Many event and meeting planners are still learning what they may and may not expect from venues when it comes to sustainability requirements. But it is reasonable to now expect that many venues should be ready and able to answer questions – or even lead some discussions on the topic of sustainability efforts/initiatives.
This is probably a relief to some planners who may be considering sustainability and recycling issues for the first time. Still, planners can bring themselves quickly up to speed if they are familiar with a few key expectations.
Elizabeth Henderson, CMM, CMP, M.E. Des., director of corporate responsibility for Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, offers the following baseline to help planner understand when a venue is genuine about its sustainability efforts:
- A policy
- Training of staff
- Programs in place/actions being currently implemented
- Certifications
- Effort to include their supply chain and align purchasing strategies
- Willingness to commit on paper
Georgia Aquarium: a Sustainable Venue Selected for MPI’s MeetDifferent
MPI took sustainability into consideration when it chose Atlanta venues and hotels for MeetDifferent, February, 2009. Each of the venues were able to demonstrate its commitment to these initiatives.
MPI held the opening night reception at Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world. Atlanta experienced a drought in the fall of 2007, which triggered a request from the Governor of Georgia to request businesses to cut back on water use by 10% to help avert the crisis – probably a big challenge to an aquarium venue.
However, through measures such as banning water use for landscaping, capturing condensation from cooling units, and installing waterless urinals, this facility was able to reduce its water use by an astounding 23.63%. And the Aquarium educates the public about conservation through its educational programs.
The Georgia Aquarium is investigating new methods to conserve even more and in doing so, is becoming a leader in conservation in the community. More information about conservation projects at Georgia Aquarium.
Other Sustainable Venues used for MeetDifferent
The convention portion of the conference was held at the Georgia World Congress Center, a member of the US Green Building Council, and currently pursuing a LEED designation for existing buildings. According to MPI, the Georgia World Congress Center is focusing on the areas of air quality, waste minimization, energy and water conservation, environmental purchasing, recycling and employee education. Areas of focus include air quality, energy efficiency, environmental purchasing, waste minimization and water conservation.
The MPI Foundation held its event fundraiser as a blackjack tournament at the World of Coca Cola, one of the few LEED-certified buildings in Atlanta. The World of Coca Cola is water efficient, it uses “green” materials in its construction (such as recycled plastic bottles to make its carpets and bamboo, a renewable plant, for other flooring), and it is 30% more energy efficient than called for under Atlanta City building codes. The World of Coca Cola also incorporates efficient use of recycling methods throughout its facility, and incorporates ideas of sustainability into events as well.
The closing reception was held at the Marriott Marquis, which begins its information on environmental sustainability with the phrase “I think that on this planet we are all guests.” And it delivers:
- Recycles 5 million gallons of water annually from laundry usage.
- Reduced energy consumption by 32% from base year.
- 19% reduction in natural gas usage and 32% reduction in electricity usage