Lufthansa Launches World's First Daily Commercial Flight Using Biofuel
Lufthansa has launched the world's first ever daily commercial passenger flights using biofuel. The four return daily flights between Hamburg and Frankfurt will be the first in the world to use a biofuel blend using 50% Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA).This follows the approval for the use of this type of fuel by the world fuels standards body, the ASTM on July 1st and the publication of the approved standards on July 13th. The aircraft is an Airbus A321, equipped with IAE engines (International Aero Engines). Airbus' role is to provide technical assistance and to monitor the fuel properties. The daily flights will initially continue for six months as part of the 'Burn Fair' R&T project to study the long term impact of sustainable biofuels on aircraft performance. "Lufthansa is the world's first airline to utilise biofuel in daily flight operations. This is a further consistent step in the sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for years been successfully pursuing. We want to secure future sustainable mobility by conducting research and development work today," said Christoph Franz, Lufthansa CEO.
Source: Good-News, 29.Juli
MPI WEC Sends CSR Message
If this year's Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, which wrapped up last week in Vancouver, British Columbia, had to be described with one word, it likely would be "green." Held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the first convention center to earn the Platinum LEED certification, MPI WEC dedicated 10 concurrent sessions, one of its Flashpoint speakers, and an executive panel to corporate social responsibility and sustainable events topics, along with offering pre-show service projects.But the biggest green achievement MPI announced at this year's event was the launch of a sustainability measurement tool for the meetings and events industry. More on the green tool, plus a rundown of other news from the WEC.
Tourism for everyone - fram trip for handicapped
With cooperation of the HNTO and Danish-Hungarian Skagerrak Tours, the first Tourism for Everyone fam trip was realized recently. Danish guests represented many fields from travel agents to journalists and executives of associations. The aim of the 3-day trip was to present Budapest and the Balaton as destinations for the handicapped. The group took a sightseeing tour, visited the Palace of Arts and cafés, went to Hévíz to try out the healing power of the thermal lake, sailed on the Balaton and tasted local wines. They also visited accommodation were disabled groups can also be hosted.
Greendex
You've heard about it for years now—everyone’s interested in being green. But do you really know how your personal choices are adding up? What about the choices of your fellow citizens? What behaviors are people adopting globally that have a positive impact on environmental sustainability? What has changed—and what hasn’t—in the past few years? This is the third year National Geographic has partnered with GlobeScan to develop an international research approach to measure and monitor consumer progress towards environmentally sustainable consumption. The key objectives of this unprecedented consumer tracking survey are to provide regular quantitative measures of consumer behavior and to promote sustainable consumption.
They want to inspire action both among the millions that the National Geographic brand touches worldwide, and among others who will hear about this study. A chief component of this effort is giving people a better idea of how consumers in different countries are doing in taking action to preserve our planet by tracking, reporting, and promoting environmentally sustainable consumption and citizen behavior.
This quantitative consumer study of 17,000 consumers in a total of 17 countries (14 in 2008) asked about such behavior as energy use and conservation, transportation choices, food sources, the relative use of green products versus traditional products, attitudes towards the environment and sustainability, and knowledge of environmental issues. A group of international experts helped us determine the behaviors that were most critical to investigate.
Consumers registering the largest 2010 vs. 2008 increase in environmentally sustainable consumer behavior were the Indians, Russians and Americans. Environmentally sustainable behavior among average consumers in India, China, Mexico, Russia, Hungary, Japan, Great Britain, and Canada has also increased steadily each year. In contrast, consumers in Germany, Spain, Sweden, France and South Korea have slipped slightly over the past year.
Download the study here!
Source: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/greendex/
Global Green Alliance Promotes Industry Best Practice
Late last year the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) joined forces with the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool and the Cape Town International Convention Centre, to form the Global Green Alliance in a combined effort to promote industry best practice for hosting sustainable events across the globe. Forged during the 2009 ICCA Congress, the partnership marks an exciting new era for the meetings and events industry as three of the greenest venues in the world work together to share their initiatives and experiences, and lead sustainable best practice across the entire events industry. Anne Jamieson, director of sales and marketing at the MCEC sees the already documented green credentials of the Alliance as an excellent starting point for both clients and other venues all over the world wanting to meet and enhance their sustainable objectives.
‘This marks a new era for the meetings and events industry as we work closely to align ourselves with other organisations that have the same sustainability goals, and develop new ecological practices and services that will ultimately benefit the industry as a whole,’ Anne said. Read full article.
Source: www.conworld.net
Avoid the “Seven Sins” of Greenwashing
Greenwashing. What is it? What does it look and sound like? Why does it matter?
Shawna McKinley, a project manager for MeetGreen®, stresses that planners and suppliers can be equally guilty of greenwashing. She has composed her own translations of TerraChoice’s seven sins to illustrate their meetings industry-specific meaning:
The Sin of the Hidden Trade-off. “That is fabulous you can provide organic produce, but I would really prefer something local that does not need to be shipped 3,000 km from farm to plate, thank you very much.”
The Sin of No-Proof. “So… exactly what environmentally-responsible cleaners do you use at your hotel, anyway? Can I see them?”
The Sin of Vagueness. “I appreciate that you provide a zero-waste conference, but what does that really mean?”
The Sin of Irrelevance. “Huh. That is a new one. I've never heard of a water-conserving light bulb before.”
