awards:

Mini Migros

The Mini-Migros, Switzerland's largest vendor's store. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 can play "Verkäuferlis" on an area of around 100 square meters. The smallest Migros customers take on the roles of store employees, cashiers or logistics staff. They can transport products, put them away or cash up. So they not only have fun, but also learn a lot. About counting, stacking and, last but not least, about Migros. Equipped with play money and a Cumulus card, children can of course also shop in the mini Migros. The assortment includes almost 100 typical Migros products. Parents stay outside and can watch their children through plexiglass walls.

Opening ceremony Gotthard Base Tunnel

Inspired by legends, myths of the Swiss mountain and mythical world, an archaic story about nature, man and machine was staged with 600 performers. A worthy opening ceremony appropriate to the project of the century for guests, visitors, media and heads of state from all over the world. Without being pleasing and arbitrary. With content and depth. Rough and beautiful. A courageous production that left no one cold. The production triggered a worldwide media response. "Powerful and somewhat coarse, fitting for the Gotthard," were the words of former Federal Councilor Moritz Leuenberger.

Xaver of the Year for Marcel Strässle

The aim of this Xaver Award is to make the success of live communication measures and outstanding achievements in the expo and event industry known to a wider public and to show how they are implemented by the best in the industry. One of these is undoubtedly Marcel Strässle, founder of the exhibition construction company Syma, who received the Xaver of the Year for his life's work for his innovative inventiveness in exhibition and event construction.

Strässle's enthusiasm for craftsmanship was evident from an early age: He preferred to spend his free time in the small workshop in the basement of his parents' house. It was only natural that he should start an apprenticeship as a carpenter after graduating from commercial school. The foundation for his entrepreneurial success was laid during an assignment at the Cologne Furniture Fair, when all the tools he needed were stolen while he was setting up his stand. A troublesome incident that unexpectedly bore fruit: Marcel Strässle realized that there was still no standardized, reusable modular system that required only one tool for assembly and disassembly. In 1961, Strässle developed and patented the first components of the Syma system in Kirchberg SG, laying the foundation for a company that is still internationally successful today.

Since the company was founded, the headquarters of the now internationally active Syma Group has been in Kirchberg, St. Gallen. The company employs over 1,000 people at its various branches.

Thanks to continuous diversification, Syma is now one of the world's largest and most successful suppliers of exhibition and event construction solutions. There is still no other company that is active both as a system developer, distributor and exhibition construction service provider for system and individual stands.