Events Industry Launches Global Sustainability Principles

February 6, 2019

Last month, representatives of global events, tourism and sustainability bodies ushered in the new year with the launch of four Principles for Sustainable Events designed to guide and motivate event organizers worldwide to embrace and implement green practices.  

This multi-stakeholder group, convened by the Events Industry Council (EIC) through two forums held during IMEX in Frankfurt and Las Vegas, agreed that the focus of these principles should include:

  • Shared responsibility for implementation and communication between event organizers and suppliers
  • Identification of basic environmental practices
  • Key social considerations
  • Pathways to support thriving economic practices

The Principles for Sustainable Events encourage organizations and practitioners to adopt practices that foster collaboration with a simple but powerful message: By working together, event planners and suppliers can support a healthy natural environment, resilient communities and culture, and thriving economies.

“The potential to transform our industry through the widespread adoption of sustainable events principles is inspiring,” said Tina Wehmeir, chair of the EIC board of directors.

She continued, “Developed with extensive global input and derived from an examination of industry standards, global sustainability frameworks and alignment with the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, we are confident these principles will serve to unify the events industry’s commitment to a more sustainable world.”

Given the volume and visibility of the global events industry, with millions of events generating more than $1 trillion USD in direct spending each year, events represent an enormous opportunity to increase sustainability on the ground as well as raise awareness among individuals and organizations, according to Hillary Green, program officer of the Sustainable UN Initiative (SUN), UN Environment.

“Meetings and events are also important tools used by the United Nations System to further the Sustainable Development Goals and the wider Agenda 2030,” Green said. “The Principles for Sustainable Events are concordant with similar work taking place at the UN and can be an initial guide to assist all actors involved in the events industry in accelerating the transformation towards a sustainable, climate-neutral world.”

To review these groundbreaking principles and join the movement of more than 60 endorsers that include global industry associations, multinational companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises from 13 countries, go HERE.

 

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Partner Voices
Dallas already boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, award-winning global cuisine, and a walkable downtown. But we are just getting started. Visit Dallas is thrilled to announce that the city of Dallas is doubling down with a massive new convention center and entertainment district. Featuring 800,000 square feet of exhibit area, 260,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 170,000 square feet of ballroom. The center will connect business travelers with dining and shopping options in the popular Cedars District means more places to get down to business, and even more ways to unwind. “Dallas is already a great meetings and conventions destination, with the accessibility of two major airports, affordable labor, and an outstanding hotel product,” said D. Bradley Kent, Visit Dallas senior vice president and chief sales officer. “The new center and Convention Center District will enhance Dallas’ competitive position and are exactly what our customers’ need and have been asking for." What’s New – AT&T Discovery District Located in the heart of Downtown Dallas, this new district on the AT&T corporate campus is tailor-made for groups of all sizes. It boasts a multi-sensory experience, including outdoor event space, the AT&T Theater, and multiple dining outlets including JAXON Beer Garden and The Exchange, a bustling food hall. Hotels Coming Soon Names like the JW Marriott (Downtown), lnterContinental Dallas (Uptown), and Hotel Swexan (Uptown) are adding luxury amenities and bountiful event spaces. The projects will debut in 2023 and beyond. JW Marriott This new, 15-story, 283-room hotel will open in the heart of the city’s downtown Arts District this year. The property features a 25,000-square-foot grand ballroom, as well as a spa, restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck and bar. InterContinental Dallas  Located in Cityplace Tower in Uptown, InterContinental Dallas will feature sweeping panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. Guests will enjoy spacious, high-end rooms and amenities, including more than 21,000 square feet of event space.   Hotel Swexan Hotel Swexan, a new, 22-story luxury property, is rising in Uptown’s Harwood District and will make its mark on the Dallas skyline. Opening this year, it is a sculptural building with cantilevered upper floors, as well as a 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool and a hidden underground lounge.