The Sin of Fibbing. “You said you recycled… so why do I see plastic and paper in the trash bin at the back dock?”
The Sin of the Lesser of Two Evils. “That is great you planned a carbon-neutral conference, but did you actually reduce any emissions?”
The Sin of Worshiping False Labels. “But I thought you said you were a Green Seal-certified hotel. You're not on their website.”
Many industry pros say they encounter incidents of greenwashing all the time.
“One common example is hotels that advertise a big claim about being green, but are purely using it as a cost-cutting measure and haven't put any real effort into greening,” Cataldo says. “They have a towel reuse program but no recycling program. Another events example would be if an event puts out composting bins even when they know the waste that comes back will be too mixed up to be compostable.”
Read full article here, or download pdf here.
Source: www.plannerwire.com
“Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol” for the Global Events Industry launched on World Earth Day
A new advanced level guide, for sustainable event management The Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol, which uses the United Nations’ COP15 conference in Copenhagen as its case study, provides clear example to show event planners the ease and strategic value of combining sustainability in their meetings management with bottom line success. “It is the firm belief of all partners that the meetings industry must create a more sustainable path, if it is to continue to validate its societal license to operate, deliver value to clients and provide good returns on investment to its stakeholders. The Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol is our contribution to that,” says Steen Jakobsen, Convention Director at Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau on behalf of the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Coalition whose members include: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, VisitDenmark, The City of Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk A/S, The Bella Center A/S, MCI Copenhagen and Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau.
For a copy of the Press Release please click here.
Source: ICCA
LightStay Helps Reduce Hilton’s Environmental Impact, Owner Costs
Recognizing in a huge way that it cannot monitor—or improve upon—what it does not measure, Hilton Worldwide took a giant step toward reducing its environmental impact this past week with the official rollout of its LightStay program. LightStay is an internal system used by Hilton to collect and track energy and water consumption data as well as information on paper product use, air quality, transportation, housekeeping practices and much more. Specific examples include tracking where energy-efficient lighting is installed at a property, the average flush and flow rates for faucets and urinals, and the various waste streams that are being recycled.
A total of 1,300 Hilton properties are currently using the system. By December 31, 2011, all 3,500 properties within Hilton Worldwide’s global portfolio of brands will use LightStay, making the company, according to Hilton, the first major multi-brand company in the hospitality industry to require property-level measurement of sustainability. The measurement of sustainability performance will become a brand standard on the same level as service.
LightStay is already having a significant, positive impact on the environment and costs. In the program’s first full year (2009), the 1,300 Hilton Worldwide properties using the system conserved enough energy to power 5,700 homes for a year, saved enough water to fill more than 650 Olympic-size pools and reduced carbon output equivalent to taking 34,865 cars off the road. Reductions in water and energy use translated into $29 million in reduced utility costs for hotel owners. LightStay helped Hilton Worldwide properties using the system reduce energy use by 5 percent, carbon output by 6 percent, waste output by 10 percent and water use by 2.4 percent.
Read article online here, or download pdf here.
Source: www.plannerwire.net
Expedia.com Expands Green Hotel Program to More Than 1,700 Hotels
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Expedia.com, the leading online travel agency, announced that it has greatly expanded the company’s Green Hotel program. The new program now offers more than 1,700 green hotels to travelers who prioritize environmental sustainability. These hotels are certified by a cross-section of organizations, including Green Seal, Green Key, LEED and STEP. “At Expedia.com, we realize that green travel is an important offering to a dedicated, passionate set of travelers,” said Tim MacDonald, senior vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. “By offering green-certified hotels, carbon offset options for flights and environmental travel tips, we offer a unique one-stop shop for the green traveler who is committed to traveling in a socially responsible manner.”
Source: Green Lodging News; Read full article here
For more information on Expedia’s new eco friendly travel options, visit www.expedia.com/green
Webinar: Insights on DMO Corporate Social Responsibility
Join DMAI and Jonathan Greenblatt, an acknowledged thought leader on ethical branding and social entrepreneurship, on 28 April at 2:00 pm EDT, as he discusses how destination marketing intersects with this eminent, turn of the century topic. Going beyond just greening, this online discussion will give you the tools to make social responsibility work for your DMO. Plus, you'll get a taste of what to expect from this year’s Annual Convention, where Jonathan is a general session speaker!
Discussion topics include:
- Best practices for strategic planning of sustainable tourism expansion
- Tips for engaging the non-activist in the dialogue of sustainability
- Non-traditional partnerships that work for the greater good and your budget
- Turning the polarization of environmental and business extremes into a true discussion of balance, harmony, and damage reduction
- Emerging opportunities for increased destination greening including meaningfully mitigating transportation impact.
Whether social responsibility is a future goal, or already integrated into the core of your DMO, this live webinar will go beyond the basics, offering in depth insight you and your DMO need to truly make an impact.
Pricing (US$59) is by viewing site (ie: computer) not individual. Organizations who have multiple team members view on a single site will find this webinar exceptionally affordable. Register here
Earth Day 2010: Engaging Your Guests & Community
The non-profit research organization, Center for Responsible Travel (formerly Travel Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development) found that responsible tourism has withstood the global recession better than the tourism industry as a whole. Perhaps that’s one reason many hotels are eagerly embracing Earth Day (though we’d like to think that a growing commitment to sustainable practices plays a role). Celebrate April 22nd - and help raise awareness about environmental concerns with your green hotel guests and community – by hosting one of the following top ten ideas.
