All Entries Tagged With: "Green Meetings"
Dusit International GREEN MEETINGS Initiative
Dusit International has introduced “Green Credentials for Meeting Planners” which provides sustainable facilities and meeting package services to reduce the carbon footprint for their clients.
The programme embraces a wide range of environmental initiatives to contribute to saving energy and natural resources:
- Meeting room refreshment water is presented in pitchers with glasses and no plastic bottles
-Set air-conditioning to 24°C minimum
-Energy efficient light bulbs and reduction of unnecessary lighting
-Recycle points available in meeting rooms for glass, paper, plastic & aluminum items
- Recycled paper note pads available on request
-Energy saving menus
- Boxed lunch containers made of recycled content
-Locally sourced and seasonal menu items plus organic options
-Group Purchasing protocols to promote Green Credentials
-Eco-friendly cleaning products used in hotel and meeting facilities
-EarthCheck certification for all properties
In addition, Dusit International’s hotels and resorts in Thailand, Philippines, Dubai and Cairo are undertaking the EarthCheck programme to become green certified hotels by 2011. The EarthCheck programme is widely regarded as the world’s most scientifically rigorous, that measures key environmental indicators such as energy and water consumption, and total waste production as well as community commitment. Using the EarthCheck tool, Dusit hotels commit to benchmarking local environmental and social issues, including biodiversity conservation, environmental investment and enhanced community socio-economic benefits. More information on the EarthCheck programme can be found on www.earthcheck.org, or visit www.dusit.com/csr
For further information on Dusit’s Green Credentials for Meeting Planners,
visit www.dusit.com/greenmeetings
Green Globe Certified Hamanasi Resort, Belize
Utilizing their many years of business experience, the owners of Hamanasi Resort, have developed a range of training and development programs for their staff and related businesses. The newest training program to be conducted will be with tour guides who service the resorts guests.
MeetGreen appointed Official Sustainability Consultants to IMEX America
The IMEX Group will continue to build on its strong environmental track record and reputation on green issues when it launches IMEX America in October 2011. To help the new US tradeshow achieve its environmental objectives, the organisers have appointed MeetGreen as the show’s Official Sustainability Consultants.
The first IMEX America will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo 11 – 13 October 2011. In the next year, the IMEX Group and its many partners will work closely with MeetGreen to set green standards for transportation, food and beverage and the venue in particular.
Earlier this year the Las Vegas Sands Corporation unveiled Eco 360, a broad-ranging energy efficiency and environmental initiative. With the recent LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) of the Venetian and the conference center, the combined properties now comprise the largest adjoined LEED-certified building in the world. This, together with the company’s focus on developing vendor partnerships that comply with its green policies makes the Sands Expo the ideal home for IMEX America.
With the launch of its first tradeshow for the international meetings, events and incentive travel industry in Frankfurt eight years ago, the IMEX Group set out to establish new standards for environmental best practice in the exhibition industry. As a result this year, IMEX in Frankfurt reduced its total waste output by 30 tonnes compared to 2009 and reduced paper usage by 8 tonnes and cardboard by 7.5 tonnes. The company also sets yearly environmental goals for the recycling and reuse of a wide range of other materials including carpeting and visitor badges.
Says Amy Spatrisano, principal of MeetGreen: “Las Vegas is not usually top of mind when you think of sustainable destinations yet there are great strides being made by Las Vegas venues. We’re looking forward to this tremendous opportunity in working with IMEX America to support their commitment to produce a sustainable trade show by using a progressive approach with Las Vegas venues and vendors to elevate the level of sustainable practices being implemented.”
IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer comments: “IMEX America is going to be a genuinely unique model of trade show. The show will have three core pillars to it that will make it unlike any other trade show in the US: the largest hosted buyer program in North America combined with a unique online appointment system; a focus on high quality professional education supported by our Strategic Partner and major educational providers, MPI, and a dedication to sustainability and innovation. We intend to do our utmost to meet – and set – some very demanding green standards for IMEX America and MeetGreen’s expertise and guidance, as well as their excellent industry partnerships, will play a fundamental role in helping us achieve our objectives.”
MeetGreen works with progressive global organisations to integrate sustainable practices and produce conferences and events that deliver targeted business results. Since the company’s founding in 1994, MeetGreen has pursued its vision to continuously transform the global meetings industry through leadership, innovation, education and performance.
IMEX America’s unique model will ensure that 2,000 hosted buyers from the association, corporate and agency sectors attend the show. 80 per cent of hosted buyers will be from North America and 20 per cent from the rest of the world. All will place business internationally as well as in the US and all will benefit from exclusive access to the IMEX online appointment and diary messaging tools which this year generated over 57,000 group and individual business appointments between buyers and exhibitors at IMEX in Frankfurt.
Exhibitors and buyers can register their interest in IMEX America at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_interest.php
Liverpool business visitors to help make the city greener
Conference organisers hosting events in Liverpool will be able to compensate for their carbon impact by donating to a range of green projects across the city.
Foundation, a climate fund for the North West, has joined forces with the Liverpool Convention Bureau (LCB) in the city’s first ever partnership to offer organisers the chance to contribute towards local carbon-reduction projects.
Foundation Chief Officer, Mark Turner, explained: “Carbon emissions are unavoidable when it comes to organising and hosting large events such as conferences and we hope that this new scheme will give people the chance to compensate for the environmental impact of their events.
“The way it works is simple: Organisers using the bureau to make their bookings, who are interested in compensating for their carbon, will be asked to contribute £100 for a meeting with up to 100 delegates, ranging through to £1,000 for a big event with more than 800 guests.
“All the money will then be used to fund community projects in the Liverpool city region, such as fitting solar panels and energy efficient boilers in local halls and schools and creating new woodlands,” he added.
Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool Convention Bureau Manager, commented: “We want everyone to recognise Liverpool as an exemplary destination and green credentials are a large part of our appeal.
“The carbon compensation scheme we have launched with Foundation is a real first and something that we feel event organisers will appreciate. Whilst carbon offsetting is not a new concept, carbon compensating is a fresh way of responding and is evolving into a perfect way to encourage low carbon behaviours. Through the Convention Bureau scheme event organisers and individual delegates can work out their own footprint and contribute to local community projects – it’s a great idea.”
Since its launch in April 2009, Foundation has awarded over £140,000 to eight projects across Merseyside and is on target to save 1668 tonnes of Co2 which is the equivalent of heating over 470 homes or powering the Mersey ferries for a year.
Melbourne makes being ‘green’ even easier
An increasing number of Business Events suppliers throughout Melbourne and Victoria are implementing environmental initiatives and policies, according to the latest Melbourne’s ‘Green Credentials’ Report.
Sandra Chipchase, CEO of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), which publishes the report annually, said this year’s report saw a 20% increase in the number of submissions received.
“This report provides Meeting and Event organisers with a concise collation of the many environmentally responsible initiatives being undertaken by Melbourne’s leading Business Events suppliers, making going ‘green’ in Melbourne easy.
“The 2010 report identifies many new and exciting initiatives, particularly in relation to ‘whole-of-organisation’ approaches to ‘going green’, and seeking accreditation through certified green programs,” said Ms Chipchase.
MCVB’s online audit was undertaken between October and December 2009 and requested information on water, waste and energy management, current sustainability programs, strategies implemented, accolades received and projects to be completed.
Highlights of the 2010 report, as compared with 2009, include:
- An 18% increase in the number of audits conducted and environmental plans developed
- A 17% increase in the creation of ‘green teams’ or committees dedicated to guiding initiatives
- A 12% increase in the number of businesses offsetting their own carbon emissions or offering carbon offset opportunities to their clients
- A 12% increase in staff education and training pertaining to green issues.
“MCVB’s green initiatives are also included in the report, such as launching an online ‘Event Carbon Calculator’ with the Carbon Reduction Institute to allow Event Planners to calculate and offset the emissions of events held in Melbourne and Victoria.
“As the focus on the global Business Events industry’s environmental performance continues to grow, so too does Melbourne’s ability to meet the challenge of reducing the carbon footprint of conventions, incentive travel programs, corporate meetings and events held in our city.
“As a leader in the industry, MCVB was recently awarded the ‘Metropolitan Destination Marketing’ Award at the national level of the prestigious Meetings & Events Australia industry awards, as well as the Corporate Social Responsibility award at the State MEA awards.
“The award-winning, environmentally leading Melbourne Convention Centre – the world’s first convention centre to be awarded a ‘6 Star Green Star’ rating – is another example of the Victorian State Government’s dedication to sustainability,” said Ms Chipchase.
MCVB launched the Melbourne’s ‘Green Credentials’ Report in 2008, marking the first “green” audit ever undertaken by an Australian Convention Bureau.
Melbourne’s ‘Green Credentials’ Report is available online at www.mcvb.com.au.
Australia wins again – IMEX Green Supplier Awards head down-under for second year running
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – Australian suppliers cemented their dominance of the green meetings partner arena by winning both Gold and Silver Awards in this year’s IMEX Green Supplier Award for a second year running at last night’s IMEX Gala Dinner Awards.
Adelaide Convention Centre’s innovative efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its operations through planning, implementation and evaluation helped them to win silver last year. In 2010 they have gone one better to be declared winners of the prestigious IMEX Green Supplier Gold Award.
Alec Gilbert, Chief Executive at Adelaide Convention Centre, who picked up the award on the night commented: “Winning the IMEX Green Supplier ‘Gold’ Award is a fantastic acknowledgment of our success in implementing sustainable practices across all aspects of the Adelaide Convention Centre operation. We have developed a culture of “Gold Service, Green Attitude”, which has become a core value for us and helped bring this continued success.
“We are proud of what we have achieved in terms of minimising our impact on the local environment and influencing others to partner with us in achieving our environmental and corporate social responsibility goals. In the past few years, Adelaide Convention Centre has continually benchmarked its environmental standards against the world’s best, and to receive this recognition is an honour we share across the entire organisation.”
Compatriots from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre were also celebrating last night after receiving the ‘Silver’ award in this category. Alison Gardiner, Manager International Convention Bidding, who received the award from IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, commented: “At the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre we believe that green values are mainstream values and are fundamental to our core business principles. We made a strategic commitment a number of years ago to establish our credentials as a globally responsible organisation and to build a sustainable future for our clients, our staff and our community.”
Alison continued: “We implemented our environmental policies at grass roots level long before the green movement gathered momentum and we continue to develop those policies. We are honoured and delighted to be part of the IMEX Green Suppliers Award and to be acknowledged in this way.”
The Green Supplier Award continues to be one of the most sought after in the industry and was developed by IMEX and GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council) to recognise environmental excellence and innovation amongst meetings industry suppliers.
This year’s shortlist also included: Complejo Grand Palladium Riviera Maya Resort and Spa; Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB); Bella Center Copenhagen; BTG Event Solutions; Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts; Doubletree Hotel Portland; Zentrum für Umweltkommunikation; Grimaldi Forum Monaco and Naturresort SCHINDELBRUCH.
Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) wins this year’s IMEX Green Exhibitor Award
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) has scooped the Green Exhibitor Award at this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt. Offering a strong case for environmental sustainability, SCIB fended off competition for this coveted award by implementing an impressive number of carbon reduction measures throughout the show, which impressed the judging panel.
The SCIB was awarded the IMEX Green Exhibitor Award 2010 in recognition of its widespread use of Swiss wood in its stand construction. The wood is a renewable resource and net remover of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. All promotional material used at IMEX was printed carbon-neutral. In addition, all Switzerland Tourism staff, including the stand builders, travelled to Frankfurt by train to reduce carbon emissions. For the transport of materials, SCIB also used trucks booked via the “truck market” to avoid empty runs between Switzerland and Germany. All stand material and printed material was organised to require just one transport run. The stand also made the most of low energy lighting, minimal electricity and locally sourced organic food and beverages.
The IMEX Green Exhibitor Award is designed to highlight the ease with which exhibitors can make their stands, marketing materials and the entire process of exhibiting at IMEX more environmentally-friendly and sustainable. The award is intended to encourage all exhibitors to contribute to IMEX’s waste reduction policies, aiding the IMEX organisers in making the show as environmentally friendly as possible.
Barbra Albrecht, managing director of Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, accepted the Green Exhibitor Award at the Gala Dinner on Wednesday 26th May from IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom. Barbra commented: “This is a fantastic recognition of all the initiatives that Switzerland as a country has taken towards sustainability as well as the environmentally friendly attitude within the activities of Switzerland Tourism and its Convention Bureau.”
Nominations for the IMEX Green Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and audited externally. The panel includes: Elizabeth Henderson of Elizabeth Henderson Consulting; Hugo Kimber, CEO, The Carbon Consultancy and co founder, Sustainability Intelligence; Amy Spatrisano, Principal, MeetGreen and President of the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC); Tamara Kennedy-Hill, Executive Director, GMIC; Louise Hall Reider, Owner, Louise Hall Reider & Company and Amanda Gourgue, Chief Meeting Revolutionist, Meeting Revolution.
The Green Exhibitor Award was developed in partnership with the Green Meeting Industry Council and launched four years ago. Since then IMEX has extended its own knowledge and reputation as an environmentally-aware trade show and works to encourage all exhibitors, visitors and staff to implement CSR practices wherever possible. Previous winners of this award include Estoril Congress Centre, Malta Tourism Authority, Visit London, the Sri Lankan Convention Bureau and Expoforce GmbH.
The IMEX Group consistently aims to improve the environmental credentials of its show through a variety of initiatives. These include a waste reduction programme, the use of recycled materials in visitor badges, bags and even carpets as well as using hydro-electricity throughout the exhibition – the first trade guest tradeshow at Messe Frankfurt to do so and to offer the option to exhibitors.
IMEX Green Meeting Award – COP15 rewarded for exceptional achievement
Frankfurt, 27 May 2010 – For two weeks in December 2009, 33,526 visitors descended on Copenhagen, including 122 heads of state, 4,000 media representatives and more than 6,000 NGOs from 192 different countries for the UN Climate Change Summit COP15. It was for this event, the largest gathering of political leaders ever organised, that COP15 Logistics and CSMP Team working within The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs picked up the coveted IMEX Green Meetings ‘Gold’ Award at the annual IMEX Gala Dinner last night.
Svend Olling, Head of Department at Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was at the Gala Dinner to collect the award. He said: “It’s a real honour and I am very proud to receive the IMEX GMIC green meetings award on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the start we wanted to make the climate change conference as sustainable as possible given the challenging conditions of hosting one of the largest international political summits ever held. We achieved our goals and this is testament to the hard work of a committed team of individuals in the Ministry and in the event partner organisations. Special recognition should be given to Jan-Christoph Napierski and to the members of the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings coalition who formed a unique private-public partnership to not only help improve the sustainability of COP15 but to share the results and learnings with the global meetings industry. This award is fantastic recognition for the hard work of all team, who leave a legacy for others to follow.”
