Oregon Convention Center Achieves Highest Level of International Sustainability Standard Certification
August 15, 2014
The Oregon Convention Center has been certified to the highest level of a new international sustainability standard.
OCC achieved Level Four certification for the ASTM Standard pertaining to the evaluation and selection of venues for environmentally sustainable meetings, events, trade shows and conferences.
The venue standard is one of nine standards introduced by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events in industry in 2012 to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner.
“We are proud and excited to be the first convention center to attain Level Four of the ASTM Venue certification,” said Scott Cruickshank, executive director of the OCC.
He added, “Certification to the industry’s global standard at its highest level is further evidence of OCC’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.”
Earlier this year, the convention center earned LEED Platinum re-certification as an existing building, and, in 2013, it was re-designated a Salmon Safe facility based upon its design and use of storm water runoff.
“This is great news for the Oregon Convention Center and all of us working to make Portland a more sustainable destination choice for convention planners,” said Jeff Miller, president and CEO of Travel Portland, the destination and marketing organization for Portland.
Travel Portland obtained Level One certification to the ASTM Destination Standard in 2013.
The ASTM Venue Standard delineates the procedural requirements for venue selection – the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the facility for an event.
The standard states specific performance criteria for staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement, and community partners. The standards were created in partnership with ASTM International, an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.
iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, a non-profit international auditing organization headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, development the certification protocols for ASTM standards and performed the independent third party certification of OCC’s compliance with the venue standard.
“Our certification of the event sustainability standards driven by GMIC and now adopted by the Oregon Convention Center continues our long-standing partnership with the event industry to promote transparency,” said Glenn Hansen, CEO of BPA Worldwide.
Partner Voices
HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates.
Water Stewardship Efforts
MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship.
In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step.
MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts.
Caring for One Another
MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include:
Unserved perishable prepared foods from events
Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens
Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses
The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.
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