- Start a Community Garden
- Serve Sustainable Food
- “Go Green, Save Green” Package
- Change the Lights
- Earth Day Green Project
- Replace Disposables
- Join a Resource Pledge
- Attend a Rally
- Hybrid Parking & Bike Rentals
- Hold a “Green” Wine & Food Event
Read more!
Source: EcoGreenHotels
Wasted Water: A Drain on Your Event?
When it comes to greening up your next trade show or conference, does reduced water usage spring to mind? Sure, some environmentally friendly practices are more visible to the guests and would seem to make a bigger impact than others — like serving Fair Trade coffee and using locally grown organic vegetables. But did you know that each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)? And that's just from flushing the toilet and running the shower or bath. Clearly, reducing water consumption is a little way to make a big impact.
- Look for venues that have a water-conservation policy already in place; policies should include such practices as installing water-saving devices on all showerheads, faucets and toilets.
- Ask for specific details of the venue's sustainability program rather than just asking "Do you have a water conservation program?"Ask if a linen and towel reuse program is in place. That means guests can fill out a card to inform the housekeeping staff that they will reuse their linens and towels rather than having fresh ones brought each day. Less laundry to wash equals much less water usage!
- Serve water at meals only by request, rather than pre-filling hundreds of glasses. Meeting Strategies Worldwide estimates that if you avoid pre-filling water glasses at banquet lunches for 2,200 people for three days, you can save 520 gallons of water!
- Get it in writing: Include a clause in your contract with the venue that states that they will comply with your environmentally friendly requests.
Read full article online here, or download pdf here.
Source: www.conventions.net
Earth Guest Day
Every April 22, to mark the International Earth day, Accor mobilizes its own 150,000 employees around the world to organize actions and events on the theme of sustainable development.
In 2007, the first edition of the Earth Guest day brought together teams from 69 countries. This first day in the history of the Group brought employees together to conduct a large number of projects around the world. This was the case with the planting of 20,000 trees in the United States, the creation of an ecological arc to fight the advance of the desert in Ivory Coast, actions taken to protect animal species in Austria, France and the Netherlands, the organization of a march for the protection of children in Thailand, the gift of one day from the employees in 35 cities in Latin America to support local development, the repair of health care centers for children suffering from AIDS in South Africa and India, the sale of chocolate to finance a literacy project in the club cars of Compagnie des Wagons-Lits in France, Spain, and Portugal, and the clean-up of nature sites in Saudi Ara bia, Hungary, Egypt and Réunion. In 2008, more than 77 countries participated in the event through hundreds of actions.
Source: www.accor.com
Carlson Signs United Nations Global Compact Encouraging Sustainable, Socially Responsible Business Policies
Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company with operations in more than 150 countries, today announced that Carlson President and Chief Executive Officer Hubert Joly has signed the United Nations Global Compact.The initiative encourages businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies supporting 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption, and can be found at www.unglobalcompact.org.Carlson is one of the first global hospitality and travel companies to become part of the compact, the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative. It was first announced in Davos by then-U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in January 1999, and it was officially launched at the U.N. headquarters in New York in July 2000.
In 2004, Carlson became the first North American hospitality and travel company to sign the ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) global code of conduct to protect children from sexual exploitation.
Read article on-line here
Source: meetingsreview.com
Bike-rental scheme to start next year in Budapest
The downtown area of the Hungarian capital and the Buda embankment will be the first areas locked in to the new bicycle-rental system in Budapest. According to the plans, the service will be available from 2011. The first 30 minutes of cycle use will be free of charge although users will have to buy an annual registration card to use the bikes at the 70-80 docks.
Forrás: Hungarian Travel and Tourism Headlines
Eco-Tain Your Meeting Attendees: Ideas For Engaging Your Attendees And Making Green Meetings Fun
Register today and join us for this session. You’ll learn:
> How to build excitement around green meetings
> Techniques for incorporating “green” ideas and engaging your attendees
> Tips for choosing a fun, unique, green venue
> Ways to give back to your host community
Speakers Cathy Kretz and Nancy Wilson will share insightful, innovative, and fun ways you can bring your green meeting to the next level. Cathy Kretz represents one of the world's most sustainable cities as a Convention Sales Manager for Travel Portland. Nancy Wilson brings her perspective as a principal with MeetGreen, the conference management and consulting firm specializing in green.
Date: Apr 29, 2010, 01:00 PM Eastern (12 PM CT, 11 AM MT, 10 AM PT)
Register here
An Overview of Sustainability Reporting and Its Benefits
Although existent for more than a decade in other industries, only within the last few years has sustainability reporting become integrated into sustainability strategy within the hotel industry. Just as in the case of carbon, new terminology has been introduced and many questions have arisen. This article aims to answer common questions by providing an overview of sustainability reporting, its contents, its benefits, and its use within the industry.
Read article online here, or download pdf here.
