On Wednesday evening EXSA celebrated this year's Award winners at a glittering ceremony held at Montecasino. The EXSA Awards evening - the "Oscars" of the industry - brought together over 350 guests including industry leaders from all over the country to celebrate the incredible stand designs in various categories, the best exhibitions of the year and the best venues and personnel in the industry. MC John Walland congratulated all the winners and prizes were handed out by EXSA Chair, Nigel Walker; Vice-Chair, Natalie Naude; Venue Forum, Mati Nyazema; Western Cape Chair, Megan Arendse; and Sandy Angus from Montgomery UK. Pippa Walker handed out the "Green Awards" prizes for this new category introduced to the Awards for the first time this year. Tender Mavundla, ex Idols finalist from 2007, entertained the audience with her incredible voice. "It was a really fabulous evening and a time when the industry celebrates all the hard-work and efforts put into all the exhibitions held throughout the year. I think everyone can give themselves a huge round of applause - especially to all the finalists and winners," commented EXSA GM Sue Gannon.
Here are all the winners:
Best Stands of the Year:Custom built stands: 12sq.m and underSeatworks for their xtownx stand at Indaba
Custom built stands: 13 - 24 sq.mThe Exhibitionist for their own stand at Markex
Custom built stands: 25m² - 50 sq.mOasys for their own stand at Markex
Custom built stands: 50 - 100 sq.m.Oasys for the Kerself stand at Power & Electrical World Africa
Custom built stands: 101 - 200 sq.mScan for their Armscor stand at AAD
Custom built stands: over 201 sq.m.The Exhibitionist for Becker Mining at Electra Mining
System built stands: 12 sq.m. and under3d Design for the NH Hotels stand at Indaba
System built stands: 13 - 24 sq.m3d Design for the Landis & Gyr stand at AMEU
System built stands: 25 - 50 sq.m3d Design for GE SA Technologies at Africa Rail and Ports\
3d Design for the Gijima stand at Govtech
System built stands: 51 - 100 sq.mScan Display for their own stand at Markex
System built stands: 101 - 200 sq.m3d Design for the Kemtek Print Solutions stand at Sign Africa
Externally designed stands of any sizeScan for the Evonik Plexi Glass stand at Sign Africa
Progroup for the Denel stand at AAD
Custom and system built stands (mixed)Expo Solutions for Vetho House at Indaba
Pavilions of any sizeDesign and Display for the Gauteng Tourism Pavilion at Indaba
Outdoor stand of any sizeScan Display for the Department of Environmental Studies at COP 17
Best Exhibitions of the Year:Best Consumer Exhibition: 3000 sq.m & underGo Glamour - Johannesburg
Organiser: Three City Events
Best Consumer Exhibition: 3001- 6000 sq.mSABC Baba Indaba - Cape Town
Organiser: Three City Events
Best Consumer Exhibition: 6001-12 000 sq.mMama Magic - The Baby Expo - Johannesburg
Organiser: Exposure Marketing
Best Consumer Exhibition: 12 000 sq.m & overGauteng Homemakers Expo
Organiser: The Homemakers Fair
Best Trade Exhibition: 3 000 - 6 000 sq.mMeetings Africa - Johannesburg
Organiser: Scan on Show
Best Trade Exhibition: 6 000 - 12 000 sq.m.IFSEC South Africa
Organiser; Montgomery Africa
Best Trade Exhibition: 12 000sqm & over Electra Mining
Organiser; Specialised Exhibitions
Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition:1000 - 3000 sq.mThe Green Expo - Johannesburg
Organiser: Three City Events
Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition: 3 000 - 6 000 sq.m.Future Ed - Johannesburg
Organiser: Exposure Marketing
Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition: 6000 -12 000 sq.mGrand Designs Live
Organiser: Montgomery Africa
Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition: 12 000 sq.m & overSA Cheese Festival
Organiser: Agri Expo
Best Exhibition held alongside a ConferenceThe South African Automotive Week, held in Port Elizabeth
Organiser: Inkanyezi Events
For the Green Stand/Exhibition Awards:Best Small Stand Award Scan Display Solutions for their Pfizer stand
Best Medium Stand AwardScan Display Solutions for DEA at the CCR Expo at COP 17
Best Large Stand AwardComplete Exhibition for Sasol: Olifants In-Situ Display
Best Green Outdoor Pavilion The CCR Expo/Marquee which was at COP 17
Organiser: Scan Interactive
Best Green ExhibitionThe Green Expo held in both Cape Town and Jhb
Organiser: Three City Events
The Best Company Awards:The Best Supplier Company - Stand Design and Construction3D Design (Division of 3D Group)
The Best Supplier Company - SecurityLodge Events Security
The Best Supplier Company - AVGearhouse South Africa - JHB
The Best Supplier Company - General. It was a tie between:Tree-Mendous Pot Plant Hire
ZF Cleaning Services cc
Best VenueCape Town International Convention Centre
Best OrganiserSpecialised Exhibitions
Best Employees of the Year:Best Venue EmployeeMeghan Pietersen (Cape Town International Convention Centre)
Best Organiser EmployeeBrad Hook (Specialised Exhibitions)
Best Supplier Employee - Stand Design & ConstructionDylan Solomon (3D Shell (Division of 3D Group)
Best Supplier Employee - SecurityMark Sleep (The Stable Management Group)
Best Supplier Employee - AVCharl Smit (Gearhouse South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Cape Town)
Best Supplier Employee - GeneralJacqui Nel (Exhibition Freighting G.S.M.)
The EXSA Personality of the YearVinnie Orchard (Expo Solutions)
The 2012 Chairman's AwardDoug Rix, DK Design.