CVB Execs Say Planners Set Tone for Green Meetings

Sep 29

Ashley ChalmersNews cvbs, green meetings No Comments

When it comes to making sure that cities, convention centers, and hotels offer “green meeting” options, one thing is clear: Meeting professionals are in the driver’s seat.

At a recent Convene Green Alliance (CGA) Focus Forum event in Washington, DC, a panel of three convention and visitors bureau executives spoke to a group of meeting professionals about green meetings.

All three executives emphasized that green programs are buyer demand driven, and each of them encouraged planners to let destinations and properties know that they must have sustainability programs in order to win meetings.

Jason Fulvi, CDME, Executive Director of Convention Sales for VisitPittsburgh, explained,

“Planners can not only influence companies but also local governments – they are the ones who need to approve money to make things happen.”

When the recommendation for sustainability programs comes directly from the meeting planner buyer, it carries some weight.

Michael Smith, Vice President of Convention Sales for Travel Portland cited an example:

“The Portland City Council was talking to a major fraternal organization a few years ago, thanking them for bringing their business to the city, and one of the leaders spoke to them sternly about the green issue and the need for more initiatives.”

Smith noted that this got the attention of the mayor and that it helped for him to hear the importance of green initiatives from the organization.

One Focus Forum attendee, whose association requires a city’s compliance with a laundry list of green initiatives, understands the value of meeting planners and association executives in driving environmental change. She cited examples of green initiatives that cities and hotels have made in order to win her organization’s meeting business.

The Convene Green Alliance is the premiere organization dedicated to helping associations to green their organizations and the meetings and events they host. To learn more about the CGA and future educational Focus Forums, visit www.convenegreen.com.

Does your association have green meetings requirements? How do you achieve them?