Suorce: www.greenlodgingnews.com
Tourism Association Launches Hocking Hills Green Certification Program
The Hocking Hills Tourism Association, located in Southeast Ohio, USA, has launched Hocking Hills Green, a voluntary environmental certification program for the local tourism industry. Twenty-three lodging establishments have already signed up for the program. Participants represent cabins and cottages, campgrounds and horse camps, hotels and motels, and inns and B&Bs. One of the goals of the program is to reduce the environmental footprint of the Hocking Hills travel and hospitality industry. An additional goal is to help promote the Southeast Ohio region—known for its parks, forests, hiking, canoeing, canopy tours, and attractions such as Old Man’s Cave—as a green destination.To become Hocking Hills Green Certified, businesses must submit a completed registration and application.
Businesses may qualify for Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 Certification based on the extent of their practices in each of three disciplines of environmental responsibility. The disciplines include: communication/education, resource management, and stewardship. Businesses may advance to a higher level of certification as additional practices are implemented. Each level of certification includes required practices and optional practices. A minimum score is required for each level of certification and businesses must be certified annually. Twenty-three businesses have reached Level 1 status.In their online profile, certified properties can list the green steps they have taken in each of the three disciplines. The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, for example, lists many of its green initiatives. Among them: food waste composting, the use of low-flow fixtures, and the use of organic fertilizers.
The Hocking Hills Tourism Association website includes a prominent link to the Hocking Hills Green Certified site.
Source: www.greenlodgingnews.com
ANALYSIS Social policy – and birds of prey – help Leipzig Messe gain sustainable certificate
Read article on-line here, or download pdf here. Source: www.meetingsreview.com
DMAI Webinar: Expert Interview - Insights on DMO Corporate Social Responsibility
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST, 28 April 2010
Join Jonathan Greenblatt, a leading mind in corporate social responsibility, as he answers inquiries on how the destination marketing industry intersects with this important turn of the century topic. An acknowledged thought leader on ethical branding and social entrepreneurship, Greenblatt will answer questions from a panel of DMO professionals and provide perspective on how the destination marketing industry intersects with corporate social responsibility.Offering industry professionals an affordable educational option, the webinar will cost only US$59 per member site (translation: your entire staff can participate), and US$89 per non-member site. Plus, members earn PDM credit for participating. For more information, go here.
DMAI Social Responsibility Committee meeting
Chaired by Steve Moore, president & CEO, Greater Phoenix CVB, and Butch Spyridon, president & CEO, Nashville CVB, this committee held a face-to-face meeting on 23 February. Moderated by Dr. Jonathan Day from Purdue University, the committee discussed overall goals in the areas of sustainability, diversity and corporate social responsibility, including:- Develop a resource where people can find information specific to the DMO industry on these topics.- Identify common definitions so that the industry is speaking the same language.
- Inventory information available through other organizations to minimize duplicative efforts.
One specific program identified as a priority was the desire to develop a diversity program for the DMO industry that would focus on leadership training, advancement and organizational best practices. As I have said, we want to provide ongoing thoughts and tools for you to use as an involved member.
Source: DMAI newsletter
Budapest hotel helps to make a little go a long way
Generous hotel guests at Hilton Budapest West End have used their small change to make a big difference to children with disabilities thanks to a special fundraiser run in Hilton Hotels. The three month campaign, which has been running across Europe throughout October, November and December, has in total raised more than €65,000 for charity. The Hilton in the Community Foundation campaign invites Hilton guests to add an optional €1 or 270 Hungarian Forints onto their room bill during their stay. Guests at the Budapest hotel have raised €1,196.60 towards the campaign.All net proceeds raised from the campaign in Hungary will be used to support the Red Noses Clowndoctors Fundation (Piros Orr Bohócdoktorok Alapítvány), a non-profit organisation which relies on donations to continue its support for children in hospitals. The clowndoctors' professional training and their involvement in special hospital cases continue to make a positive difference to children in hospitals lives. Jan Thomsen, General Manager Hilton Budapest West End said: “I would like to thank every guest who chose to donate to this campaign. We are delighted to be supporting Red Noses and hopefully this grant will help them to improve many children’s lives here in Hungary.”
Dowload press release here.
CSR Hungary and InterContinental Budapest partners up
InterContinental Budapest won the CSR Hungary Award 2009 for small and medium enterprises. To show its support towards the importance of CSR activities, the hotel has offered to host some of the events (presentations, workshops, etc.) of Atlantis Press, founder of the Award in 2010.The dates of CSR Wednesday events to take place in the hotel are the follwong:
24th March, 2010 at 6 pm
26th May, 2010 at 6 pm
29th September, 2010 at 6 pm
17th November, 2010 at 6 pm
Source: CSR Hungary newsletter, 8th March, 2010
Painting the Town Green the Making of Greenbuild 2009
Whether it's Chicago, Boston, or Phoenix, when the U.S. Green Building Council comes to town for its annual convention, it leaves a green legacy in its wake. The Greenbuild International Conference and Exposition, the U.S. Green Building Council's annual convention, has been honored as one of the greenest meetings in the country, and its dedication to the environment extends to every vendor and partner. Greenbuild 2009, held November 11-13 in Phoenix, was a great example — from the cleaning-service worker who dived into the dumpster to make sure the recyclables were clean, to the chef who found locally grown produce, to the convention center staff who hired the composting haulers. The 2009 conference also marked a new step for USGBC when it announced minimum green standards for its exhibitors, something unheard of in the meetings industry.
