Advito Unveils Groundbreaking, ISO-Certified Emissions Calculator for Events

August 19, 2022

Advito, a leading global travel consultancy, has partnered with BCD Meetings and Events (BCD M&E) to create the industry’s first carbon emissions calculator that is certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and designed to help event professionals reduce the overall environmental impact of their programs.  

The innovative event tech tool was developed in response to BCD M&E’s needs to factor sustainability into their event strategies and their desire to understand and measure the non-traditional elements contributing to overall emissions. 

With the calculator, Advito and BCD M&E are aiming to empower their clients to make the environmental impact of their meetings and events a central element of their planning process and drive the industry toward a more sustainable future.

While created for BCD M&E, the calculator is available to other event organizers. 

Advito’s sustainable collaboration practice lead, Julien Etchanchu, led the development of the calculator based on the consultancy’s ISO-certified carbon emissions scale, GATE4. 

“We know that the industry standard for measuring emissions across all four travel categories isn’t granular enough to capture the true environmental impact of a meeting or event,” Etchanchu said. “So we developed our calculator to ensure clients are getting a true picture of their footprint.”

The ISO certification means that the emissions figures can be included in annual financial reporting as recognized carbon calculations, and that the methodologies are accurate, robust and compliant with internationally recognized greenhouse gas measurement and reporting standards, according to Etchanchu.

The calculator allows event professionals to input a wide range of data in the pre-event planning stage to understand the impact of their choices and the levers they can adjust to decrease emissions. It is designed to not only provide a way to drive more conscious decisions when choosing a destination, venue and other event design elements, but to also consider non-emissions-related impacts like plastic use, water waste and more. It will persuade decision-makers to choose more sustainable options, and the insights gleaned from the calculator will educate organizers and attendees on key sustainability issues. 

“Sustainability has been the biggest topic in the meetings and events industry for the past year,” said Charlene Rabideau, managing director of North America for BCD M&E. “We are thrilled to be able to offer our clients the industry’s most robust emissions calculator that [not only] considers traditional elements, like the venue, giveaways and food, but also measures the most important contributor to overall emissions—where attendees are coming from and how they are getting there. 

He added, “We want to give meeting planners the tools they need to look at things like economy versus business class flights for attendees, airport transfer options and even the percentage of vegetarian meals to help significantly reduce the emissions impact of their programs.”

The new emissions calculator is currently available through Advito to help event organizers and anyone involved in the decision-making process for events to make data-driven, sustainable choices.

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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