What Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT does

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is a Swiss professional industry association, headquartered in Bern with regional offices in Lausanne (French-speaking Switzerland) and Ponte Tresa (Italian-speaking Switzerland / Ticino). Founded in 2009 and operating with approximately 9 employees, it represents over 205 member companies across the Swiss live communication (events, trade fairs, exhibitions) value chain, including event agencies, trade fair operators, exhibition venues, caterers, technical service providers, and suppliers. The association is structured as a nonprofit membership organization governed by a multilingual board led by President Christian Künzli and Managing Director Martin Troxler.

Its core offerings span awards, education, research, networking, and advocacy. The flagship is the XAVER-Award, Switzerland's leading quality label for LiveCom projects in its 24th edition, now complemented by the newly launched XAVER-LiveComvention. Professional development is delivered through the CAS LEED (Certificate of Advanced Studies in Live Experience und Event Design) program jointly developed with Hochschule Luzern, priced at CHF 8,400 for members and CHF 8,900 for non-members. Industry research is published annually as the Event Trend Studie Schweiz in cooperation with svtb, TECTUM, and VSSA. Networking and community are maintained via the Breakfast Club, Golf Trophy, and regional Romandie editions, while political advocacy is conducted at the federal level in Bern.

The business model is primarily subscription-based on annual membership dues governed by a 'Beitragsrichtlinien' document, augmented by event ticket revenue (XAVER, Golf Trophy, LiveComvention via Ticketino), CAS LEED tuition, and member discounts on education. Distribution is direct via the multilingual website (DE/FR/IT), monthly newsletter, and in-person participation. In 2026 the association joined FAMA alongside Messen Austria, forming the largest organized trade fair and event industry representation in the DACH region. The technology stack is conventional web and email infrastructure; there is no proprietary AI or software product, and AI appears only as an observational theme in industry research.

Name

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT

Legal name

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT

Website

https://expo-event.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is a Bern-based nonprofit industry association serving over 205 member companies across Switzerland's live communication, events, trade fair, and exhibition sectors via awards, education, research, networking, and federal advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Meetings & Conferences (Internal/External Business Events) (MPAGAHAA), Corporate Conferences & Sales Kickoffs (MPAGAGAC), Exhibitions, Trade Shows & Booth Management (HSACADAH)

Keywords

• Industry association services
• Live communication events
• Trade fair association
• Event industry certification
• Professional membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The association generates revenue through annual membership fees from over 205 member companies across the Swiss live communication sector, including event companies, trade fair operators, agencies, caterers, and suppliers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT is the leading professional industry association for Switzerland's live communication (events, trade fairs, exhibitions) sector, representing over 205 corporate members. It offers industry advocacy, networking events, the XAVER-Award quality label, the CAS LEED continuing education program, the annual Event Trend Studie Schweiz market research, sustainability certification, and the Eventlokale.ch venue directory. The association operates as a member-driven nonprofit headquartered in Bern with regional offices serving all Swiss language regions.

Product overview

Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT operates as an industry association for Switzerland's live communication and events sector, offering a portfolio of programs and services. Core offerings include the XAVER-Award (Switzerland's premier quality label for LiveCom projects, now in its 24th edition) and the newly launched XAVER-LiveComvention. The association provides professional development through the CAS LEED program developed with Hochschule Luzern, conducts annual market research via the Event Trend Studie Schweiz, and facilitates networking through events like the Golf Trophy and Breakfast Club. Additional services include sustainability consulting, a venue directory (Eventlokale.ch), and membership benefits serving over 205 member companies. The organization also engages in political advocacy on behalf of the Swiss event and exhibition industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XAVER-Award: The largest quality label for the Swiss live communication industry, awarding outstanding LiveCom projects annually. Includes the Lifetime Achievement Award and Public XAVER award.
• XAVER LiveComvention
• Golf Trophy
• Breakfast Club
• Event Trend Studie Schweiz

