By 2025 there will be an estimated 9 billion people on the planet. All will be consumers of goods, energy, food and resources.
IMEX in 2013: An eco-tale of two cities
Is it feasible to expect a U.S. show to meet the same sustainability level as Germany? A case study.
IMEX America positively green over 2012 stats
As IMEX America looks toward its third annual gathering in Las Vegas in October, organizers are reviewing sustainability numbers from the 2012 event — and feeling pretty good. One of their goals was to balance trade-show growth with event quality and environmental responsibility. Audited results from MeetGreen show strong performance in several key areas. Some […]
AH&LA signs on with Clean the World
American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) members can now receive an exclusive 5 percent discount per room by recycling soap and shampoo. The discount comes from a new partnership between AH&LA and Clean the World, a nonprofit that collects and recycles used soap and bottled amenities from more than 1,700 hotels in North America. Since […]
Econo Lodge first in class to mandate green program
Every Econo Lodge hotel in this United States will turn green this year, the first national economy hotel chain to do so. They will be implement the Choice Hotels Room to Be Green (RTBG) program, which is designed to reduce environmental impact and waste, meet the changing expectations of today’s environmentally conscious guests and potentially […]
Sustainable Meetings Conference goes ‘Method’ in April
When attendees at GMIC’s annual Sustainable Meetings Conference convene in Chicago in April, they’ll hear a keynote address from Method Products co-founder Eric Ryan. Ryan, a designer and marketer, teamed with boyhood friend Adam Lowry, a chemical engineer, in creating the San Francisco corporation known for its nontoxic, biodegradable natural cleaning supplies sold in minimalistic […]
Yes, it’s still about ‘green’ meetings
We need action more than words at this point.
Defining — and avoiding — greenwashing
Greenwashing is the practice of “advertising positive environmental practices while acting in the opposite way.” It is bad.
7 ways in which green-meetings standards are like dating
It’s surprising how much green-meetings standards relate to everyday life. Here are some examples.
With ReLeaf, it’s easy to go green
American Forests is making it easier for your event to go green in a fast and fairly affordable way. Sign up for its Meeting ReLeaf program and the nonprofit will plant a tree in honor of every attendee at your event as part of a U.S. forest restoration project. Meeting ReLeaf is open to any […]
Virginia resort for Salamander 1 year away
A 168-room Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Va., is 65 percent complete and on target to open in August 2013, company officials say. To celebrate its progress, resort owner Sheila C. Johnson, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, recently held a reception that spotlighted eight state wineries. The resort will feature 12,000 […]
Clean and green: One lifesaving and sustainable idea
As I travel to different trade shows and conferences speaking on “Green Initiatives,” I am both proud and disappointed by much of what is happening. Yes, all of the exposure and emphasis that has been put on being more socially responsible and sustainable is sinking in. And, much progress is being made to better our […]
Corporate Social Responsibility and event planning
Incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into your meetings and events is how you move beyond greening your function and start making your program affect the sustainability of the company, the community and planet. A CSR program allows your event program, and by association your client or company, to leave a legacy in the host community. […]
Sustainability 101
We are all aware of how much emphasis has been put on being more eco-friendly. As a kid, I heard about ecology. Now, I hear about “greener meetings,” and sustainable practices are much more at the forefront of our industry. You may want to do your part, but not know how to even begin to […]
Engaging your attendees to go green
I started my career in green events through attendee engagement. I was working on a martini festival in a county with a sheriff infamous for denying event permits for events with alcohol. As event organizers, we had concerns over the liability of promoting a drinking event and the potential risk of drunk drivers. Knowing that […]
Gorgeous and green: sustainable event design
What fun is going green if you can’t look great while doing it? Design makes its way into every type of event, whether it is the professional aesthetic of a corporate meeting or elaborate creations for high-end weddings. Adding eco-friendly practices to creating event ambiance is much like greening other aspects of your events. Start […]
To give is to receive
Aside from food waste, decorations and promotional event items are among the most common products to end up in the trash after an event. However, with a bit of forethought, you can save these valuable items from landfill by donating them to nonprofit organizations. During the early stages of planning your meeting, start to look […]
Green transportation tips
I am currently working on a meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. — a destination where nearly all my attendees will be either flying or driving in for the event. Once they land, they will need transportation from the airport (and back again), to an offsite group trip, as well as options for exploring the city […]
Five cheap and easy tips for livestreaming conference content
If you want to expand your meeting’s audience, you need to understand how livestreaming content works. Here are some tips to get you started.
How to include green requirements in RFPs
By now, most of you have seen the “Top 10 best green practices for meeting planners.” We know plastic bottles are bad, compostable or recyclable disposables are good, china is better, and to never, ever use styrofoam. However, after finally wrapping our heads around what we need to produce a sustainable meeting, we are now […]
How to be truly green instead of a greenwasher
For many planners, one of the biggest hesitations to begin implementing green practices is not cost or desire, it is the fear of not doing enough, thereby not being considered green … but a greenwasher! What exactly is greenwashing? Wikipedia defines greenwashing as: “the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally […]
Hold a meeting, change the world
A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Tim Sanders speak to a gathering of meeting professionals. “The only reason to have a meeting is to change the world,” he said. If anything, the media scrutiny of early 2009 has proved how the choices we make as meeting professionals can negatively impact […]
Waste Management and You! REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE
A first step for many planners when they decide to implement sustainable practices is to develop a waste management plan. This is a logical start because not only is it highly visible, but waste is an area in which we have the greatest amount of influence. However, where and how to begin, and in what […]
APEX Standards: What are the objectives?
The industry has been abuzz with talks about the soon to be released APEX Green Meetings and Events Practice Standards. During the months of August and September, several City Discussion Groups were held to discuss the nine standards of meeting sustainably. The standards are a response to a much needed demand for consistency within the industry as to what constitutes a “green meeting.” The standards also act as a roadmap for planners and suppliers who wish to implement sustainable practices, but do not know where to begin…
Green meetings step No. 2: Educate clients and attendees
In my last column, we discussed different ways and benefits of obtaining a commitment to meeting green from association and company executives. This commitment is a necessary first step in order to get the support that is often needed to incorporate change into the way your meetings are planned. Once this is established by executives […]
