Life in the Lake Geneva region (click photo to enlarge)

Editor’s note: this is the first of two articles on the English-speaking community in the Lake Geneva region, with the second planned for October.

Geneva and Morges, Vaud, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Two commercial fairs for English-speaking expatriates in Switzerland point to the growing strength of this community, which is multinational and often multilingual. The Léman Expat Fair is new this year: more than 75 groups and companies will present their goods and services at Beausobres in Morges, Sunday 23 September. Expat-expo in Geneva will hold its second annual fair Sunday 7 October at Palexpo in Geneva, making the leap from 120 to 220 tables this year, based on the success of last year’s fair. This is Switzerland’s largest expatriate-oriented event and the fifth organized by expat-expo, which also has fairs in Zurich and Zug.

The Léman Expat Fair in Morges was designed to help expats in Vaud become better integrated, more quickly, into Swiss life, says Jos van Megchelen, one of the two founders of Léman Events. She and Melania Quinn, both seasoned expats who are active in local organizations such as the International American Women’s Club of Lausanne, decided to bring their backgrounds in the travel industry and event management together to create a meeting ground for expatriates and companies who want to reach each other. The fair is not competing with expat-expo in Geneva, says van Megchelen. "People in Vevey and Montreux don’t always want to go as far as Geneva, and we really want to address the particular needs of people here, in Vaud."

Traditionally, English speakers have looked to Geneva for services and a community base, leaving many of those closer to Lausanne feeling somewhat isolated. Several multinationals, such as Ferring Pharmaceuticals, have moved into the greater Lausanne area in recent months and others continue to grow, such as Medtronic in Tolochenaz. Schools, which often serve to strengthen ties, have grown. The  International School of Lausanne, for example, began to offer a full high school curriculum only a few years ago. Tight housing in Geneva has sent some expats further down the lake.

The result has been a community with a stronger voice as the English-speaking population spreads out from its 20th century base in Geneva. Changing residency laws, easier naturalization, new multinationals and international organizations: all have contributed to a larger, more mixed community of English speakers, estimated at between 300-500,000 in the region.

Visitors to the two fairs can expect to see some, but not much, overlap in exhibitors and the style of the two fairs is slightly different. The Léman Expat Fair has tables for presenters but is emphasizing a series of conferences aimed at newly arrived expats, with entertainment during the day. KPMG, a main sponsor, will talk about the impact of the Swiss social security system on income, C2You will address the problems of career integration for trailing spouses and Interconseil-Movers will give presentations on property and moving into the area.

Expat-expo was created in 2005 (Geneva’s first fair was in 2006) to give expat-owned businesses a place to
present their goods and services to fellow English-speaking expatriates.
Today it incorporates this same group as well as
Swiss-owned and multinational companies. Local clubs,
churches and philanthropic organizations also participate. The exhibitors at expat-expo
now come from throughout Europe, but organizer Ed McGaugh says, "We are very concerned about providing small,
home-based businesses a place to exhibit, too. Our strength lies in the diversity of our exhibitors."

Ed. note: As of 15 September, say Ed and Melanie McGaugh, Expat Expo organizers, there are still a few tables available for 7 October.

Background: interview with Ed McGaugh, 2006 expat-expo

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