Read original article here, or download it in pdf here: Part 1, Part 2
Source: Dave Kovaleski, www.meetingsnet.com, 5th March, 2010
Green Growth for 2010 Motivation Show
The 2010 Motivation Show, taking place Oct. 12 to 14 at Chicago's McCormick Place West, is expanding its commitment to sustainability with several new efforts geared to green-up the annual incentive industry trade show, it announced this week. "As trade show professionals, we're responsible for the impact of our shows on the planet as well as our local community," Pete Erickson, managing director of The Motivation Show, said in a statement. "Making conscious decisions to reduce our carbon footprint is no longer just rhetoric, it's expected."
Read original article here, or download it in pdf here.
Source: www.environmenatlleader.com, 3rd March, 2010
Three Green Events Added to 2010 Conference Calendar
Three green travel and/or lodging industry events have been added to the calendar for 2010. In chronological order they include: the New England Eco-Hospitality Expo, May 25; the Green Travel Summit, June 10 to 11; and the West Coast Green Lodging Conference, August 22 to 25. The New England event will be held at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, N.H., the Green Travel Summit at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C., and the West Coast Green Lodging Conference at the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Read full article here, or download pdf here.
Source: www.greenlodgingnews.com, 22nd February, 2010
Chemol offers Green Conference program
Being the first to offer such an option in Hungary, Chemol Travel offers a green program for its socially and environmentally conscious partners. The program includes eliminating as much paper from the administrative part of organizing the event as possible, co-operating with responsible service providers (venue, catering, etc), and the possibility to provide conference bags, notebooks, etc made from recycled material. According to the agency, working with the right caterer is a very important part of the program: for example, during a conference with 1000 participants, more than 100.000 napkins can be wasted - making these from recycled paper can save a lot of trees.
Although the price of products made from recycled materials can be a little higher than their freshly made competitors, there are lots of simple green steps that can equal out - or lower - the final budget of the event. Moreover, these green practices not only provide a higher satisfaction to the participants, but provide example and allows the company to gain a competitive advantage.
2009 Trash Challenge Case Studies
Missed the 2009 Trash Challenge? GMIC is tallying the results and will expand the challenge in 2010 beyond waste diversion. Give GMIC your feedback on basic to advanced tips, case studies and strategies for sustainable performance in events.
The GMIC is waiting to add you here, among the case studies!
Please submit your plans for cutting your event waste, and we may highlight you in the initiative's space and on the GMIC blog. Email challenge@greenmeetings.info
Source: www.greenmeetings.info
IMEX and GMIC team up to present the International Green Awards
IMEX and the GMIC are once again teaming up to present the International "Green" awards to recognize environmental commitment within the meetings industry. Recipients will be named in the Green Meeting Awards, Green Supplier Awards, Green Exhibitor Award, and Commitment to the Community Award categories.
Award finalists (previous winners) will be recognized at a ceremony during the IMEX Gala Dinner, in the IMEX daily papers, IMEX Briefing, and the IMEX Corporate Responsibility stand, as well as during the GMIC's Sustainable Meetings Conference and on both the GMIC and IMEX websites. Nominations are now open and must be received no later than February 28, 2010. More information on how to apply is available on the GMIC's website.
Commentary: Making Green Meetings Redundant
My head is still spinning with ideas, enthusiasm, and wall-to-wall content from last week's 2010 Sustainable Meetings Conference in Denver, hosted by the Green Meeting Industry Council. But for many of the veteran meeting professionals who attended the conference, making sustainability an industry watchword won't be enough. By the time they're done, they want to purge the language of "green meetings" from the industry lexicon. Not because they see sustainability as a fad that has come and gone, but because they now foresee the day when every meeting will be a green meeting. It's a bold vision. Read in pdf.
Feb 16, 2010 9:59 AM, By Mitchell Beer, CMM; www.meetingnet.com
m&it auction now live!
Several Hungarian hotels donated a prize for the Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine's Save the Children auction. You can bid for two nights in the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel, the Ramade Resort Aquaworld, the Mercure Budapest Buda, or a weekend stay at the Adina Apartment Budapest.
The target for fund-raising of GBP 45,000 will not only purchase an ambulance, but set it up to provide a 24-hour service to benefit the entire 25,000 target population of Kelela health centre (Ethiopia). The fund-raising target covers all the costs for purchasing the ambulance and running it for the first 3 months, 50% for the next three months (with the other 50% coming from the local district health office) and after the first 6 months the ambulance and running costs will be handed over to the district health office, with Save the Children supervision, ensuring a lasting legacy for years to come.
Enjoy a few great days in the capital of Budapest while supporting a worthly cause! Choose you hotel here.
2nd Hungarian Climate Summit
2nd Hungarian Climate Summit After Copenhagen: Environmental thinking, politics and actions for a sustainable future
Venue: Danubius Hotels Group Radisson Blu Béke Hotel
Date: 2010. február 19. 9:00
Participation fee: 20.000 HUF+VAT (pre-registration required)
More information about the event
Preliminary program
Star Chefs cook for Haiti
The Guest&Hotel magazine, the Hungarian Baptist Aid, and the Bocuse d’Or Academy together organize a charity dinner for helping Haiti. The event will take place in the Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge on the 17th February, from 7 pm. Beverages are offered by the Zwack House, and participation is accepted with a minimum 5000 HUF contribution.
If you would like to participate, please apply here: haitivacsora@vendeg.hu
Source: TTG Hungary, 5th January, 2010
Eco-citizenship at the Nice Carnival
The theme chosen for 2010 and experience gained at previous Carnivals have ensured that sustainable development and protecting the planet are part and parcel of Carnival 2010. The King of the Blue Planet wishes to be responsible and appropriate measures have been taken, including in the choice of equipment being used on Place Masséna: LEDs, frescoes on recyclable tarpaulins, low-consumption screen, etc. The power generators that used to provide electricity have been done away with.Badges are recyclable, press packs are on recycled paper and brochures on eco-label paper. The Carnival can also encourage society to act responsibly. Bins will be made available to users of streamer cans, so that these dangerous aerosols can be disposed of, and not thrown onto the street. This fosters eco-citizenship. It is also an invitation to forego in the future an accessory that is bound to turn up again this year... Some sectors have not yet had the chance to "come clean". This is the case of the floats and the vehicles used for the flower battles. The Carnival organisers will therefore pay a carbon tax, calculated in function of the vehicles' consumption. This is a first for this type of event! More information
From Qatar to Belgium, Convention Centers and Solar a Worldwide Trend
The addition of solar to convention centers – from Belgium to Qatar to the Twin Cities – is a burgeoning business. The Flanders Expo in Ghent, Belgium, just received a 1.87 megawatt solar installation, according to a press release. The solar array should generate about 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year. In Qatar, the National Convention Center will generate about 12.5 percent of its own electricity needs from solar, reports Ecofriend. The system will have 3,600 square meters of solar panels. The building, expected to be completed in 2011, is aiming for LEED Gold certification. After failed previous attempts, a solar panel system at the Minneapolis convention center finally gained approval from the city council in late January, reports MPRNews. The center should get about 5 percent of its power from the 600-kilowatt rooftop solar array, which will have about 2,600 panels. In 2008, the Atlantic City Convention Center began planning the installation of 13,321 solar panels on 290,000 square feet, or about two-third of its rooftop.
Source: www.environmentalleader.com; 2nd February, 2010
A Meetings Forest
In the meetings industry, it's easy to only talk, talk, talk. Sometimes it's even just what people do. Not long ago some of them spoke about green thinking without taking any real action - just because it was fashionable and trendy. They wanted to belong, but they had cheap commercial or PR grounds in mind. Fortunately, we have left this era unexpectedly fast. Nobody can ignore the genuine concern for a healthy, eco-friendly society anymore. Every aspect of social and ethical actions even gets a chance. So at Meeting Media Company, the publishing house of HeadQuarters magazine and MIM magazine, we have lately decided to take the matter in our own hands. Of course we print on recycled paper and when we travel to do reports, we try to take the train as much as possible - instead of the plane or the company car for instance - but we were longing to initiate something bigger, something every person in the meetings industry could relate to and could actually take part in. We have bought a company grove in the Caledonian Forest, a world-famous green restoring project of Trees for Life. The idea is to plant a meetings tree on every occasion we think fit: associations, industry partners, friends, etc., with outstanding or original initiative to make the world a better place. This year for instance Adelaide Convention Centre was offered a tree to congratulate them on their comprehensive recycling and food management programme. And it will go on like that, until we've planted thousands of trees together with the entire meetings industry. Then the big dream will be accomplished: a real Meetings Forest!
Make a donation! (Each £5 you donate allows the planting of another tree in this grove.)
Sustainable Meetings Conference Just One Week Away
The Green Meeting Industry Council’s (GMIC) annual North American conference not only has a new name, the Sustainable Meetings Conference (formerly the Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference), but also a new 2010 conference theme: Scaling It Up! “The GMIC annual conference is the premier event that engages event organizers and hosts to address important sustainability issues impacting the meeting and event industry,” said GMIC board president Amy Spatrisano, who is also with MeetGreen. “This year’s conference will demonstrate the critical role of green standards development and international sustainability reporting initiatives as best practice frameworks for the meeting and event industry.” The GMIC 2010 (9-11 Febr) keynote speaker is announced as Annie Leonard, the author and host of the online film, “The Story of Stuff,” a fast paced, fact-filled exposé on the hidden environmental and social costs of current systems of production and consumption. The film has become an Internet phenomenon, generating more than 6.5 million views in 200 countries and territories since its launch in December 2007. Leonard is now working on a book version of the film, to be published by Free Press of Simon and Schuster in March 2010. For full conference details, visit the conference website at www.sustainablemeetingsconference.com.
Source: www.greenlodgingnews.com, 1st February, 2010
Sustainable Events Limited launches to satisfy demand
Sustainable Events Limited has been launched to provide sustainability, support and consultative services to businesses across the events sector. Fiona Pelham is responsible for the team behind the launch, which also runs Organise This and Positive Impact. Pelham says: “Throughout the course of the last year both Positive Impact and Organise This have received feedback and requests for in-depth sustainability support and advice. Businesses across the events industry are seeking professional, expert knowledge as they attempt to improve their sustainability policies and practices – with our history and enthusiasm to support the event industry to increase its level of sustainability, we decided to respond to these demands with the creation of Sustainable Events Ltd.” Sustainable Events Limited has already won several substantial clients and projects including: • The Global Reporting Initiative development of the Events Sector Supplement • Old Trafford Manchester United Football Club • Reed Exhibitions Ltd Piers Kelly, from Reed, comments: “We have worked with the team behind Sustainable Events Ltd for more than two years and they have delivered tailored support to meet our requirements. Their expertise and perspective is unique and they are forward thinkers in the area of sustainability.” Both Positive Impact and Organise This will continue to run as an event management service and education provider and operate underneath the Sustainable Events Ltd umbrella. Pelham is also president elect, MPI UK and Ireland Chapter, and co chair of the ISO 20121 standard (the international development using the BS8901 framework).