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 205 member companies across all language regions of Switzerland (D-CH, F-CH, I-CH)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FAMA (Fachverband Messen und Ausstellungen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2026Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT and Messen Austria have joined FAMA, creating the largest organized representation of trade fair and event industry interests in the German-speaking (DACH) region.
• Hochschule Luzern (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed the CAS Live Experience und Event Design (CAS LEED) — a 6-month continuing education program for event and trade fair professionals. The program covers creative event design, sustainable event planning, and strategic staging.
• svtb (Schweizer Tourismus-Verband / Swiss Tourism Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Event Trend Studie Schweiz 2026 together with TECTUM and VSSA. The study surveys the Swiss live communication sector on growth, AI adoption, sustainability, and political priorities.
• TECTUM (Event Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Event Trend Studie Schweiz 2026 together with svtb and VSSA. The study shows the Swiss live communication sector has exceeded its own growth forecasts.
• VSSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the Event Trend Studie Schweiz 2026 together with svtb and TECTUM. The four associations together also formulate industry demands: fair pitch fees, more political visibility in Bern, and recognition of live communication as an economic and cultural factor.
• LiveCom AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT participates in the European LiveCom Alliance, which publishes the European Industry Survey covering major European markets. The alliance addresses internationalization, cross-border growth, and industry challenges across European live communication markets.
• IDFA (Internationaler Fachverband für Audiovisuelle Kommunikation / International Trade Fair Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDFA, along with Messen Austria and EXPO EVENT, organizes the annual International Trade Fair Seminar (Internationales Messeseminar). The 51st edition was held in Zurich in June 2019 with ~100 participants.
• Messen AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMessen Austria co-organizes the International Trade Fair Seminar with IDFA and EXPO EVENT. The association also partnered with Swiss LiveCom Association to jointly join FAMA (as of July 2026).
• MCH GroupminorOthersMCH Group is a major Swiss trade fair operator (Baselworld, Art Basel) and member of the association. Winkler Livecom AG, previously a subsidiary of MCH Group, was sold in a management buyout in January 2019. Jonas Scharf (MCH Group) was introduced as new delegate for the 'Salons' chapter at the 2025 General Assembly.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AUMA (Verband der deutschen Messewirtschaft): The central German trade fair industry association — by far the largest peer in the DACH region, representing exhibitions, trade fairs, and congresses in Germany; comparable in mission (industry representation, advocacy, data) but significantly larger in membership and budget.
• UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): Global trade association for the exhibition industry with 800+ member organizations across 80+ countries; comparable as the international umbrella body for trade fair organizers and venues, of which Swiss LiveCom Association members are likely participants.
• IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events): International, US-headquartered association for exhibition and event professionals offering education (CEM certification), advocacy, and industry research; analogous in mission to Swiss LiveCom Association's CAS LEED education and Event Trend Studie research outputs.

Direct peers

• FAMA (Fachverband Messen und Ausstellungen): Austrian trade fair and exhibitions industry association that Swiss LiveCom Association and Messen Austria formally joined in July 2026; comparable as a sector-specific membership body for trade fair organizers and a strategic coordination point for DACH advocacy.
• Messen Austria: Austrian trade fair and event industry association serving the parallel market north and east of Switzerland; co-joined FAMA with Swiss LiveCom Association in July 2026 and co-organizes the International Trade Fair Seminar, making it the most directly comparable industry-body peer.
• svtb (Schweizer Tourismus-Verband / Swiss Tourism Association): Co-publisher of the Event Trend Studie Schweiz alongside Swiss LiveCom Association; comparable as a Swiss industry association serving adjacent live-communication/event economy stakeholders with benchmarking and advocacy functions.
• LiveCom Alliance: European-level federation of national live communication associations in which Swiss LiveCom Association actively participates; the parent layer above national bodies, publishing the European Industry Survey and coordinating cross-border activity.
• TECTUM (Event Industry Association): Swiss event industry association co-publishing the Event Trend Studie Schweiz; comparable as a domestic peer with similar advocacy and research function, partially overlapping membership and policy interests.

Regional players

• MCH Group: Major Swiss exhibition and trade fair operator (Art Basel, Baselworld) and association member — comparable as a domestic ecosystem player whose membership dues, policy positions, and event volumes materially shape Swiss LiveCom Association's relevance in the Swiss trade fair conversation.

Others

• essenscia (Belgian Federation for the Life Sciences and Chemistry Sectors): Comparable only as a federation/industry-association operating model that combines membership dues, research reports, and advocacy — but in a different sector (life sciences) — useful as a structural peer for how multi-stakeholder industry bodies commercialize data and certification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/expo-event.live-communication-verband-schweiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT