Top 10 Green Locations for Your Next Trade Show

August 9, 2014

Shane Shirley

Shane Shirley is CMO for SBS Brands, a 90-year-old global brand leader focused on creating digital and print business solutions that offers traditional and eco-friendly customized promotional products to accelerate trade show marketing.

A substantial contributing factor to the greenness of your trade show is the venue itself. Many convention centers are making huge strides to streamline recycling and reduce water consumption while an increased emphasis on green construction processes allows a complex to be green throughout. There are a lot of factors that will help you zero in on the ideal venue for your event, but consider how green a venue itself is before booking.

Here are 10 of the top green locations for your next trade show in no particular order.

1.      Raleigh’s Convention Center boasts Silver LEED Certification along with an optimized HVAC system and water-reduction measures.

2.      The Los Angeles Convention Center holds a certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

3.      In Pittsburgh the David L. Lawrence Convention Center features Gold LEED Certification in new construction and Platinum LEED Certification in existing building.

4.      The Orange County Convention Center is located in Orlando and features LEED and ISO Certification, as well as APEX ASTM (APEX) Certification.

5.      At the Oregon Convention Center the building features an impressive Platinum LEED Certification and the facility offers extensive waste recycling and recovery programs.

6.      The Colorado Convention Center has achieved ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows and Conferences (E2774-11) Certification while also utilizing alternate sources of energy and reducing waste and water consumption.

7.      The Phoenix Convention Center boasts a comprehensive recycling program, water and energy efficiency and a Silver LEED Certification.

8.      In Sacramento the Convention Center Complex is certified by the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) in their Green Energy program and they use Green-e certified renewable energy.

9.      The Minneapolis Convention Center was awarded level one certification for the ASTM standard pertaining to the evaluation and selection of venues for environmentally sustainable events. They are also are rapidly working towards goals to reduce energy and water consumption.

10.  The Austin Convention Center has achieved Gold LEED Certification and is an active Energy Star Partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Did I Miss Any?

A core belief common to all of these venues is the social responsibility to care for their local communities and our shared planet, but each of these convention centers also finds other ways to provide a modern venue that lives up to the needs and standards exhibitors expect while also striving to implement environmental practices.

Location is a major determining factor when it comes to choosing the venue for your next tradeshow. You want a facility that is centrally located and easy for folks who are traveling that also has plenty of nearby hotels, restaurants and easy access to public transportation. 

But dig a little deeper, and look into the environmental practices and certifications to find the best green location for your trade show.

I am interested to know if you have any venues that should be added to the list?

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Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact