We ring in the New Year by rounding out our predictions list for 2012. As with our earlier posts (here and here) we explore the trends and practical sustainable business practices which are helping planners and suppliers save money, build community and help the planet. If we were counting these down New Year’s style, we’ve [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: Green Meetings, Practical Tips, Standards, Trends | Leave a Comment »
The many ’2010, a year in review’ lists (random example here) prompt consideration of what meeting industry trends might indicate, if anything, for 2011. 2010 saw many high water marks in the pursuit of greater sustainable event performance which, in list form, might look like this: 10. The app. Rapid uptake of smart phones and [...]
Filed under: Exhibition and Congress Centers, Meetings and Events | Tagged: csmp, Destinations, GMIC, Green Meetings, Reporting, Standards | 1 Comment »
We continue to see a demand for answers to fundamental questions related to ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ events. What follows are responses to some of the questions which, while general, may provide some helpful background of the concepts related to this rather complex process and which may help with the growing challenge so many people are [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: BS8901, Green Meetings, Practical Tips, Standards | 2 Comments »
Yesterday I was privileged to be in Estoril, Portugal and to be organising a seminar program about sustainable events. The days previous to the event I was participating in a workshop to co-develop the GRI Reporting guidelines for the event sector. My fellow participants are some of the best brains in event sustainability from around [...]
Filed under: Destinations, Exhibition and Congress Centers, Meetings and Events | Tagged: Business case, GMIC, Green Meetings, Presentations, Reporting, Standards | Leave a Comment »
When well-meaning ‘green meeting’ planners ask hotels to commit to sustainable practices (e.g. purchasing locally produced food products; providing ‘bulk’ soap/shampoo dispensers in guest rooms, etc) they inadvertently put hotel operators in a perplexing dilemma: Comply with the planner request or violate brand standards? Brand standards are only part of the picture. Hotels participating in [...]
Filed under: CSR@MCI, Destinations, General Sustainability, Hotels, Meetings and Events | Tagged: Green Meetings, Standards | Leave a Comment »
Next week, in sunny Vancouver, BC, Meeting Professionals International will present the 2010 World Education Congress. There, the Green Meetings Industry Council will present for the first time ever an introduction to the APEX/ASTM Green Meetings and Events standard. A day long training session will provide attendees an understanding of how these standards are organized [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: APEX, BS8901, Green Meetings, Standards | 2 Comments »
A review of any poll on the topic will reveal that meeting planners, suppliers and destinations like very much the idea of sustainable events as a practice and philosophy. Dig a little deeper and many are challenged where to start. People understand the ‘why’ of sustainable events, but so often express confusion–or frustration– on the [...]
Filed under: CSR@MCI, General Sustainability, Hotels, Meetings and Events | Tagged: APEX, BS8901, Standards | 1 Comment »
When it comes to sustainable events, most professional meetings planners understand the ’why’ but not the ’how’. An intrepid few invest time and effort to piece together different tactics in support of a more responsible event, but rarely does the approach have any strategic plan. Rarer still are the events which produce a thoughtful report [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: APEX, BS8901, Certification, cop15, Copenhagen, Green Meetings, Measurement, Practical Tips, Standards | Leave a Comment »
The Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) has been the most effective force for change in the meetings industry movement to find and integrate more responsible practices. A wellspring of ideas, resources and friendships for the rapidly expanding network of committed business professionals who have discovered it, the GMIC is like no other meetings industry association. [...]
Filed under: Destinations, Exhibition and Congress Centers, General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: Business case, CSR, GMIC, Green Meetings, linkedin, Practical Tips, Standards | 3 Comments »
Soon, the British Standards Institute will release a standard on ‘Carbon Neutral’ events. That is, if your event does not follow and document key processes outlined in the standard, it cannot be deemed ‘carbon neutral’. The pursuit of a standard which requires a commitment to reduced emissions is appropriate, but the Carbon Neutral “brand” needs [...]
Filed under: CSR@MCI, Exhibition and Congress Centers, General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: climate change, cop15, CSR, Green Meetings, linkedin, Standards | 9 Comments »