Source: www.meetpie.com; 26th January, 2010
Certain Software Releases Greener Events White Paper
Certain Software, Inc., a leading provider of event management solutions for the global meetings and events planning industry, released a whitepaper geared towards helping meeting and event planners assess the carbon emissions of their events and pinpoint the areas in which they can improve their sustainability. Through partnership with ClimatePath, an organization dedicated to carbon footprint assessment, reduction programs, and support for sustainability projects worldwide, the informative whitepaper offers expert advice on the subject of reducing meetings and events related carbon emissions.
For more information, visit Certain's Greener Events Initiative
Source: http://www.conworld.net, 4th January, 2010
ISO 20121: Do we really need a global sustainable events standard?
In the aftermath of the severe bashing the meetings and events industry took in certain quarters during 2009, there’s a clear desire to get across the unique social, economic and environmental benefits that conferences, concerts, sports competitions, festivals and other live activity generate. But surely, for the industry to be taken seriously, at the same time, it needs to address the considerable waste and other negative social and environmental impacts that result from events. To harmonise the event industry’s global efforts to tackle this challenge, international standards organsation ISO is to develop a worldwide standard promoting the sustainable management of events. It will be produced by a new ISO project committee, ISO/PC 250, Sustainability in Event management, and around 30 countries are already involved as participants or observers.
Source: www.meetingsreview.com; 28th January, 2010
Accor pledges support to Institut Pasteur to help prevent
Institut Pasteur and Accor form an original partnership to provide health information and prevention for travellers. The partnership is part of the “Earth Guest” programme, which is designed to respond to Accor’s societal concerns including the fight against epidemics. The Group has decided to considerably expand its involvement in the prevention of all types of emerging diseases by signing a partnership agreement with Institut Pasteur and immediately undertaking two major initiatives: - the conversion of A|Club points into donations to Institut Pasteur, - financing a health information and prevention website for travellers. Read original article online here, or download it in pdf here.
Source: www.accor.com; 18th January, 2010
OPINION Todd Demorest: Build CSR into team building
Today, more and more companies are turning to a melding of CSR/philanthropy and team building events for their employees. Companies can no longer afford team building simply to be fun, entertaining and/or gregarious. It is imperative that the money spent on building a team does just that, and maybe even more importantly build the capacity for individuals to make powerful choices and blend more easily as they move from team to team. These hybrid team building events are a fabulous place to bring corporate values and/or targeted points to life. Participants have an opportunity to connect with their co-workers as they work on projects such as making prosthetic hands for land mine victims, bicycles for less fortunate children, play houses for children’s hospitals, etc.
Read original article in pdf here.
Source: www.meetingsreview.com; 8th January, 2010
COP15 Achieves BS8901 Certification
COP15, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change is now certified as compliant with BS8901, the internationally recognized British Standard for sustainable event management. MCI Sustainability Services guided the BS8901 certification process, working alongside the COP15 planning teams to train and then facilitate the implementation and documentation of the necessary processes required for BS8901 certification.
For more information visit: Sustainability COP15
Source: www.conworld.net, 7th January, 2010
Save the Children!
Members of the meetings and incentive travel industry have raised more than £700,000 at this event for Save the Children, however, there are still millions of children around the world who need your support. You can help by sponsoring, purchasing tickets, personal donation, donating a prize or participating in fundraising activities with our online auction (that goes live on 27 January 2010) and our raffle on the night. Please help however you can. Contact Liz Coleridge on email lcoleridge@cat-publications.com or call on 0044 (0) 1342 306723 The money raised during the run up to - and at - the M&IT Awards 2010 will go towards our target of £45,000 to purchase an ambulance for the Kelela district, in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. This project will not only purchase an ambulance, but set it up to provide a 24-hour service to benefit the entire 25,000 target population of Kelela health centre. The fund-raising target covers all the costs for purchasing the ambulance and running it for the first 3 months, 50% for the next three months (with the other 50% coming from the local district health office) and after the first 6 months the ambulance and running costs will be handed over to the district health office, with Save the Children supervision, ensuring a lasting legacy for years to come. Don't forget to take part in the on-line auction - live from 27th January to 17th February 2010.
OPINION Andrew Williams: Why climate change doesn’t matter
The eyes of the world have been on Copenhagen for the past few days. As countries from around the globe hammer out a deal on climate change, the arguments and counter arguments may seem so bewildering as to defy reason. When it comes to how any of this affects the events industry, the picture is even less clear. Is climate change really happening? If it is, then is mankind to blame? Is George Monbiot right, and we need urgent, global action if disaster is to be averted? Is Sarah Palin right, and the whole thing has been cooked up by some power-crazed boffins in East Anglia? Is there anything we can do about it given the complexity of the problem and the bickering over potential solutions?
Read full article in pdf here
Source: www.meetingsreview.com
EFAPCO Congress to focus on Sustainability & Competitiveness in the Meetings Industry
EFAPCO is all set to kick-start an exciting new agenda for the European meetings industry in the first week of the New Year.
Taking place on January 8 and 9, EFAPCO Congress 2010 is one of the first major international conference events to grace the brand new SQUARE, Brussels Palais des Congres,”
“People who have a serious interest in helping to develop Europe as the world’s leading congress and events destination cannot afford to miss out on discovering what’s in store for us: tomorrow and even in 2020,” said EFAPCO President Nicolas Le Brun. “Two days of intensive sessions and plenty of networking opportunities will help our delegates to stay ahead of the competition, help forge our future and become more sustainable”.
Read original article on-lin here, or download it in pdf here.
27 Nov, 2009; Source: www.conworld.net
MCI focuses on sustainability for COP15
Global agency provides congress support and consulting for UN Climate Change Conference
COP15 is being regarded as one of the most important meetings in the last 50 years and will be attended by more than 12,000 non-governmental organisations, business and governmental leaders plus 3,000 journalists from more than 170 countries. The two week meeting will discuss and come to agreement on a new global climate treaty. MCI will be providing professional support to the organisers, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MCI Copenhagen is responsible for sourcing, managing and allocating more than 75,000 room nights for more than 15,000 delegates. MCI’s Sustainability Services will also play an important part in the conference organisation by providing consulting support to the conference organisers through the preparation and integration of the BS8901 Sustainable Event Management system and certification process. The agency will also organise BS8901 training for external auditors, ‘Dansk Certificering’, the official certification body of the Danish government with training provided in conjunction with BS8901 co-creator and expert, Tim Sunderland.
Source: www.meetpie.com
COP15 climate conference stakeholders to launch Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol
Inspired by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) taking place in Denmark's capital in December, six key stakeholder organizations have come together to create a unique and innovative consortium to further increase the sustainability of this event and other large international meetings. They call the initiative the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol.With a common vision for a more sustainable, responsible and ethical global marketplace, the partners have joined forces to capture, share and improve on their learnings and experiences in preparing Copenhagen for COP15. The objective is two-fold: - Contribute to accelerating the transformation of the global meetings industry through sustainability - To further enhance Copenhagen and Denmark's position as a prime host destination for sustainable meetings The Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol will be a flexible umbrella framework that can be used to organize large, complex, multi stakeholder meetings in a sustainable way. It integrates local and international sustainability initiatives, standards, systems and certification programs and is a guide for good leadership and active engagement of key stakeholders in large meetings. It identifies innovative and synergetic strategies that catalyze sustainable development - for the benefit of the meeting organizers, delegates and host communities. This initiative has been championed by leaders from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VisitDenmark - the National tourism and meetings organisation -, the City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen Convention & Visitors bureau, leading pharmaceutical corporation Novo Nordisk, and professional conference organiser and sustainability consultants MCI Group. This consortium recognizes that COP15 represents a unique opportunity to show that the biggest, most prestigious events can be organized in a sustainable way. It is the project partners hope, that the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol will serve as reference to spark sustainable development internationally. The protocol is scheduled for completion in February 2010. For more information, visit COP15
One day sustainability will become a necessity
Pier Paolo Mariotti is a man convinced of the necessity of green events for the future development of the tourism and meetings industry. In his presentation at the ECM Summer School he introduced the city of Bolzano and the EURAC convention center and revealed a few facts about sustainability and the environmentally-friendly approach.Source: European Cities Marketing
Climate Action: The New Competitive Advantage
By Mitchell Beer, CMM
A funny thing is happening on the way to the global climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.
After years of costly delays, companies, industries, and nations are finally taking a hard look at the science—which, these days, is tantamount to staring into the abyss. They’re gradually agreeing that urgent action is needed to curb the greenhouse gases that are warming the earth’s atmosphere, melting glaciers and Arctic ice sheets at an alarming rate, touching off cascades of severe weather, and threatening food and water supplies.
The trend is either a huge opportunity or a harbinger of bad times for meetings and events, depending on how the industry chooses to respond.
Source: www.meetingsnet.com
Discover Who's Going Green with Free Survey Study
Tourism research experts Community Marketing, Inc. recently announced the release of its 1st Annual CMI Green Traveler Survey Report - the travel industry's most comprehensive assessment of the sustainable travel consumer
Designed to provide industry leaders with information to understand, reposition, and leverage opportunities of the emerging sustainable travel marketplace, the study provides industry players with important insights to further their green efforts.
To receive your complimentary copy, send your request to report@CMIgreen.com along with your name, title, and organization.
Source: DMAI newsletter, 24th February, 2010
Date set for 2010 UK Sustainable Event Summit
Meetings and events industry professionals in search of key knowledge about reducing the environmental impact of their events will be gathering at One Wimpole Street in London on 19 April for the third annual Sustainable Events Summit. The focus for the day is on extending knowledge about sustainability, from the basics (switching the lights off and printing double sided, for example) to the more in depth. Expert speakers and panels will deal with a broad range of issues, such as transport, energy, waste, procurement, BS 8901 and social responsibility. Throughout the day other sessions will look at how technology, such as video-conferencing, could affect event sustainability, meanwhile quick-fire success stories will inspire delegates in under five minutes and questions submitted during the day and prior to the event will be directed to a panel of industry experts. For more details, visit www.sustainableeventssummit.com
Source: www.meetingsreview.com, 24th February, 2010
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