Working with key partners including Visit Denmark, Wonderful Copenhagen (the City Convention Bureau), the City of Copenhagen, Bella Centre, MCI and a team of 12 event organisers with experience of running large events in Copenhagen, The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had two years to pull together this historic event. With sustainability as its raison d’être, the organisation strategy for this event encompassed everything from accountability, social responsibility and stakeholder engagement to producing a lasting legacy and commitment to change.
The judges were particularly impressed with the event’s demonstration of commitment to community initiatives, including partnerships, minimisation of social impact and community actions, as well as its pre and post event management, for which it received maximum marks.
On the significance of this event as a marker of best practice for green meetings, Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, commented: “With the spotlight of the world’s media focused firmly on this historic summit for its two-week duration, never before has there been more impetus to create an event that could exemplify how the international meetings industry can incorporate CSR and sustainability into the core of its strategy – a feat that was achieved with great merit. Full praise to COP15 Logistics and CSMP Team for the tremendous work that went into staging this event as well as a special mention to their key partners that helped to make it happen.”
Also credited on the night, the IMEX Green Meetings ‘Silver’ Award went to Intel Corporation, Corporate Event Marketing for its Intel Development Forum (IDF) America event.
IDF America took place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco in September 2009 and hosted around 4,000 developers, technical managers, academia, government, press, sponsors, exhibitors and Intel staff as IDF sought to reinforce its industry leadership and branding. The aim of the event was to influence developers to build their technologies on Intel architecture but, chiefly, to forward key sustainability objectives.
Showcasing its visions for reducing the environmental impact of its operations, adding value and educating attendees about sustainability, the success of IDF America is now being transferred to its global meetings strategy.
The award was collected on the night by Lou Cozzo, Corporate Event Marketing Manager, Executive Speech and Event Strategy Group, Intel Corporation, who commented: “It is a real honour to receive this prestigious award. We will use this award as inspiration to innovate earth-friendly practices that lessen environmental impact for IDF and other events that Intel supports – always with the ultimate payoff in mind, a better planet for all.”
Liverpool unveils green business strategy as new poll reveals green issues still key
According to a recently conducted survey of 2,014 UK adults, more than half (56 per cent) of employed respondents said green issues are important to their company compared with 15 per cent who felt green issues were unimportant in their workplace.
The survey was conducted on behalf of Liverpool Convention Bureau as part of a bid to promote the city as a green business destination and its own green economy.
Companies in the North West and the Midlands took the most note of green issues with 59 per cent agreeing that a green ethos was important to the business they worked for. While more than half of respondents (54 per cent), said it was important that the companies they purchase from have good green credentials. Females were most concerned with the green credentials of companies with 59 per cent saying they were important compared to 49 per cent among males.
Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool Convention Bureau comments; “As a city Liverpool embodies green principles wholeheartedly with carbon emissions per person lower than the national average. There are already 8,000 people employed in the energy and environmental technology sector generating £1bn of value but a fully low carbon economy can generate a further 7,000 jobs by 2015.
“In winning major events, conferences and meetings to Liverpool we have to offer something our competitors don’t and for many, green issues are an important decision in the purchasing process. A number of our venues participate in the green tourism for business scheme and we have also launched a carbon compensating scheme with Foundation for event organisers wanting to contribute to green CSR projects. We were also the first city to have an ISO14001 accredited convention centre in the form of ACC Liverpool.” Concludes Carol.
International meeting planner Wendy Parsley, Founder, Quint Strategies adds; “The decision to host PPI Transport Symposium 18 at the BT Convention Centre was a risky one considering the venue was still under construction when we first visited. I am pleased to say that it turned out to be an excellent choice. As an added bonus, the venue’s green initiatives tied into our goals to create a ‘green’ meeting for our delegates. Nearly all of the hotels we used were within walking distance of the venue.”
Russian hotel business will soon become «green»!
For the first time in Russia hotels have got an opportunity to receive ecological certificate of international level and to confirm their appropriateness to “green” standards with a help of independent third person party. It has been declared on the 29th of April, 2010 in St.-Petersburg, at the press conference «ECO-HOTELS in the City», organized by Saint-Petersburg ECOLOGICAL UNION and the first event agency, BtG Event Solutions (www.btgroup.ru), which implants “green” technologies in Russia.
Top ranking for Switzerland in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)
Event organisers, under extreme time pressure, can sometimes neglect environmental and social criteria in the planning and organising phase. Switzerland, though, ranks top in international studies such as the Yale and Columbia EPI index.
Investing in the future
In terms of sustainability, little Switzerland shows its stature, often leading the pack. This is confirmed by international studies such as the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), in which Switzerland takes first place.
On the right track
A train runs every 12 minutes. Switzerland’s 3,000 km of track carry 9,000 trains a day – a European record. And rail is eco-friendly: as they negotiate the 671 tunnels and 6,000-plus bridges, Swiss trains emit almost no pollution.
Respecting the environment
Most of the hotels and conference centres that are located beside one of Switzerland’s many lakes have used lake water for heating and cooling for years: just one of a range of measures to protect the environment.
World champions in recycling
Careful control of planning, strict building regulations, tough pollution limits, an exemplary waste-disposal system and a comprehensive recycling policy: Switzerland’s commitment to the environment has won plaudits worldwide.
Liverpool Convention Bureau to launch series of Top Ten Guides to the city
As part of a focus on helping event organisers unearth the wealth of venues and restaurants in the city, Liverpool Convention Bureau is to launch a series of top ten guides, which will be hosted on its website www.visitliverpool.com/conferences
The top ten guides will encompass the best of what Liverpool has to offer under the headings of; Green Liverpool, Historic Liverpool, Sporting Liverpool, Incentive Liverpool, Culture Liverpool, Unique Liverpool, Extender Liverpool, Meet Liverpool and Expert Liverpool with Cool Liverpool being the first focus for the team.
“Liverpool has so much to offer event organisers, especially considering the wealth of new hotels, venues and refurbishments that have come on board over the last few years – keeping track of what’s available can be difficult;” comments Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool Convention Bureau.
“The guides will by no means be exhaustive, but we hope they will provide anyone wanting to book an event in Liverpool a flavour of the city and a great starting point.”
Green Globe Certification Announces Formation of New International Advisory Committee
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – March 22, 2010) – Green Globe Certification announces the formation of a new International Advisory Committee. To lead this process Green Globe Certification has appointed Mr. Guy Chester to the position of Director of Integrity & International Advisory Services.
The role of the International Advisory Committee will be to continue the ongoing review of sustainability criteria that underpins the Green Globe Standard. Green Globe Certification CEO, Mr. Guido Bauer, said, “As an Affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and part owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) we have benefited from expert guidance in the formulation of our Green Globe Standard.”
“Our appointment of Mr. Guy Chester brings substantial expertise and insight into the practical achievement of sustainable tourism as well as connection to specialist environmental networks around the world. With Mr. Guy Chester on-board, Green Globe will continue to provide the highest international standard in sustainability certification.
Mr. Guy Chester is the former Chair of the Accreditation Committee for the Tourism Stewardship Council (TSC), the lead authority supported by the travel industry, UNEP, UNWTO and the United Nations Foundation, delivering the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Mr. Chester authored updates of the Green Globe Company Standard between 2002 to 2009 and will remain a board member of TSC.
Mr. Chester said, “In my role with the TSC and with my previous experience updating the Green Globe Standard, I have worked with many experts in sustainable practices across the many industry sectors that make up travel and tourism.
“I am honored to have taken up this new position and look forward to bringing past and new contributors to our International Advisory Committee.”
The new draft Green Globe Standard will be presented at the Green Globe World Summit in Kassel, Germany — May 28 – 31, 2010. Founding members of the International Advisory Committee will be announced and nominations for executive positions will be open. For more information about the Summit, please visit www.greenglobe.com/worldsummit.
SECC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF GREEN
The SECC has awarded its next coveted ‘Champion’ accolade to Trees for Life in acknowledgement of the 68,000+ trees the award-winning conservation charity has planted on behalf of the venue in Scotland’s Caledonian Forest.
The SECC has worked with Trees for Life for the past three years and is committed to the planting of a number of groves for events booked at the venue. Alan Watson Featherstone, Executive Director & Founder, Trees for Life accepted the accolade from Ben Goedegebuure, Sales Director of the SECC, at the charity’s Dundreggan Estate where the trees have been planted.
“Corporate and Social Responsibility continues to grow in importance amongst our clients, visitors and staff,” comments Ben Goedegebuure. “We’re really proud of our green credentials; it gives us the chance to balance any negative effects our events have on the environment. Everyone at the SECC is incredibly proud of the massive contribution our venue has made to Trees for Life.”
“The SECC’s contribution to the restoration of the Caledonian Forest is vast; their support has enabled us to plant 68,000 trees and makes them one of the biggest of our valued supporters,” comments Alan Watson Featherstone. “We’re delighted to accept this award on behalf of the SECC and its clients.”
The SECC is announcing 25 Champions throughout its 25 Year celebrations covering people and organisations that have contributed to the sustained success of the venue.
GCB supports creation of ISO standard 20121 for sustainable event management
Frankfurt/ Main, 8 March 2010. As part of its campaign for a greener meetings and conventions industry the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. now also supports a new project of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The introduction of the new ISO standard 20121 for sustainable event management is to be completed by the time the 2012 Olympic Games kick off in London. The submissions for the second ISO meeting from 26 to 28 April 2010 in Paris were discussed in today’s meeting of the German Standards Committee Sustainable Event Management in Berlin.
“We very much welcome that there will soon be a uniform international standard to measure the sustainability of planning and implementing events,” says Anke Pruust, Deputy Managing Director of the GCB. “As the association of German meeting and convention providers, we attach great importance to this and we represent the interests of our 250 members in the German Standards Committee Sustainable Event Management. Among our members there are many businesses that are pioneers and set a good example for ‘green meetings’. Their commitment will be confirmed by an international standard, as this will not only give them valuable encouragement but will also allow them to benefit from the transparency enabled by the new environment standard world-wide,” says a convinced Pruust.
Around 30 states support the standard-creating ISO/PC 250 Committee actively or as observers. The integration of numerous interest groups ensures that the standard will offer an internationally recognised framework for staging green events, under which planners, buyers and suppliers can realise sustainable processes and offers in future. ISO standard 20121 will monitor venue management, supplier selection, communication and transport from the sustainability aspect and will apply to all types of events – be it exhibitions, sports contests or concerts.
Supporting the new ISO standard is just one of several initiatives that help the GCB position itself as a pioneer for ‘green meetings’. The GCB takes account of sustainability when organising its annual general meeting and other in-house events. Its website www.germany-meetings.com has a separate ‘Green Meetings’ area offering comprehensive advice on sustainable event planning including a CO2 Calculator that was jointly developed with CO2OL in September 2009.
The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for all customers who are planning events in Germany.
Its 250 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels, Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH and darmstadtium science and convention centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) support the work of the GCB
The GCB is an interface between organisers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletter, Germany guide and a lot more.
Leipzig is the first big German trade fair company with international sustainability certification
Leipzig, 25 February 2010. Leipziger Messe is Germany’s first major trade fair company to have committed itself to sustainability as its principle for responsible business management activity. This sustainable approach has now been acknowledged with the Green Globe Certificate which is recognised worldwide for the tourism and event sector. At the same time, Leipziger Messe is launching a sustainability process for the company headlined “Growth in Balance”, setting the pace for the German trade fairs and exhibitions industry. “We are the first major German trade fair company to have successfully undergone the Green Globe sustainability audit. This means that we are transparent and measurable in our sustainability management”, according to the managing director of Leipziger Messe GmbH, Martin Buhl-Wagner.
Strategic competitive advantage
The issue of sustainability is attracting increasing interest in the public perception, as Buhl-Wagner goes on to say. When out shopping, consumers paid more attention to environmental sustainability, but also to fair customer-supplier relationships and the good treatment of employees. The Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) was already encountering the sustainability issue more frequently, with the conference sector increasingly strong on demanding “green meetings”. Sustainability was becoming an important strategic competitive advantage. Leipzig wanted to lead the way for this process in Germany, says the Messe managing director.
Test passed in 125 categories
Worldwide, there was a growing demand for green meetings, incentives, conferences and events (Green MICE), explains Dr. Peter Zimmer, a sustainability expert and accredited Green Globe auditor of many years’ standing. He was pleased that with Leipziger Messe, a first major German trade fair company had taken up this issue and was pressing forward with it. “In around 125 audit categories, Leipziger Messe passed the most sustainable. This made it obvious that it had a great deal to show in terms of ecological, economic and social sustainability”, as sustainability expert Zimmer commended. This ranged from measures such as ice storage to optimise air-conditioning in the exhibition halls and traffic lights regulated to a change frequency in line with trade fair traffic flow, to free use of the MDV (Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund) public transport system for exhibitors and visitors to fairs, and the company’s subsidiary company fairgourmet which had already been delivering w
ith a natural gas-powered vehicle since 2006. The solution chosen for the problem of pigeon droppings on the exhibition halls won particular praise – namely the intervention of “Mother Nature” in the shape of kestrels.
“It has been shown that the Messe also has a great deal to show for itself in social terms, which is playing an increasingly important role today in the sustainability approach”, as the Messe boss adds. This included post-entry career training, regular information and qualification opportunities for employees, sport options and part-time employment models such as flexitime, making it easier to better combine career and family. All this had persuaded the auditors, explains Buhl-Wagner.
Model office for Messe employees
With its big headline “Growth in Balance”, Leipziger Messe was now increasing its efforts aimed at achieving a new equilibrium between economic growth and responsibility for the environment and society. The starting-point had been the opening of the socalled “2-Degree Office” at the end of last year – a model office featuring information on how Messe employees can save resources and energy in their everyday working lives. This year will focus on workshops demonstrating how further sustainability goals can be achieved. There are also plans to draw up a sustainability statute, followed by a sustainability report. “The certification was a status report which also showed us where we still have work to do”, according to Buhl-Wagner.
Growing sustainably – together with partners
“We don’t want to preach sacrifice. Our company wants and ought to go on growing”, says the Messe managing director. But long-term growth was only possible if the interests of the environment, of our fellow men and our partners in the economic cycle are respected and it is made possible for them to grow in cooperation with the Messe. “By acting with a sustainable approach, we are investing in the future foundations of our existence”, says Buhl-Wagner.
Hotel Energy Solutions presents new concept at FITUR Madrid
Hotel Energy Solutions www.hotelenergysolutions.net (HES), a United Nations World Tourism Organization coordinated project designed to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU accommodation sector, announces a new workshop as part of FITUR Green – which will showcase at FITUR Madrid .
Green Globe Mexico Launched
Green Globe Certification (GGC), announced today the launch of Green Globe Mexico to service markets in its home country and Latin American neighbors. Green Globe Mexico has been appointed a three year license, with opportunity to extend, to provide sustainability certification and related services under the Green Globe brand.
IMEX Wild Card winners 2010 showcase continuing diversity of international industry
Three destinations that have never before exhibited at an international trade show, are celebrating a significant win in the IMEX 2010 Wild Card programme this week.
As a result, Uganda, the new Hof Conference and Cultural Centre in Iceland and the traditional alpine village of Morzine, France will each line up free of charge on the IMEX Wild Card Pavilion at Messe Frankfurt when the eighth IMEX gets underway on May 25th.
The Wild Card Programme is part of IMEX’s commitment to fostering growth and development in the global meetings industry. The programme recognises how difficult it can be for newer destinations to break into the international meetings market, even though they may be already well-established as leisure tourism destinations.
As IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, explains: “Many newer destinations often have good travel and hospitality infrastructures in place and have already proven their success in the leisure market. The Wild Card programme, however, offers them the ideal platform for focusing their marketing efforts on the meetings and conventions industry. It’s a low-risk, extremely high value opportunity, and one that puts them in front of thousands of high quality international buyers whilst lending unparalleled credibility and a global profile.”
Each of this year’s winners will receive a package including free exhibition space, access to discounted flights and free accommodation in Frankfurt. The winners also receive ongoing marketing guidance and support from the IMEX project team all year round.
One of the winners, Morzine in France (nominated by ski company Chillypowder) has dedicated conference and meetings facilities opening at the Hotel au Coin du Feu in May which will open in time to take full advantage of IMEX 2010. Morzine offers fine dining, shopping and a wide range of outdoor pursuits. The town is 1.5 hours from Geneva Airport and within driving distance of Switzerland and Italy. The Hotel offers 19 luxury bedrooms, underground car-parking and a large outdoor terrace. Chillypowder operates a number of luxury catered ski chalets.
By contrast, Great Lakes Safaris of Uganda in East Africa, feel confident about their entry into the meetings market as a result of recent improvements to flight schedules and roads in the region. Business and communication facilities are also being expanded in Uganda, which include a number of new hotels both in city areas and in national parks. The company provides tailor-made safaris including gorilla-tracking, primate walks and a variety of other wildlife-watching experiences.
The final winner, the new Hof Conference and Cultural Centre in Northern Iceland, is set to open in August. The Centre will provide conference facilities for up to 500 people, with other rooms available for a further 200 delegates. 10 restaurants seating up to 1500 guests will also be within a five-minute walk of the centre. A second conference centre is due to open in the University area, five minutes from the centre of the town (Akureyri).
For more information on the 2010 Wild Card Winners see http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/wildcard.html
WE’RE TAKING DOWN THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND CREATING A FOREST!
Happy, green 2010!
ITC’s Hotel Royal Gardenia Becomes the World’s Largest LEED Platinum Rated Green Hotel – First Hotel in India to Achieve This Recognition
KOLKATA, India, December 24 /PRNewswire/ — ITC’s new luxury hotel in Bengaluru, the ITC Hotel Royal Gardenia was conferred the highest rating for green buildings in the world – the LEED India Platinum Rating. This recognition makes it the world’s largest platinum rated hotel and is yet another manifestation of ITC’s leadership in Sustainability Practices. ITC is the only company in the world to be carbon positive, water positive and solid waste recycling positive.
European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition (EWEC)
Tuesday 20 – Friday 23 April 2010, Warsaw, Poland
The European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition (EWEC) is widely regarded as the most professional, comprehensive and informative event in the wind sector. It offers a unique opportunity to generate new business leads. Register before 18 January at early bird rates .
EWEC is the only annual event which combines an extensive exhibition of the leading players with a conference covering every key aspect of the wind market – from technical and theoretical to policy and practice. Join over 7,000 key players in the wind industry for four days of networking and professional development.
VENUE: EXPO XXI Warsaw International Expocentre
12/14 Pradzynskiego Str.
01-222 Warsaw
http://expoxxi.pl/
EXPO XXI Warsaw International Expocentre is the most prestigious and innovative multi-functional venue in Poland. The venue covers 10,000 m2 of flexible exhibition space and provides the latest in IT and communications technology.
The venue is located in the heart of Warsaw, one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. Poland’s capital is taking full advantage of the unique opportunities arising from the emergence of the free market and the development of democracy.
Warsaw Destination Alliance is a valuable partner of EWEC 2010.
The Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), a standard-setter in sound environmental practices
Directors from 25 international convention centres visit the CCIB’s temporary waste transfer plant, pioneer in Spain.
Barcelona, December 15th, 2009.- On November 29th, directors from 25 worldwide convention centres visited the Barcelona International Convention Centre’s (CCIB) temporary waste transfer plant, as an example of sound practices in environmental policy.
The visit was a part of the AIPC – The International Association of Congress Centre’s Event Management Summit, held in Barcelona on November 29th and 30th.
The plant, inaugurated in October 2008, is a pioneer in Spain as it sorts waste products into six different types, separating metal from plastic, which reduces environmental impact even more.
This sorting goes one step beyond the criteria established by municipal regulations, which requires separating waste into 5 groups.
Installed in the Centre’s loading dock and with a surface area of 300m2, the temporary waste transfer plant has six large capacity bins identified by different colours: blue (paper), green (glass), orange (organic waste), mustard (metals), yellow (plastic) and brown (waste products that don’t fall into the previous categories).
In addition, in all of the CCIB’s common areas there are batteries of waste bins, with their corresponding coloured bags, avoiding possible confusions and making it easier to move them to the temporary waste transfer plant. Foment del Reciclatge, the authorized waste management company, is in charge of collecting the waste for it to be treated correctly.
In parallel with recycling 6 different types of general wastes, the CCIB manages and controls the special wastes generated internally by the centre itself. So in the temporary waste transfer plant there is a properly delimited space for special waste management: fluorescent lights, light bulbs, paints, varnishes, oils, greases, batteries, accumulators, toners, inks and computer waste
products.
Special wastes undergo a parallel control carried out by the CCIB’s cleaning department, due to the importance of their correct separation and control using identifying labels indicating the maximum storage time of these wastes, which in no case should ever exceed 6 months.
This profound and complex waste treatment has even more merit when you consider the CCIB’s dimensions: a surface area of over 100,000m2 with a capacity to host events for up to 15,000 delegates.
The CCIB’s temporary waste transfer plant is a part of the extensive environmental policy the complex has been practicing since its opening in 2004. In this respect, the CCIB will shortly be receiving the ISO 14001 certification, an international regulation that establishes how to introduce an efficient environmental management system.
EIBTM acknowledges the CCIB’s efforts in sustainability matters
In acknowledgement of the Barcelona convention centre’s environmental policy, the organizers of the Convention, Meetings and Incentives Trade Fair, EIBTM 2009, held in Barcelona from December 1st to the 3rd, awarded it a certificate recognizing the centre’s contribution in sustainability matters, both permanently in its facilities and during its presence at the fair.
Specifically, of the twenty initiatives proposed by EIBTM, the CCIB complied with twelve, seven more than required by the fair organizers, of which some of the most outstanding were: the contribution of sustainable ideas and improvements for the fair, the reduction of paper at the CCIB’s stand and facilities, promoting environmental aspects among clients and suppliers, maintaining a documented environmental policy and waste recycling.
“Live the Deal” – New Travel & Tourism Climate Initiative launched in Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark/ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates/Madrid, Spain 16 December – “Live the Deal”, an innovative, global campaign to help travel companies and destinations respond to Climate Change, reduce their carbon footprint and move to the Green Economy, was launched this week during the Copenhagen Climate Summit.
Announcing the new initiative, long time tourism green campaigner Geoffrey Lipman UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General said: “What Copenhagen represents is a new commitment by the world community towards sustainable low carbon growth patterns. The targets and mitigation actions that countries develop and negotiate through this process will be a new base for travel industry action. What we are providing is a very simple way to get behind the evolving government initiatives, to keep pace with changing patterns and to demonstrate that our sector is acting, not simply talking.” He added “We should not be ashamed to promote the growth of smart travel – clean green, ethical and quality – it’s the lifeblood of trade, commerce and human connection”.
“Live the Deal” follows the pattern established in the UN led Copenhagen Seal the Deal campaign by its single minded focus, its simplicity and its broad based engagement goals. It will seek to encourage the sector directly and through representative organizations.
It has been developed with the support of UNWTO, whose Secretary-General Taleb Rifai calls it “The kind of link between global policymaking and responsible tourism action that we are looking to inspire and encourage. Our sector fuels the economy, creates jobs and is one of the biggest development opportunities for the world’s poorest countries – and it can be a leader in the transformation to a green economy”.
The campaign will be underpinned by a simple carbon calculation tool that allows easy correlation with government targets and implementation measures, as well as a Think Tank and Annual Innovations & Investment Summit. The inaugural Summit will be in Abu Dhabi in the last quarter of the year. Live the Deal will be promoted by a multimedia video “We can take this Climate Change” from platinum album writer and singer Alston Koch which will be profiled around the world in 2010
TCEB unleashes 3 years strategic plan ‘Thailand could become one of the best MICE destinations in the world’
Bangkok, December 2009: Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau has laid down six major strategies to develop and expand the market for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) in partnership with private and government networks as well as the growing ASEAN community.
Promoting “Green Meetings,” the act of holding of environmentally friendly events, is key to boosting revenue for Thailand in 2010.
Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, TCEB president, said Thailand’s MICE sector in 2008-2009 encountered slowing growth from internal factors, such as domestic political unrest, and external factors such as the troubled global economy and the 2009 flu pandemic.
In 2010, the economic situation is expected to trend positive, pushing the MICE sector to reach its growth target of 25 per cent. Next year the TCEB forecasts 785,816 MICE visitors to Thailand, generating income of 56 billion baht from about 400 events and “The TCEB has drawn up its three-year strategic plan [for 2010-2012] in line with Thailand’s national development plans, including the National Economic and Social Development Plan, the Strategic Formulation Plan [for 2008-2011], and the Tourism Recovery and Promotion Strategic Plan [for 2009-2012],” said Mr. Akapol.
“The TCEB’s strategic plan aims to promote Thailand as a prime destination for the MICE industry and as a stage of Asia for world-class MICE venue,” he added. “The plan is based on the potential network and cultures among ASEAN communities. It’s forecast that in seven years, by 2016, Thailand will be seen as top on the list for the MICE sector in Asia and throughout the world.”
The plan draws on three key concepts: WIN /PROMOTE and DEVELOP Under the plan, six major action plans are included.
1. Accelerate and expand the MICE market. It’s important to establish channels for marketing, public relations, and the capability to draw events with the cooperation of the private and public sectors.
2. Support MICE industry image-building. The importance of the MICE industry and the TCEB’s role and responsibility should be promoted. The “Thailand Creative Event Awards” is a good example for promotion.
3. Support value-added benefits to take the industry to the next level. The concept of the “Creative Economy” should be employed to grow the MICE industry to become more international, with support for new events and large-scale events and activities to Thailand.
4. Expand the capability of the MICE infrastructure. Thailand’s MICE industry must be recognized on the world stage. In 2010, the TCEB will give much effort to promoting highly recognized “Green Meetings,” the practice of holding environmentally friendly meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions, as a selling point to promote Thailand. Some of the MICE companies in Thailand have prepared infrastructure to support these meetings.
5. Build local and international networks. “Thai Team, Team Thailand” will be established as a center for co-operation between the government and private sectors.
6. Boost the role and potential of the TCEB. Management and human resources should be developed in correlation with the direction of the industry.
“The TCEB has a budget of 934 million baht for 2010,” Mr. Akapol said, “divided into 749 million baht for our fiscal budget. Of this amount, 200 million baht for the ‘Pid Thong Lang Pra’ Project, 145 million for WIN, 240 million baht for PROMOTE, 55 million baht for DEVELOP, and 110 million for internal operations.
“In addition, the TCEB has budgeted 185 million baht to attract income to Thailand via the ‘Strong Thailand Project’ and ‘Creative Economy,’” he added. “Activities under the ‘Strong Thailand Project’ include the Thailand MICE Road Show 2010 to boost confidence of our MICE industry in Japan; the TCEB’s participation in World Expo 2010 in Shanghai with the launch of ‘Thai Night’ at the Thailand Pavilion; and the search for an opportunity to draw World Expo 2020 to Thailand.”
The TCEB forecasts 628,653 MICE visitors to Thailand in 2009, compared with 727,723 visitors recorded in 2008. This year it expects to generate 45 billion baht, compared with 52 billion baht in 2008. (Updated figures will be received in March 2010).
In 2009, the TCEB succeeded in attracting 41 events and exhibitions as well as new creations consisting of 27 international conventions, three trade exhibitions, and 11 new shows. In addition, the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Thailand second in the Asian region after South Korea as the country with the highest number of international conventions and the number of participants
ACC Liverpool gets the green light on ‘Zero to Landfill’
ACC Liverpool has announced the addition of ‘Zero to Landfill’ status to its exacting and respected sustainability charter.
The achievement of ‘Zero to Landfill’ for the venue has been fast-tracked by ACC’s Green Dream Team; the venue’s own swat team of committed staff and service partners who meet monthly to hothouse ideas that will make the venue greener and cleaner. Whilst 2009’s target for waste sent to landfill had been set at 25%, ACC’s Green Dream Team have exceeded expectations, securing the ‘Zero to Landfill’ status. ACC Liverpool is one of only a few of such arenas and convention centers in the world.
Host to many of Europe’s leading conferences, exhibitions and live performances, ACC was designed to produce half the CO2 emissions it would without any environmentally-friendly measures implemented and to use 20% less electricity.
Just 22 months since opening, the tireless enthusiasm of the Green Dream Team continues in areas including recycling, waste management and energy efficiency. Testament to the team’s work are recent accolades including Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine’s ‘Best Sustainable Venue’ and Northwest Regional Development Agency’s ‘Sustainable Tourism’.
New practices at ACC Liverpool to enable the ‘Zero to Landfill’ status include:
· Working with local Widnes power station, PDM. All food waste from ACC Liverpool is transported to the power station where it is mulched to form a homogenous purée. The puree is then injected into boilers and incinerated at 1,000C, thereby creating steam to power a turbine to generate electricity.
· Waste from exhibitions and conferences is sent to Orchid Environmental where raw unsorted waste enters the plant and is sorted and ready to re-use, or reprocessed into diesel biofuel.
BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, part of ACC Liverpool, are hosts to leading live events including the Davis Cup and the TUC Congress as well as high profile live concerts. The venue has hosted over 450 events since it opened in 2008 with over 1,170,000 visitors.
Bob Prattey, ACC Liverpool’s CEO said: “From the day that we opened we have been tireless in our environmental work – 2009 was set to be the year that we achieved 25% waste to landfill. The fact that we have superseded this is a reflection of the very dedicated team we have working on our green initiatives and the importance we place on the topic.”
Eco-venues partner in Global Green Alliance
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), together with two of the world’s most renowned eco-friendly convention centres: the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool and the Cape Town International Convention Centre, have joined forces to create a Global Green Alliance.
This initiative was a direct result of relationships forged at the recent ICCA Congress in Florence with the alliance aiming to promote industry best-practice for hosting sustainable events.
Anne Jamieson, Director of Sales at the MCEC said: ‘The launch of this new partnership marks an exciting new era for the meetings and events sector as we collaborate in developing new eco-friendly venue design features and packaged services. We anticipate that event organisers will benefit from a significantly enhanced sustainable offer and the industry as a whole will see best-practice improved across the board.’
Kerrin MacPhie, Head of Sales at the BT Convention Centre, part of ACC Liverpool, believes that event organisers have been under increasing pressure for some time now to meet CSR and sustainability targets.
‘With this new Global Green Alliance, we will not only offer clients an outstanding, eco-friendly venue in the UK, but can extend that offer to include partner convention centres across the world that we know will meet their sustainability targets as well as we do at ACC Liverpool.’
Esmare Van Tonder, International Sales Manager for Cape Town International Convention Centre added: ‘There is a lot of hype regarding the green agenda, which makes it difficult for organisers to distinguish veneer policies from tangible deliverables that truly have an impact on improving sustainability targets. With this new alliance, we are setting the bar in terms of eco-venue standards and giving organisers a clear choice of partner organisations that can support their CSR needs.’
The alliance will focus on developing its combined offer and joint international marketing activities. Over the coming months, the alliance will announce a range of service offerings and other initiatives to further develop industry best practice and enable clients to gain maximum value from holding sustainable events.
Copenhagen is greening up for the UN Climate Change Conference
From December 7-18 the hopes of the planet will be focused on discussions being held in Copenhagen, as up to 12-15,000 people from around the world gather to attempt to reach a new global climate agreement at the UN Convention on Climate Change, COP 15.
Copenhagen offers numerous environmentally-labelled hotels and green-orientated convention centres, which makes the Danish capital an obvious choice for this globally anticipated climate summit.
The conference will be held at Bella Center, one of Europe’s leading convention centres, with a capacity of 20,000. Bella Center is constantly seeking ways to minimise its environmental impact, and will have reduced its Co2 emissions by 20% compared with 2007 numbers, before COP 15.
Green hotels – a reality for years
Copenhagen is well known as an environmentally friendly city thanks to its eco-labelled hotels; the highest consumption of organic foods per capita of its residents; and environmentally friendly transport options. As the rest of the world begins to discuss climate issues in earnest, sustainability has been a watchword of the city’s hotels for years.
The fact that COP 15 will be held in Copenhagen has prompted even more of the city’s hotels to get their environmental policies in order and optimise their efforts to become even more environmentally friendly. Today, close to 50% of its hotels are certified with an official environmental label, such as the EU Flower, the Nordic Swan Label, the Green Key or others.
Organic food
Sustainability is one of the main focal points when it comes to providing adequate and satisfactory catering at the COP15 and Denmark has chosen to guarantee a minimum of 65% organic food and beverages including fair-trade products such as coffee and tea.
It has also been decided that top rude materials, food and packaging has to comply with the standard requirements for acknowledged marking arrangements such as Max Havelaar, the European Union Eco Lable and the Nordic Swan -or equivalent. Furthermore, the food production will be characterized by low energy consumption and environmentally waste disposal.
Water
The ground water quality in Denmark is very high, therefore all potable water at the conference venue will be tap-water. This implies a considerable energy saving advantage because production, transportation and disposal of water bottles will be avoided.
Optimal Transport Logistics
The PCO MCI Copenhagen has established a database to handle all the hotel bookings. In the case of most bookings, the Danish Foreign Ministry will use the database to plan the optimal transport logistics to and from the Bella Center in order to minimise Co2 emissions from vehicles as much as possible.
Around 10-12,000 delegates and up to 3,000 journalists are expected to attend COP 15 in the Danish capital.
German Convention Bureau helps you plan Green Meetings
Frankfurt/Main, 25. November 2009. The German Convention Bureau (GCB) is a pioneer in the field of “Green Meetings”: Two years ago the marketing organisation for the German convention and meetings industry already started making its annual convention sustainable. Further initiatives confirm the GCB’s good reputation as a “green” organisation.
Web area “Green Meetings” on www.germany-meetings.com
The “Green Meetings” area is an important pillar of the website www.germany-meetings.com. There the GCB offers comprehensive advice on planning green events. Apart from the CO2 Calculator, you will find a “Mobility” section with information on travelling to and from your meeting location and transport facilities there, “Best Practices” with examples of outstanding green initiatives of GCB members, and a “Standards” section explaining the most common environmental protection certificates. In addition, the “Guidelines” section offers advice on how to “green” your event.
Reducing emissions with the GCB’s CO2 Calculator
The GCB launched together with CO2OL, the solutions provider for climate-friendly meetings and events, an online CO2 Calculator this September. Meeting and event planners can use it to identify the climate impacts and carbon footprint of their event and receive detailed advice on how to reduce the greenhouse gas. Unavoidable remaining emissions can be offset by certified climate protection projects in order to make your event “climate-neutral”. The project meets with great interest: In the first four weeks the GCB already posted more than 500 visits.
GCB and members support “Green Meetings” work group
The GCB also makes an active contribution to the “Green Meetings” work group of the meetings and conventions industry and supports its 2010 Green Meetings Conference. This project aims to develop detailed and feasible recommendations that help improve the ecological framework conditions for event venues and destinations. In this way the partners in the work group want to demonstrably diminish the environmental impacts caused by the event industry. The partners of the project under the auspices of the WorldCCBonn are the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), the GCB, and the Centre for Environment Communication of the German Environment Foundation (DBU).
Internal GCB events go green and IMEX sustainable
In the field of environment-friendly event planning the GCB sets a good example: At internal events such as its annual general assembly, it takes care that delegates travel on the Deutsche Bahn Event Ticket and by public transport, where possible, instead of using individual taxi transfer shuttle services. For catering the GCB team prefers solutions that do without superfluous packaging and favours regionally produced foodstuffs. Online registration and doing without printed documents saves paper and benefits the environment. And in its choice of give-aways the marketing organisation also focuses on ecological aspects of production and transport.
Moreover, as the strategic partner the GCB has supported “IMEX – incorporating Meetings made in Germany – the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events” for several years in its efforts for sustainability. Since its launch seven years ago IMEX has shown its green commitment: For example, every year the fair presents a large number of coveted green awards to international MICE suppliers (meetings, incentives, conventions and events) and event planners. Backed by its close partnership with the GCB, IMEX has further green initiatives that make “green meetings” a topic of major importance in the global MICE industry.
The GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. markets Germany as a destination for conventions, meetings, events and incentives both on a national and international level, and is the place to contact for anybody planning an event in Germany.
