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 under
Seatworks for their xtownx stand at Indaba

Custom built stands: 13 - 24 sq.m
The Exhibitionist for their own stand at Markex

Custom built stands: 25m² - 50 sq.m
Oasys 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.m
Scan 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 under
3d Design for the NH Hotels stand at Indaba

System built stands: 13 - 24 sq.m
3d Design for the Landis & Gyr stand at AMEU

System built stands: 25 - 50 sq.m
3d Design for GE SA Technologies at Africa Rail and Ports\
3d Design for the Gijima stand at Govtech

System built stands: 51 - 100 sq.m
Scan Display for their own stand at Markex

System built stands: 101 - 200 sq.m
3d Design for the Kemtek Print Solutions stand at Sign Africa

Externally designed stands of any size
Scan 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 size
Design and Display for the Gauteng Tourism Pavilion at Indaba

Outdoor stand of any size
Scan Display for the Department of Environmental Studies at COP 17

Best Exhibitions of the Year:

Best Consumer Exhibition: 3000 sq.m & under
Go Glamour - Johannesburg
Organiser: Three City Events

Best Consumer Exhibition: 3001- 6000 sq.m
SABC Baba Indaba - Cape Town
Organiser: Three City Events

Best Consumer Exhibition: 6001-12 000 sq.m
Mama Magic - The Baby Expo - Johannesburg
Organiser: Exposure Marketing

Best Consumer Exhibition: 12 000 sq.m & over
Gauteng Homemakers Expo
Organiser: The Homemakers Fair

Best Trade Exhibition: 3 000 - 6 000 sq.m
Meetings 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.m
The 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.m
Grand Designs Live
Organiser: Montgomery Africa

Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition: 12 000 sq.m & over
SA Cheese Festival
Organiser: Agri Expo

Best Exhibition held alongside a Conference
The 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 Award
Scan Display Solutions for DEA at the CCR Expo at COP 17

Best Large Stand Award
Complete 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 Exhibition
The Green Expo held in both Cape Town and Jhb
Organiser: Three City Events

The Best Company Awards:

The Best Supplier Company - Stand Design and Construction
3D Design (Division of 3D Group)

The Best Supplier Company - Security
Lodge Events Security

The Best Supplier Company - AV
Gearhouse South Africa - JHB

The Best Supplier Company - General. It was a tie between:
Tree-Mendous Pot Plant Hire
ZF Cleaning Services cc

Best Venue
Cape Town International Convention Centre

Best Organiser
Specialised Exhibitions

Best Employees of the Year:

Best Venue Employee
Meghan Pietersen (Cape Town International Convention Centre)

Best Organiser Employee
Brad Hook (Specialised Exhibitions)

Best Supplier Employee - Stand Design & Construction
Dylan Solomon (3D Shell (Division of 3D Group)

Best Supplier Employee - Security
Mark Sleep (The Stable Management Group)

Best Supplier Employee - AV
Charl Smit (Gearhouse South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Cape Town)

Best Supplier Employee - General
Jacqui Nel (Exhibition Freighting G.S.M.)

The EXSA Personality of the Year
Vinnie Orchard (Expo Solutions)

The 2012 Chairman's Award
Doug Rix, DK Design.

EXSA award winners announced

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