Tag: sustainability

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Eco-friendly event planning – sustainable solutions for corporates

Eco-friendly venues

Sustainability is no longer just a trend – it’s a necessity. As companies strive to reduce their environmental impact, corporate events offer a unique opportunity to showcase sustainability efforts.

Here are some sustainable solutions and important considerations for eco-friendly event planning.

Industry standards and accreditations

To ensure credibility in sustainability claims, many event companies seek out industry standards and certifications. Two key accreditations stand out in the events industry:

  • ISO 20121: This international standard focuses on sustainable event management systems. It helps organisations improve sustainability throughout the event life cycle – from sourcing materials and managing waste to reducing emissions.
  • ECOsmart: A certification tailored to the meetings and events industry by Greengage, ECOsmart helps event organisers implement sustainable practices across various areas, such as waste management, carbon reduction, and resource use. ECOsmart-certified venues and companies demonstrate a serious commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

Accreditations like these provide transparency and accountability, ensuring that sustainability initiatives are authentic and not mere “green-washing.” Beyond environmental impacts, however, companies need to expand their focus on the broader concept of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainability.

This holistic approach ensures that social equity, diversity, and governance structures are integrated into event policies for long-term impact.

Key considerations for eco-friendly corporate events

When planning a sustainable corporate event, it’s essential to think beyond just the environment. Here are some considerations for a truly eco-friendly event:

Renewable energy

Leverage renewable energy sources to power your event. This can include solar-powered lighting or energy-efficient technologies. One of the most innovative solutions today is kinetic energy dance floors. These floors convert the movement of attendees into energy, which can power small devices like photo booths or phone charging stations, adding a fun yet functional twist to large-scale events.

Sustainable venue selection

Choosing a venue that prioritises sustainability is crucial. Look for venues that use renewable energy, have robust waste management systems, and are certified by organisations like ECOsmart. These venues often have eco-friendly infrastructure and policies in place, from efficient lighting to water conservation systems.

Waste management

Reduce, reuse, and recycle should be the mantra for any eco-conscious event. Implement waste segregation at the event, and work with vendors who use sustainable materials. Offering digital alternatives, such as electronic tickets and QR codes, can also help reduce paper waste.

Sustainable catering

Source locally-produced, organic food, and consider plant-based menu options. Reducing food miles and offering sustainable choices not only lower your carbon footprint but also support local communities. Ensure that any surplus food is donated to minimise waste.

Eco-friendly transport

Encourage attendees to use public transportation, carpool, or cycle to the event. For international attendees, work with carbon-offsetting programs to balance the environmental impact of flights. Providing shuttles that use electric or hybrid vehicles is another excellent step towards reducing emissions.

Giveaways and materials

Minimise the environmental impact of event materials by choosing eco-friendly swag and recycled products. Avoid plastic and focus on useful, sustainable items such as reusable water bottles, bamboo cutlery, or digital guides instead of printed programmes.

These considerations, combined with a dedication to transparent reporting and adherence to internationally recognised standards, will not only reduce the environmental footprint of corporate events but also build a positive reputation for businesses committed to true sustainability.

Industry checkpoint

Here are a few policies from venues and hotel groups that might help your decision making process:

Hilton

Hilton Hotels has an ESG Policy and report on previous years’ objectives. Highlights of their policy include integration of EDG across the whole company, strategic ESG objectives, and its Travel with Purpose 2030 framework.

Marriott

Marriott Hotel’s ESG Policy has more ambitious goals with six objectives relating to volunteering, carbon intensity and waste reduction to complete by 2025.

Wyboston Lakes Resort

Wyboston Lakes Resort is an environmentally-friendly venue with goals of being carbon neutral by 2040, ‘Room2Grow’ and ‘Zero to Landfill’ initiatives.

ICC Wales

The ICC Wales has won RICS Social Impact Awards 2020 and has objectives to communicate and train employees in sustainable practices, developing a positive culture towards sustainability, and engaging with the local community.

Ashorne Hill

Ashorne Hill has recently been accredited for its contributions to sustainable development. Some of the key initiatives implemented include an energy saving laundry system and minimising food waste; a ‘Too Good To Go’ food diversion scheme for staff members.

Silverstone

Silverstone has become the first motor racing venue to join the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action programme. The venue also signed joined hundreds of other venues across the world in signing the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge.

QHotels Collection

The QHotels Collection’s new sustainability programme focuses on three key areas: People, Places and Planet. To remain transparent and accountable, The QHotels Collection has made several sustainability promises, including establishing a sustainable procurement and purchasing policy.

Yorkshire Event Centre

Yorkshire Events Centre walks the sustainability walk with solar panels, pump house, efficient waste management, and a vast rural landscape where it supports local wildlife.

Our global destination knowledge

These diverse destinations reflect the incredible variety of event venues available across the globe. Each city offers its own unique atmosphere, and the venues we’ve selected showcase the best of what these destinations have to offer. Whether you’re looking for modern luxury, historical grandeur, or something truly unique, there’s a venue here for every event.

Are you ready to start searching for a sustainable venue for your next event? Start planning today see the amazing venues available through EDGE.

Register today for free access, or contact Scott or Kirsty to see how our platform can help your agency or business.

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How corporate events can give back

Corporate events have long been a powerful tool for networking, team building, education, celebrating achievements, and more. Yet these events can do much more—they can be a force for good in your communities.

By integrating sustainability into event planning, companies can give back to the community and contribute to a healthier planet.

How can event planners ensure their choices align with these values? That’s where EDGE Venues comes into play.

Corporate events in community building

Corporate events are an opportunity to influence and inspire. Whatever the type of event, they bring together people, resources, and ideas. With the right approach, they can also benefit the communities in which you hold them.

For instance, companies can partner with local vendors, donate leftover food to shelters, or support local charities through fundraising activities at the event.

Skift Meetings has curated a fantastic list of ways to give back through events. The list is stacked with inventive solutions for organisations that desire to make a difference. With everything from a Charity Bike Build and Diabetes Cook-off to Paws For A Cause, Foodbank Showdown and more, the list is a must-read for event profs. Check it out here!

Why sustainability matters

The events industry is known for generating significant waste and carbon emissions, from single-use plastics to large-scale energy consumption. By prioritising sustainability, companies can reduce their environmental footprint and set a positive example for others.

When companies choose sustainable practices for their events, they help protect the environment, conserve resources, and promote social responsibility.

How can EDGE support sustainable event planning?

Planning an event with sustainability in mind can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. EDGE Venues makes it easier for event planners to make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals.

Here’s how:

1. Venue sustainability policies

One of the most significant factors in sustainable event planning is the choice of venue. EDGE Venues provides detailed information about each venue’s sustainability policies, helping planners identify locations prioritising eco-friendly initiatives.

Whether it’s energy-efficient lighting, water conservation measures, or waste reduction programmes, EDGE provides venues with the opportunity to ensure event planners have the information they need to choose a venue that aligns with their values.

2. Accreditations and certifications

In addition to sustainability policies, we also highlight venues that receive relevant sustainability accreditations and certifications.

These recognitions, such as Green Tourism Standard and Greengage ECOsmart, indicate that a venue meets high environmental and social responsibility standards.

3. Venue insights

Venues can easily share their latest sustainability initiatives and community engagement efforts on EDGE Venues. This keeps event planners informed about the newest venue initiatives.

By regularly updating their profiles with news on accreditations, eco-friendly upgrades, or local partnerships, venues can showcase their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. This helps venues stand out to planners seeking sustainable options, making it easier to choose venues that align with your values and goals for a positive community impact.

View latest venue news here.

A call to action – make sustainability a priority

As a company, you have the power to make a difference through your corporate events. By prioritising sustainability in your event planning, you can give back to the community, protect the environment, and inspire others to do the same.

