Korea’s Incheon CVB Achieves International Green Meeting Certification
January 25, 2016
The Incheon Convention & Visitors Bureau, located in Incheon, South Korea, has become the latest convention and visitors bureau to be certified to an international sustainability standard for the meetings and event industry.
The Incheon CVB achieved certification to the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Destinations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows and Conferences.
The Destinations standard is one of the nine standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers around the world with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner.
Yoo Jeong-bok, mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, said, “We are excited to be the first destination in Asia to attain ASTM Destination certification. All of us who are working to make Incheon a choice destination for conventions and exhibitions applaud this achievement and congratulate the Incheon CVB team.”
The ASTM Destinations Standard delineates the procedural requirements for destination selection - the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the location for an event.
The standard specifies 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.
Roger Simons, president GMIC (Green Meeting and Industry Council), the non-profit professional meetings association that led the development of the ASTM Sustainable Meeting Standards, added, “Hearty congratulations to the Incheon Convention & Visitors Bureau on their successful certification to APEX/ASTM and their continuing commitment to environmental stewardship. Certification is a solid indicator that Incheon is a leader in sustainable business for our industry."
iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, a non-profit international auditing organization headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut developed the certification protocols for the ASTM standards and performed the independent third-party certification of the Incheon Convention & Visitors Bureau’s compliance with the Destinations standard.
Glenn Hansen, CEO of BPA Worldwide, said, "Certification to the industry’s green meeting standards continues to gain traction. We are delighted to be part of this important effort to improve the sustainability of the event industry.”
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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