Cobo Center Makes More Sustainable Strides in 2019

March 28, 2019

In yet another example of its ambition to become one of the greenest convention centers in the nation, Detroit’s Cobo Center has been taking more progressive green steps as it actively moves toward a more sustainable future.

Last week, the facility achieved venue recertification from the Event Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange/American Society for Testing and Materials International (APEX/ASTM) Sustainable Meeting Standard, which focuses on the evaluation and selection of venues for environmentally sustainable meetings, events, trade shows and conferences.

As the ninth U.S. convention facility to achieve this certification, Cobo was initially certified in 2015.

“Each year we strengthen our green operations and our contribution to the greater Detroit sustainability action agenda, [and] 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for our green team,” said Claude Molinari, general manager of SMG/Cobo Center.

Meanwhile, Cobo’s very active Green Committee has been working to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a globally recognized rating system for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of green buildings developed by the U.S Green Building Council.

Earlier this year, the Committee also upped the ante on its waste diversion program during the North American International Auto Show, held Jan. 14-27 at Cobo.

The result of this effort was a 60 percent diversion rate representing 95 tons of material — the highest waste diversion rate the facility had ever achieved during the month of January. It was also a vast improvement compared to a 31 percent and an 18 percent diversion rate during 2018 and 2017 NAIAS, respectively.

This ambitious green strategy involved staff training, staff designations, composting procedures, new policies for bottle collection and handling, as well as new post-event donation handling program that yielded 20 percent of NAIAS’ 60-percent diversion rate.

Collecting and donating materials left from the show’s exhibits also made a sizable dent in what went to landfill after NAIAS. As of last year, materials including carpet, trees, wood, metal and flooring, as well as clothing, food and various attendee giveaways are now set aside after big events and then donated to local area nonprofits. This not only prevents usable items from going into the waste stream but also contributes to a more sustainable economy, according to Cobo officials.

SB

All these green achievements haven’t escaped the notice of the trade show industry, particularly environmentally minded show organizers seeking to partner with suppliers and venues demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices.

For the second time in two years, Cobo Center was chosen as the host site for Sustainable Brands, the annual global flagship conference for brand innovators and sustainability professionals, which will run June 4-6.

“Cobo’s commitment to innovation and sustainability has demonstrated how leadership and teamwork can achieve very high goals,” said Sustainable Brands Director of Business Development and Event Strategy, David Fiss, who is also the president of the EIC Sustainability Initiative’s Northern California Chapter and former member of EIC Sustainability Leadership Council.

He continued, “Doing so helps our event meet our sustainability goals, educate our attendees, and encourage other suppliers to the meeting and events industry to do the same. A sustainable event is more thoughtful and creates a better participant experience.”

Meanwhile, Cobo intends to keep raising the bar with its green practices, according to Molinari.

“Getting recertified to the APEX/ASTM Green Meeting Standard and hosting Sustainable Brands for the second time signals that our efforts are truly world-class,” he said.

Check out this video about Cobo’s green event donation program HERE.

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.