We encourage all event planners to use EDGE Venues to make informed, sustainable choices for their events. Start planning today and see how EDGE can help you make a difference!

Register today for free access, or contact Scott or Kirsty to see how our platform can help your agency or business.

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How sustainable is your event destination?

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, is due to take place in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021 and with the recent extremes of weather around the world, sustainability is very much on everyone’s minds. Gradually, sustainability is becoming mainstream in the events industry, but now it has to be more than supplying reusable bags and getting rid of plastic straws.

There are huge problems to solve and these can impact the event’s budget. To be successful all the stakeholders need to address the larger issues of food waste, transport, energy, use of plastic and water consumption.

IMEX has published the Global Destination Sustainability Index which aims to promote the sustainable growth of international meeting destinations, highlighting best practices and responsible business tourism. It assesses the sustainability performance of cities and conference bureaux in four categories:

  • City environmental strategy and infrastructure
  • City social sustainability performance
  • Industry supplier support (restaurants, hotels and convention centres)
  • Convention Bureau strategy and initiatives

At the moment, 25 Scandinavian cities take part and these have been joined by destinations in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia as well as Australia. It is hoped that more destinations will participate in future. Not only will this make the tourism industry more sustainable, but improve the local region’s economy and adopt, responsible practices.

The results of the 2020 survey are as follows:

1Gothenburg, Sweden89.60%
2Copenhagen, Denmark88.00%
3Zurich, Switzerland84.60%
4Glasgow, Scotland78.50%
5Aalborg, Denmark76.20%
6Reykjavik, Iceland75.80%
7Malmö, Sweden75.60%
8Sydney, Australia74.90%
9Uppsala, Sweden74.30%
10Melbourne, Australia74.20%
11Dublin, Ireland70.90%
12Stockholm, Sweden68.50%
13Aarhus, Denmark68.00%
13Brussels, Belgium68.00%
14Lausanne-Montreux, Switzerland67.50%
15Galway, Ireland65.40%
16Barcelona, Spain64.80%
17Helsinki, Finland64.70%
18Ljubljana, Slovenia63.70%
19Oslo, Norway63.00%
20Kerry, Ireland62.70%

For more information about the sustainability of your destination, the Convention Bureau will be able to provide information.

For help or advice to book your event in a sustainable destination and venue call 01780 484051 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com, we’d be delighted to help.

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Edwardian Hotels vision for a sustainable future

Edwardian Hotels have let us know how they promote and achieve sustainability at their hotels in London and their vision for the future.

It’s not an easy task, but they continuously review and evolve their practices, partnerships and behaviour with the aim of creating a better future. It’s also in the best interest of guests, conference delegates and staff. As a result, in 2018, all Edwardian Hotels London properties were certified Gold Standard by Green Tourism Award.

Their four key initiatives look at:

  • Reduction in the use of energy
  • Minimise the carbon footprint
  • Decrease the use of water
  • Lessen food wastage

Carbon Emissions

Edwardian Hotels’ targets in this area are:

  • Between 2009 and 2016 the group reduced carbon emissions by 26.7%, against a target of 20%
  • Between 2016 and 2018 that figure increased to 30.7%, an increase of 4%
  • The company has a partnership with Tesla, promoting electric cars. Electric charging points have been installed at the Heathrow and New Providence Wharf properties, offering complimentary charging to guests

Reducing Single-Use

  • Edwardian Hotels London was one of the first hotel groups to introduce refillable shampoo, conditioner and soap in bedrooms, public and staff areas to reduce single use plastic
  • They are looking at alternative products and packaging to reduce plastic further
  • Most items in the event areas are re-usable and any items which can be recycled are done so automatically
  • Any polystyrene is sent to recycling and used to create insulation

In the wake of COVID-19, products are being reviewed to ensure they are hygienic as well as environmentally friendly wherever possible.

Reducing Waste

  • General waste has been reduced by 20% compared with 2016 and each property is aiming to reduce water use by 4% against 2018 consumption
  • The target set by the Mayor of London is to recycle 75% by 2025 and card, paper, cans, plastic bottles, glass and mixed plastics are recycled. Food waste is collected separately
  • Edwardian Hotels use Globechain, a marketplace for unneeded items.
  • The group uses GSC certified paper

Food and Beverage

  • Produce and food waste is constantly reviewed
  • Local products are used where possible
  • Coffee beans are collected and Nespresso machine pods are recycled
  • Meetings, conferences and events
  • Delegates are encouraged to use public transport
  • Items in the meeting rooms are re-usable or recyclable
  • Menus use locally sourced ingredients where possible

Charities

Cancer Research UK is the group’s corporate charity. In addition, the bars and restaurants support Springboard and each hotel has local charity partnerships.

The Londoner

  • When this hotel opens in Leicester Square, it will have achieved:
  • 30% less carbon usage that the regulations demand
  • CHP and LED lighting
  • A £175m Green Loan from HSBC. This is the first loan in this sector to encourage and facilitate environmentally friendly activity
  • ‘Excellent’ Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method rating, to sent high standards for the procurement, design, construction and operation of new developments
  • And it will have a liquid film that reduces evaporation and energy loss from the swimming pool

For more information about the individual Edwardian Hotels, search on www.edgevenues.com.

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2021: what does the future hold for conferences, meetings & events?

The ‘new normal’ is a term that we often hear, but what can we expect to happen to conferences and meetings this year and in the future?

We all want to get back to socialising and meeting again, but there is concern about safety.

The question ‘is this meeting necessary’ will become normal. Some people are fed up with virtual meetings, but others have got used to working from home, are more productive and don’t want to spend time travelling.

The Talk Talk Group has done some research in to home working productivity and discovered:

  • 58% of workers in the UK said they had been more productive because of working from home, while over half (52%) said they never expect to return to a five-day working week in the office
  • A quarter (24%) have started to learn a language over lockdown, while a nearly a fifth (18%) worked on their IT & digital skills
  • When business leaders were asked to select what the most important factors are in enabling effective working from home, 81% identified a safe, fast and reliable broadband connection
  • 40% of business leaders said they expect to invest in digital skills and training more in the future, while almost a quarter (23%) named home broadband

Large meetings -v- small meetings

So, does this mean that there will be fewer smaller meetings? Maybe not, as people do want a different experience to meeting via their phone, laptop or pc. But there are other options, such as group whiteboarding using a touchscreen or draw-on-screen computer.

Large meetings are expected to be popular, despite increasing costs. Air fares will go up as the airlines revise their timetables and plan for financial stability.

The bigger the event, the easier and more cost-effective it will be to offer the flexibility of live or virtual attendance. International attendees will have the choice of travelling or dialing in to sessions in their own time. This is likely to boost overall attendance. It also gives organisers the ability to extend the event by sharing content beforehand, during and afterwards.

Technology

We’ve all improved our technology skills in the last year and technology is a huge growth area. The tools that event organisers are using will be very different in the future to the ones they are using now.

Designers are working to improve the event experience. There’s a lot to learn about using cameras and microphones to engage the audience. Rehearsals are essential, as well as a guide to technical requirements and an emergency-backup plan.

Health, Safety and Hygiene Protocols

The hospitality industry was quick to adopt higher standards and will continue to improve their programmes. The two main accreditations in the UK are Visit Britain’s We’re Good to Go and AIM Secure. In addition, there are many others such as the HBAA and Quality in Tourism’s Safe Clean & Legal, AIPC, ICCA and UFI’s Good Practice Guide, COVID-19 Certify, COVID-19 Control, COVID-19 Aware and AA’s COVID-19 Confident. Hotel groups have introduced their own standards and best practices such as such as Hilton’s CleanStay programme, Accor’s ALLSAFE and Marriott International’s Global Cleanliness Council.

Longer hotel bookings

Hotels have introduced extended stay programs as they expect travellers to take longer, but fewer trips. It’s a case of travellers taking the opportunity when then can, rather than risking several shorter trips which could be cancelled.

Improved working facilities and technology

Hotels are expecting visitors to combine business with pleasure, so are introducing dedicated spaces (other than Business Centres or bedrooms with better working facilities and faster WIFI.

Technology is being used to reduce human contact, with online check-ins, mobile keys and room settings controlled by touchless tech.

There will be more use QR codes or scannable menus to order food and beverage. The grab-and-go options, or room service leaving a meal at the bedroom door are expected to increase.

Space and Privacy

Guests are requesting more space and privacy, so that travellers can avoid contact with strangers and relax in their own environment.

There is more demand for outside space, whether it is for meetings and events, dining, coffee breaks or leisure.

Sustainability

This trend continues as guests and event attendees want to reduce their impact on the environment. Reducing waste, the use of water and sourcing local products are all important factors.

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My thoughts on the coming year by Jacqui Kavanagh

The great news of the pace and availability of the Covid-19 vaccines is really positive for our Industry as a whole and we really welcome this change. 2020 saw our team cancel and reschedule more events than were actually being held so it has been a big challenge for us as a company and more importantly as a team.

We have used our time wisely by investing in developing our technology and plan a relaunch of our EDGE Venues platform. There will be fantastic additional functionality and exclusive content for our subscribers, both direct corporate event planners and agencies.

Further engagement opportunities are now available for our venues to share their readiness, sustainability and openness to planners when they are ready to commit. So, all in all a very productive year for EDGE venues.

We have also kept in regular contact with our buyers and suppliers with updates trend analysis, opportunities and up skilling with a series of free webinars on Digital Marketing.

However, we really want our planners to have the confidence to commit and hold events as soon as it is safe and legal to do so. A number of our buyers, who are very positive about the future have shared their concerns and insights of how the future will be different and how to be best prepared for what lies ahead. We have, of course, been keeping in close contact with our key clients and it is interesting to hear their plans for 2021 and beyond.

The views here are from senior planners in corporate organisations, representing different industry sectors. However, the message from them all is very much the same.

Venues, Space, Contracts and Pricing – insights

We are already seeing an increase in the rates quoted by venues for Q4 2021 because large events have been postponed from 2020 and early in 2021, therefore space is at a premium.

In Q4 of 2020 we saw some meetings in the category of fewer than 30 people take place and we have more booked for Q1 2021, but if circumstances change then contractual issues need to be supported, by both the venue and the client.

Our Buyers want clarity on pricing not just short term but medium and long term as well. The same with contracts, they need flexibility, clarity and most importantly fairness. There are huge questions for the venues and how prepared the are to run conferences in a post-Covid19 world.

Venues really need to be realistic about what they can deliver. The capacities need to be accurate and have the ability to maintain a level of social distancing. Venues need to be clear how they will deliver the event. The key here is flexibility, firstly, in terms of the space venues can offer and how it will be used.

Secondly, contract terms need to be flexible too while the future is uncertain. Our clients are not yet back working from their offices but expect do so during Q2 and companies need venues to adhere to their Corporate Governance.

Buyers equally need to be able to make decisions quickly to ensure they do not miss out on the space that venues are proposing but confident that it is right for their event. We are starting to see serious activity ramping up and quality decision being made.

Health and safety is still paramount. There is a big confidence issue, not just from companies asking their employees to go out and about again, but also the employees themselves being happy to do so.

Hybrid events – The future and is it the answer to everything?

We have a real mixed bag of views on this topic. As we emerge in to a new normal, there will no longer be a captive audience but lots of distractions vying for their time (which we do not have while people are working from home). When everyone is out and about again, there will need to be a very compelling story to retain the virtual audience especially with the higher costs attached to a hybrid event.

Event organisers are concerned about the cost of running a live and hybrid event, or solely hybrid event and ability, and to commercialise these events successfully. Many of us have got used to participating in free webinars or receiving streamed information whilst at home and if you’re running an event that has to make a profit then, there needs to be a fee to join.

Putting on an event that has an audience on site and is being streamed for a hybrid audience adds to the complexity. It also adds substantially to the budget, as everything needs to be filmed in addition to the live venue costs. The set may need to be designed differently, as well virtual break outs and as running a virtual coffee breaks and networking.

The additional cost may be worthwhile, as there is the ability to connect with a wider audience, particularly from overseas (we are already seeing this on very large events). There is also the ability to set up virtual pre- and post- meetings as well as access content afterwards.

Resources – Our biggest Asset our People

In normal times, acquiring quality well-trained and professional planners has always been a challenge, but budgets will be tight and there is an additional manpower cost of running live and virtual formats together.

Our clients want to get back to running multiple events and know that there is a demand for people to meet face-to-face again, but have a concern that there will be a skills shortage, due to redundancies, furlough and people leaving the events industry. They have reported back that to run hybrid events can add up to 4 times the workload. Additional skill sets are needed in technology, video, speaker management, editing and more intense pre- and post- event work to be added into the mix.

Return on Investment – Virtual Transparency a Challenge

The demands and measurement of the Return on Investment is now an even bigger challenge with different levels of metrics and expectations from a virtual/hybrid event. Delivery of a meaningful metric on the ROI on a live event against the backdrop of the deep insights a virtual event analytics dashboard can deliver will become a real challenge, as we return to face to face events.

A lot of work will now be required in this area, depending whether the conference is an internal meeting or commercial event and the industry sector. This has always been the case that when sponsorship is involved, but it will be even more important for the organiser to prove the value of the package. The visitor also needs to walk away knowing that the event was worthwhile and if anything, it has exceeded their expectations.

Sustainability – The Biggest Opportunity coming from the Pandemic

We have all experienced firsthand the benefits of a society with reduced travel, emissions and waste during this pandemic. A lot of people are now demanding that this momentum is not lost as we move forward. Corporate Governance on sustainability is now at the heart of business and we believe it will remain as we move back to a new norm.

Venues will be chosen on their ability to demonstrate their sustainability credentials in a meaningful way. How a company behaves in their everyday world will always reflect their own culture and standards, so their approach to events will reflect this in every way. We believe we will see this come more to the fore in the not too distant future. Events will be run with this in mind and our industry which has always shown resilience and creativity is very well placed to deliver this. Sustainability will be key in our journey back to a strong events industry which has a clear and well-defined place in our businesses.

2021 and beyond

We’re all looking forward to getting back to the ‘new normal’ what ever challenges it brings. I believe that the events industry will change for the better. We will come through with a more focused, flexible and stronger industry as a result.

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Moving a conference to a virtual event

virtual conference, meeting, online event

Planning and delivering a virtual event is quite a different thing to holding a conference in person. Rather than cancel or postpone, moving the event online is a solution that more organisers are looking at.

We all know the benefits of meeting people and a virtual event can’t replace that, however, there are some benefits:

  • There’s no limit on the amount of attendees
  • Sessions can be recorded so people in different parts of the world can view at their convenience
  • Engagement can be built with chatrooms, LinkedIn groups or using other social media channels
  • Links can be added to videos or documents shared for additional content
  • Sustainability – online events tick the CSR box as they are more environmentally friendly. No travel, no printing, no food waste and no plastic
  • You don’t need to worry about accommodation, catering and all those special dietary requirements!

Most event organisers have very little experience of holding virtual conferences, but we’re now using Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other platforms to have internal meetings while we are working from home, this might be the first step to larger external events. Virtual events are particularly well suited to training and educational topics, where attendees like straightforward access to information.

Presentation style

Speakers have to change their style of presentation to engage the viewers and turn them in to participants. This can be done using a variety of tools, such as polls, Q&A sessions, gamification, quizzes or anything to make them interact with each other. Remote attendees will have distractions, such as their inboxes and phone, but when people are physically in an audience, they are often still answering messages. If people are interacting frequently throughout the sessions then they will keep the connection. A virtual networking session could be included. Although some people love these at physical events, the people who don’t enjoy joining a room full of strangers are often be more confident when joining remotely.

Quality production

The better quality production of a virtual event, the better the engagement will be. To hold the attention of attendees, the presentations should be excellent, with high quality lighting, microphones, visually appealing graphics and content, and varying the camera angles to make it seem like a live event. Using a moderator can help to transition between speakers, provide continuity and a summary. Breakouts and roundtable sessions can be included to cover specialist content. Consider the decor of the speakers’ backgrounds, you might still want to provide a branded message, rather than looking at bookshelves and personal photographs which cause a distraction.

The streaming technology can be integrated in an event app, which brings everything together, but also will enable a virtual event to be changed back to a physical event in the future. When the event has finished this can be used to keep everyone in touch with each other.

Charging for a virtual event

Changing to a virtual event is a safe way to deliver an event, but at the moment a lot of these events are free for attendees. For company internal events this isn’t a problem. However for events that make money organisers need to find ways to monetize them, whether that’s through sponsorship, advertising, push notifications, payment to attend or other methods.

Virtual attendees might not be willing to pay as much for an online event because they aren’t familiar with the format. This will definitely be the case if it’s the first one you’re holding or if the content is available afterwards, but the costs will change and a new budget will have to be prepared accordingly. The costs should be lower as you don’t have the venue, catering, travel, physical production and onsite staff costs. And, you might be able to reach a wider audience. Lots of people are making money from YouTube videos already, so the concept isn’t unfamiliar to your participants.

Holding a virtual event takes some planning and online events are different. They won’t work for everything, but they are definitely worth considering while we not able to travel as we usually can.

For more information take a look at our Tips for the Virtual Meeting article.

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The Meetings Show pledge to tackle food waste

With the help of WRAP’s Guardians of Grub resources, The Meetings Show will be encouraging its exhibitors and event buyers to help cut food waste and take sustainability seriously.

WRAP’s Guardians of Grub campaign aims to tackle the £3.2 billion worth of food wasted each year across the entire hospitality and foodservice sector and aligns with the Courtauld Commitment 2025 and the Mayor of London’s objectives that were outlined in his London Environment Strategy.

As well as tackling food waste, organisers working for parent company Northstar Meetings Group, will continue to challenge suppliers to further increase the use of recyclable and reusable products at the show while educating and encouraging exhibitors not to bring single-use plastic promotional materials and paper onsite.

Part of its 40 hours of free educational sessions will continue to help address the 1.1 million tonnes of food that the UK’s hospitality and foodservice sector throws away each year, 75% of which could have been eaten.

Jack Marczewski, Northstar Meetings Group’s Event Director, said: “Since our first show in 2013, we have been making great strides to further minimise our environmental impact. All of our floor covering is recycled with 50% being reintegrated by our supplier, for example. Yet, we can always do more, not only to help minimise the impact of the show, but also continue to play our part in educating and raising awareness of the tools and resources that are available by providing a stage for the industry to share best practice.”

The announcement has been welcomed by The Meetings Show host venue Olympia London.

Abbey Short, Catering Manager at Olympia London, said: “We are proud of the progress we have made so far with WRAP’s help, having already reduced annual food waste by 17%, since signing up to Guardians of Grub in September 2019. This has also helped increase our overall waste recycling rate to over 98%. Our commitment to eradicating food waste continues; we shall continue to engage with our clients, visitors and colleagues to understand behaviours and work collaboratively until we can say we are a ‘zero food waste’, in addition to a ‘zero to landfill’ venue.”

The capital’s international promotional agency, London & Partners, similarly welcomed the news as it has been working alongside the Mayor of London, WRAP and event tourism organisations, such as The Meetings Show to focus efforts on its key city targets.

