Clear View Marketing, LLC

by Janet Latremouille with WTTC.com

So your clients want to “green up” their conference. And, they’ve left it to you, the planner, to show them the way.

The organizers of this month’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) have taken some big steps (and a lot of little ones, too) to decrease the carbon footprint that comes with bringing together over 16,000 delegates from around the world.

COP15 organizers have been quite creative in their approach.

Delegates are being met at the airport with transit passes and bikes instead of the usual limousines and multi-passenger vans. And, when cars are necessary, organizers have opted for fuel-efficient hybrids.

The conference centre is being powered, in part, by wind turbines. The carpets are made from biodegradable materials, pens from recycled water bottles, and there will be no “official” conference gifts given to delegates. Water bottles have been eliminated and delegates required to get their water from water stations set up throughout the facility. Delegates who do not bring their own water containers can drink from biodegradable cornstarch cups that have been provided.
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by Janet Latremouille

As “green” becomes more important, planners who work with environmentally conscious clients need to be sure that the products and services they recommend meet environmental targets. And that includes hotels.

For event and meeting planners who are looking to “green” their events, booking clients into LEED® certified properties is an excellent start. But what exactly constitutes a LEED® certified property?

To obtain a LEED® certification, hotels must be constructed or renovated by a LEED® certified developer or builder. Under the LEED® system, builders are required to incorporate as much recycled material into their buildings as possible. Building products used in the finishing process, such as sealants, caulking, paints, etc. must be environmentally friendly. And, the building’s heating, air conditioning and plumbing systems must also be energy efficient with a focus on emissions reduction.

In North American, the move towards LEED® certification for hotels has been sporadic. According to Lodging Magazine, there are only a handful of certified hotels in the US and Canada. However, there are also over 500 hundred hotels registered to go through the certification process. Continue reading…