Its 257 members include leading hotels, convention centres and destinations, car hire firms, event agencies and service providers of the German meetings and conventions industry. Maritim Hotels, Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH and darmstadtium science and convention centre are Preferred Partners of the GCB. As Strategic Partners, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) support the work of the GCB
The GCB is an interface between organisers of meetings and conventions and suppliers of the German meetings market, offers advice and support for planning and organising events, and provides contacts and addresses. Its website www.germany-meetings.com features an online search facility for meeting venues, newsletter, Germany guide and a lot more.
Further information and press releases about GCB German Convention Bureau e.V. on: www.germany-meetings.com.
Green Energy Experts to Meet in Melbourne
Victoria’s credentials as a leader in the development of clean, sustainable and renewable energy have been
internationally recognised, with Melbourne winning the right to host the World Geothermal Congress in 2015.
Energy and Resources Minister, Peter Batchelor, said Victoria’s potential to generate clean electricity from hot rocks deep underground would be showcased to the world at the Congress, which is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates from 65 countries.
“A clean environment is crucial to our future, so to be hosting the world’s leading experts on geothermal energy is a great result for Victoria and underscores our commitment to ensuring Victoria is a leader in renewable and clean
energy development,” Mr Batchelor said. “It also reinforces Melbourne’s reputation as a conference capital.”
The Congress, which was secured by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) with local geothermal bodies, including the Australian Geothermal Energy Group and the Australian Geothermal Energy Association, will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
MCVB’s CEO, Ms Sandra Chipchase, said the Congress will see Melbourne become an international hub for yet another area of scientific expertise.
“This conference will bring the world’s pre-eminent scientists and researchers to Melbourne to discuss a range of topics relating to geothermal energy, including the latest in production sustainability, the environmental benefits of utilising this energy source and the market development opportunities of this.
“Hosting worldwide experts from this important field adds to a diverse range of scientific disciplines and Associations from around the world who have chosen to host their Business Events in Melbourne.
“From geophysics to biochemistry, Melbourne has a world-wide reputation for, and expertise in, hosting major science-related Business Events. This is a result of MCVB’s exceptional bidding skills, as well as Melbourne’s outstanding knowledge capital and research facilities. When you add to this Melbourne’s exceptional convention facilities, it’s easy to see why Melbourne is a number one destination for leaders and conventions from around the world,” Ms Chipchase said.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s Chief Executive, Leigh Harry, said: “As the world’s first ‘6 Star Green Star’ environmentally rated convention centre, it is appropriate that the World Geothermal Congress in 2015 will be held in the Melbourne Convention Centre. We look forward to hosting this important convention and welcoming these delegates to Melbourne.”
Dr Graeme Beardsmore, Chair of the Aus-NZ Bid Committee to host the Congress, and a Director of the International Geothermal Association, said the Congress provides an opportunity to showcase Australia’s advances in utilising geothermal energy for heat and power and to also share with Australia the advances made in other parts of the world.
“This is Australia’s chance to showcase our innovation in researching and developing geothermal energy, an abundant clean energy source that holds great potential to provide our energy needs in a carbon-constrained future, and I am delighted to be involved in this unique event.”
BtG Event Solutions spreads the green word in Russia
Russia may not sound like the most green-minded destination… but DMC BtG is determined to raise awareness and create a green culture. And this means involving local players. With the help of GreenDestinationsGroup and a non-profit ecological society Musora.Bolshe.Net (“no more waste”) BtG is organizing a series of workshops about sustainable meetings. The series are planned in Novotel St.Petersburg Center – the greenest hotel in Russia.
The first one, on 10th of November, dealt with material management and involved recycling facilities, hauling services and ecological organizations to see how to facilitate recycling by hotels and restaurants.
One specific problem was that, though recycling services exist, they need a minimum amount of material to justify the route, and that amount is too high for a single hotel. Solution: during the workshop the hauling companies agreed to send a specific vehicle for each type of material, stop by several hotels located close to each other and take only specific materials at a time.
Other workshop will follow, on minimisation of waste, sustainable food, procurement, energy and water, air quality among others.
Gothenburg Motor Show – Sweden’s largest new car show in 2010
The Gothenburg Motor Show will focus on eco-smart cars
Smarter solutions for eco-aware private motorists and a focus on the car in the workplace.
The 2010 Gothenburg Motor Show promises to be a very interesting show with a number of innovations new to Sweden.
“Although the economic crisis has hit carmakers hard worldwide, we can present a full programme with several hot new items,” says Helena Borg, Event Manager for the Gothenburg Motor Show.
Today’s private motorist is eco-aware and interest in low carbon dioxide emission cars is driving sales. Very low consumption diesel cars as well as gas and electric cars are arousing considerable curiosity. The same goes for plugin hybrid cars, which can be a good option for those generally driving short distances. Visitors to the show will get a good idea of what is on offer as well as seeing that you can combine eco-smartness with cool and bold design.
For those using a car in their work, there is also much of interest at the Gothenburg Motor Show, which will focus for the first time on the car in the workplace, a focus that many will find useful since more than 600,000 private cars are used daily at work. The fair offers seminars, a display of selected car models and various financing options, and Ronny Svensson, CEO of Ynnor Consultancy, is more than satisfied with the cooperation and the offering.
“Firms, organisations and the public face increasing demands to purchase the right vehicle. There are many innovations with regard to the environment, regulations and opportunities for purchasing, leasing or joining a car pool. We’re pleased to have an event showcasing both car models and information from fuel producers.”
For more information visit www.motorshow.se
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Announces suite of Sustainable Meeting Solutions
TORONTO, Oct. 21 – The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) announced a suite of sustainable meeting solutions available to event organizers. Green electricity, waste diversion, locally sourced menus, carbon offsetting, community donations and paper-less options help clients to reduce the environmental impact of their events.
By offering a roster of six sustainable meeting solutions, the MTCC is providing event planners simple options to reduce the environmental footprint of their event:
- Green Electricity: organizers can power their events with renewable
energy. Low-impact renewable energy is injected into the electricity
grid to match the equivalent power used by the event.
- Waste Diversion: organizers can divert waste generated by their events
from landfill, ensuring leftover material is reused, donated or
recycled.
- Locally Sourced Menu: complete your Zero Waste Event by choosing to
offer locally sourced food and beverages. Let our experienced catering
team arrange a customized menu for your event, using fresh local
ingredients the season has to offer!
- Carbon Offsetting: MTCC provides organizers with the tools to
calculate the carbon footprint of an event and connect them with third
parties to offset it.
- Community Outreach: MTCC will help facilitate partnerships with local
organizations that welcome donations of materials such as food,
linens, carpet or building materials.
- Paper-less: delegates and exhibitors can now access important
conference materials and programs onsite wirelessly, through their
PDAs or laptop computers.
In addition to making green options available to event planners, the MTCC has long been committed to sustainability. For example, administrative offices and electronic signage are powered with green electricity, and the MTCC diverts 78% of all waste generated from landfill. The Centre’s South Building is home to an enormous 300,000-sq.-ft. green roof. In addition, the MTCC’s total energy consumption has been reduced by 20% over the past 8 years through measures such as, retrofitting older lighting, using motion detectors in meeting rooms, and replacing and modernizing old natural gas boilers. More information about the MTCC’s sustainable meeting solutions is available at www.mtccc.com/green
“Sustainability is part of our culture – it’s built into our policies and our operations. We have repeatedly been recognized for our leadership in making green meetings possible,” said Barry Smith, President & CEO of the MTCC. “We were the first convention centre in Canada to offer green electricity to power meetings and the first to offer large-scale zero-waste events. We are pleased to provide opportunities for our clients to do the same.”
