Clear View Marketing, LLC

Published by Paola Osorio on February 21, 2010

This afternoon I attended the knowledge session, “This is not your mother’s green meeting! How to make your green meetings fun and inventive”, presented by Cathy Kretz of Travel Portland, Cindy Wallace of the Oregon Convention Center, and Joanna Kysler of Doubletree Hotel Portland.

This session was all about new and innovative ways to incorporate exciting green elements into meetings. From venue selection to recycling programs, the presenters covered the many ways that a meeting could be make more eco-friendly. We were advised to make demands of our suppliers and to let them know that if they wanted our business they would have to develop better practices and be more environmentally friendly.
Continue reading…

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.
Continue reading…

Last week, Lindsay Coulter, the “Queen of Green” at The David Suzuki Foundation, talked with WTTC.com’s Janet Latremouille about what her role at the foundation and what actions planners could take to decrease the environmental footprint of their meetings and events.

After the interview, Lindsay was kind enough to provide us with a list of links and resources compiled by the foundation especially for the meetings, incentives, conventions and events industry. For more information, visit The David Suzuki Foundation Website or use the site’s search engine to find additional resources and comments helpful to the industry. You can also contact the foundation with your specific questions by emailing contact@davidsuzuki.org. There is also the option to sign your company up for the David Suzuki “At Work” Program. Follow the link to read some of the program’s success stories.

Resources Links:

How-to Guide To Doing Business in a New Climate (Book, PDF)

How to Host a Sustainable, Carbon Neutral Conference of Other Events

Other Ways To Make Your Event More Sustainable

Guide To Making Sense of Paper Labels (PDF)

Guide To Offset Vendors (PDF)

by: Janet Latremouille
Hotels reduce their use of water and chemicals by giving guests the option of reusing their towels. Restaurants source local suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint. Planners make sure that their suppliers recycle plates and glassware. Many companies in our industry are trying to act “green”. But truthfully, it’s sometimes difficult to know how effective their efforts are.

The hospitality industry has taken steps to create “green” designations for hotels, restaurants and service suppliers. Many hotels are committed to building “green,” working with developers who build buildings that are LEED certified. Houston-based “Green” Hotels Association is building a green hotel community and a green marketplace that features environmentally responsible suppliers. The Hotel Association of Canada has its “green key” designation while the American Hotel & Lodging Association provides comprehensive guidelines to help the industry “green up.” Continue reading…

By Rachel Ricks with “In the Scene Limousine”

There is a lot of talk these days about going “green” – saving the planet is a serious issue. And our fossil fuels are being depleted because of our huge consumption of oil in America. But realistically, limousine companies are already green just by their nature! Chauffeured transportation companies have larger vehicles so people can carpool. Carpooling and mass transportation are big components of saving fossil fuels! Continue reading…