Sep 05
Ashley ChalmersNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows APEX, green meetings, meeting education, meeting industry
APEX – The Accepted Practices Exchange, part of the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has instituted a new council to oversee:
1. new initiatives, including green meeting and exhibit data standards
2. relevancy of the seven existing initiatives, created with input from over 5,600 people
Since APEX relies so heavily on the input of meeting planners and suppliers, the Standards Review Council’s updates will help the industry to stay on top of changing times.
Check out APEXsolution.org to see how you can become involved!
Jul 31
Ashley ChalmersNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows green meetings, meeting industry, meeting planner feedback
What’s green and what’s not? Tell us what you think…
…For example, attendees snap up bottled water at conventions because it’s healthy, but it creates plastic waste.
Are strategically placed water coolers with paper cups just as good?
Jul 11
Ashley ChalmersMember News, News environmental-friendly, green meetings, hotels, LEED-certification, Starwood Hotels
The nation’s first LEED-certified hotel brand, element by Starwood, has just opened its first hotel!
element Lexington, in Lexington, MA, celebrated its grand opening on July 1. The property is a mix of smart design and eco-chicness. It will be the concept lab for the brand.
How do you think the element brand will impact non-eco friendly hotels? Will the environment impact your property selection for your next meeting? Or is element appealing to a niche market?
Mar 31
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners environmental concern, green meetings
As environmental concerns continue to heighten on a global level, there is a growing trend among hotels and resorts to “go green.”
One innovative property, Beaver Hollow, located between Rochester and Buffalo, New York, is literally going “miles” to improve its environmental profile. That’s because this resort is literally miles wide, with 300 acres of property.
From its inception, the resort has been dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of its surroundings. But now it is going a step further.
“We are going green,” declares Kathy Snyder Egan, Executive Vice President of Sales, “and we’re really excited about it!”
The resort is registered through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Registered properties reduce operating costs and increase asset value, are healthier and safer for occupants, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and waste sent to landfills.
Egan says the resort is determined to take advantage of all the ways it can become more environmentally friendly. Some examples, which many types of properties can easily implement, include:
• Provide guests with paper shredders free upon request .
• Give guests the option of not having sheets and towels washed every day or have toiletries replaced every day.
• Eliminate phosphates from detergents used for washing linens and dishes.
• Provide large coolers of water throughout the resort with glassware (except for outdoor locations) instead of providing bottled water, which generates plastic bottle waste.
• Recommend a local tour company with a commitment to being as green as possible, including offering hybrid vehicles.
• Provide meeting planners with tips for being green with their meetings.
Read more about Beaver Hollow’s innovative energy saving practices.
What is your property doing for the environment? If you are planning a meeting, is finding a green location a priority? If so, what specifically, do you look for?
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