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Green Meetings Initiatives
On this page you'll find:- Green Meetings Industry Council
- Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
- International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus - Sustainable Tourism
- Green Hotel Initiatives
- Green Hotels Standards
- Related EPA Programs
Green Meeting Industry Council
What is the Green Meeting Industry Council?
The Green Meeting Industry Council is an important source of knowledge and expertise about sustainability in the meetings, incentives, events and conference industry. GMIC helps its members and the industry understand and achieve the benefits of sustainable practices by increasing the environmental performance, social value and business impact of their events and meetings. The Council is comprised of individual members and supporting businesses seeking to transform the meetings market to support green meetings.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
The Green Meeting Industry Council provides:
- Education: To inspire and motivate meeting professionals to action to address sustainability by developing and providing resources that enable adoption of green meeting practices.
- Community: Bring planners and suppliers together to create green meetings by providing networking and information sharing, including an annual conference
. - Recognition: Increase the profile of innovators in the green meetings field through awards and media coverage.
- Control: Standardize sustainable meeting practice by providing a certified qualification for green meeting professionals.
- Research & Policy: Provide credible and relevant data, expertise and policy to assist professionals in making informed and intelligent decisions.
In addition to the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) web site the GMIC also hosts Bluegreen Meetings as a free resource site for meeting professionals, providing tips and information about how to start greening their meetings.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
For further information visit Green Meeting Industry Council , or contact:
Green Meeting Industry Council
6220 NE Glisan, Portland, Oregon 97213
Tel: 503.731.8971
Fax: 503.261.0964
Email: info@greenmeetings.info
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)
What is MPI?
Meeting Professionals International, a global meetings industry community, provides innovative knowledge and learning experiences for its more than 22,000 worldwide members, connecting people and ideas and creating marketplace opportunities. Founded in 1972, the Dallas-based organization delivers global human connections through its 68 chapters and clubs in 20 countries around the world.
MPI is committed to reducing the environmental and climate impact of meetings around the world. Recycling, reducing paper waste and forging environmentally-conscious business partnerships are a few of the steps MPI is taking down a "greener" path. Additionally, MPI continues to elevate the conversation among its global community about corporate social responsibility and sustainability by slating these vital topics in professional education conferences and events and insightful blogs on the Meeting Professionals International Web site.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Bob Tess (btess@mpiweb.org)
International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB)
What is IACVB?
Dedicated to sustainable tourism the IACVB represents over 1,100 professional members from over 480 bureaus in 30 countries. The association was founded in 1914 to promote sound professional practices in the solicitation and servicing of meetings and conventions. IACVB's member bureaus represent travel/tourism-related businesses at the local and regional level. They also serve as the primary contact point for a broad universe of convention, meeting, and tour professionals.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Green Hotel Initiatives
The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) - Green Hotel Initiative
What is CERES?
CERES is a non-profit organization and national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
The Green Hotel Initiative (GHI) is a CERES program designed to increase and demonstrate market demand for environmentally responsible hotel services. The GHI's work is focused on educating purchasers of hotel services, creating vehicles for purchasers to express their demand for green hotel services, and providing mechanisms for hotels to communicate their environmental performance. CERES' annual conference is designed to demonstrate green practices that meeting planners and hotels can implement. CERES draws on tools like the Best Practices Survey and Guest Request cards-- both of which are available at Ceres for others to score hotels' green practices and help drive environmental demands of hotel services.
CERES' Best Practice Survey
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Beth Ginsberg
Manager, Corporate Accountability Program
CERES
99 Chauncy Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
tel: 617-247-0700, ext. 21
fax: 617-267-5400
Beth Ginsberg (ginsberg@ceres.org)
Marilyn Castriotta (castriotta@ceres.org)
Ceres
"Green" Hotels Association
What is "Green" Hotels Association?
"Green" Hotels Association's purpose is to bring together hotels interested in environmental issues. From adding "Drinking water served on request only" to the menu to installing new HVAC systems, and with every measure in between, "Green" Hotels Association encourages, promotes and supports the "greening" of the lodging industry.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
Hotel managers, chief engineers and executive housekeepers do not have the time to search out all the water- and energy-saving ideas that apply to the hospitality industry. Consequently, "Green" Hotels Association® has devoted itself to that purpose. On joining, members receive a comprehensive list of suggestions and ideas on how to reduce the hotel's impact on our environment.
GHA's free "Meeting Planners Questionnaire" asks 43 pertinent questions designed to reveal the greenness of a hotel, lodging establishment or convention center. Areas covered by the questionnaire include recycling, purchasing of recycled or recyclable items, food and beverage service, bottle deposits, leftover food, meeting materials, guestroom amenities, guestroom linens, water and energy conservation. Each question may be answered Yes or No and examples or further information may be inserted. When planning meetings or conventions, the questionnaire can be faxed or e-mailed to any number of hotels or conference or convention centers.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Patty Griffin
green@greenhotels.com
"Green" Hotels Association
The Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State Program
What is The Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State Program?
The Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State Program is an environmental excellence and business recognition program for Vermont hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. Green Hotels are those establishments that have met environmental standards of excellence.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
The lodging industry in Vermont, with nearly 20,000 guest rooms, is already said to be one of the greenest in the nation. Vermont innkeepers are recognized as leaders in environmental management and environmental protection. Lodging facilities that participate in the program enjoy: profits associated with reduced waste and resource use; region-wide marketing of their business as an environmental leader; free technical assistance; increased market share from environmentally conscious guests; and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their business is doing it's part to preserve Vermont's environment.
GHGMS also has a set of green standards for the lodging industry: Maine's Environmental Leader Certification
Lodging Businesses
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Peter Crawford
Vermont Small Business Development Center
Regulatory Assistance Program, Director
PO Box 188
Randolph Center, VT 05061
802-728-1423
Fax. 802-728-3026
Vermont Small Business Development Center
Vermont Environmental Assistance Partnership
Vermont Small Business Development Center Regulatory Assistance Program
Vermont Business Environmental Partnership
NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) - Hospitality Sector
What is the NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center?
The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) is a nonprofit organization that is the Northwest's leading source of high quality, unbiased pollution prevention information. Created in 1991, the organization has a half-million dollar budget and serves the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. PPRC has established itself in the Northwest and nationally as an essential resource for pollution prevention.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
PPRC has compiled an information resource listing for the hospitality sector. Although this list just scratches the surface of P2 possibilities, it does provide a good springboard for those who are interested in P2 and hospitality and are not sure where to start.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Green Hotels Standards
Green Seal - Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties
What is Green Seal?
Green Seal is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the environment by promoting the manufacture and sale of environmentally responsible consumer products. Green Seal sets environmental standards and awards a "Green Seal of Approval" to products that cause less harm to the environment than other similar products.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
Green Seal has partnered with the lodging industry, the nation's second largest employer, to support the notion of ecotourism. Green Seal's campaign to educate hotels and motels focuses on how environmental efforts improve the bottom line and benefit the environment. Green Seal has also initiated a certification program for facilities that meet leadership standards in green management planning and practices.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Hotel Association of Canada - Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program
What is the Hotel Association of Canada?
Founded in 1913, the Hotel Association of Canada is the national organization representing the accommodation industry in Canada. Their membership encompasses the provincial and territorial hotel associations, the corporate hotel chains, independent hotels, motels and resorts and the many suppliers to the hotel industry. Their objective is to assist both our national and international members as they endeavor to enhance their competitiveness and achieve their bottom line.
What green meetings/hotels work do they do?
The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) has developed and maintained the HAC Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for the Canadian hotel industry. The Program involves a graduated rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels and resorts committed to improving their environmental performance. The Program recognizes a hotel's achievements through the award of one to five Green Leafs; one leaf is given for a basic commitment to environmental principles, and two through five leaves are awarded for specific results achieved. This program incorporates a graduated rating system which is consistent with other accommodation grading systems, and which can be easily recognized and understood by the general public.
Who should I contact with questions or for more information?
Related EPA Programs
Energy Star Program
What is Energy Star?
Energy Star is a voluntary partnership between the US Department of Energy, the EPA, product manufacturers, local utilities, and retailers. Partners help promote efficient products by labeling with the Energy Star logo and educating consumers about the benefits of energy efficiency.
What does it offer?
The program includes initiatives for Energy Star Small Business, Energy Star Buildings and Greenlights, Methane Outreach, and Energy Star Labeling of Buildings.
How do I find out more about it?
Indoor Environments Division
What is the Initiative?
The EPA is tackling the problems associated with maintaining building Indoor Environmental Quality through a collection of cutting-edge voluntary and informational programs. EPA's Indoor Environments Program promotes the use of integrated, whole building approaches to protect occupant health while saving energy and money.
What does it offer?
The program focuses on major building types including offices and institutional buildings, schools, homes, as well as major cross-cutting indoor air quality issues like mold and moisture. EPA offers resources from informational pamphlets to interactive CD-ROMs on how everyone from builders to homeowners can improve their indoor environment.
How do I find out more about it?
WasteWise
What is the Initiative?
WasteWise is a free, voluntary, EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response program
through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste, benefiting
their bottom line and the environment. WasteWise is a flexible program
that allows partners to design their own solid waste reduction programs
tailored to their needs.
What does it offer?
As a WasteWise partner, your organization can save thousands or millions
of dollars by reducing, reusing, and recycling solid waste materials.
How do I find out more about it?
WaterSense
What is the Initiative?
WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is to protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. Saving water is easy-many products are already available for use, and it doesn't require changing the way most of us live or do business. By choosing products labeled through the WaterSense program, you know you'll be saving water for future generations.
How do I find out more about it?
WaterSense