Paul Black, Head of Business Events at London & Partners, said: “We are delighted that Olympia London and The Meetings Show are demonstrating strong commitment and action to reducing food waste working with WRAP at this year’s show and other events. The Mayor of London 2018 Environmental Plan has set out clear city targets to achieve in the coming years and the event industry has a fundamental role to play by convening the key people and companies necessary to take positive and immediate action”

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues said: “We’re delighted to see The Meetings Show joining the fight to reduce food waste. We estimate that food waste, including food packaging, makes up around 30 per cent of London’s municipal waste. The Mayor has set strong targets in his Environment strategy to cut food waste by 50 per cent by 2030.

“Through our London Business Climate Leaders programme we’ve worked with major businesses to help them become more sustainable and cut emissions. It’s great to see the capital’s events and hospitality sectors are joining us to tackle this challenge.”

Marcus Gover, CEO of WRAP, said: “We will not tackle the impact of global warming if we don’t fix the food system, and everyone needs to play their part. If everyone in the hospitality and foodservice industry put as much passion into reducing waste as they do into creating delicious food, it would make a massive difference to cutting the damage food waste is doing to our planet. Guardians of Grub provides the tools to help everyone to reduce food waste without compromising on quality, or customer experience, and save money. It’s a double win; for the environment and for business.”

Meanwhile, Northstar Meetings Group has agreed to a ‘Better Meetings, Better Future’ partnership with Positive Impact and will be looking to introduce similar pledges across its portfolio of events. The company produces more than 80 face-to-face events in 13 countries in retail travel, hospitality, corporate travel, travel technology, sports travel, and the meetings and incentive industry.

For more information about The Meetings Show, visit www.themeetingsshow.com. EDGE Venues will exhibiting – make sure you pop by our stand to say hello!

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Radisson Hotel Group driving plastic reduction

Radisson Hotel Group is launching a global roll-out plan of plastic reduction. This includes the introduction of bulk amenities in all hotels across the group’s portfolio by 2022.

Radisson Hotel Group will implement bulk amenity dispensers across all brands by the beginning of 2022, replacing small bottles for common bathroom products.

This action will remove 57 million miniature amenities from circulation, avoiding the use of almost 500 tons of plastic annually.

In addition, Radisson Hotel Group has a global commitment to #refusethestraw. This ensures plastic straws and plastic stirrers are no longer used in its hotels by 2021. Eco-friendly alternatives will be offered to guests upon request.

Federico González Tejera, chief executive, Radisson Hospitality, said: “Plastic pollution is one of the current major global issues and our Group is proud to play a leading role in driving plastic reduction across the travel and tourism industry.”

The group is running a series of innovative pilot projects aiming to find new ways to drive plastic reduction globally.

Find out more about the Radisson commitment here.

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Accor commits to being single-use plastic free by 2022

Accor has announced its commitment to join the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022. This action by Accor toward reducing environmental impacts and strengthening efforts to combat plastic pollution of the world’s oceans and other natural environments is a significant step forward for the global hospitality industry and for the group, which has been committed to sustainability for many years.

As it advances its role as a responsible tourism provider locally and globally, Accor has committed to join the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

“We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners and host communities,” said Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor. “What guides us is the consciousness and social awareness that drives every person who strives to be a good citizen. It’s about being aware, socially conscious and consistent.”

Welcoming over 120 million guests and serving more than 200 million meals each year, Accor takes its role as a responsible corporate citizen to heart, working within the framework of its sustainable development program, for the past 25 years. In addition to their previous commitment to eliminate all plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, today’s new commitment includes:

  • The removal of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups by the end of 2020.
  • The elimination of all remaining single-use plastic items in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants and all leisure activities areas (spas, fitness centers, etc.) by the end of 2022.

Single-use plastics are defined as disposable items that are used only once and then discarded. Examples include plastic straws, cotton buds, coffee stirrers, plastic cups, plastic bags for laundry or extra pillows, plastic water bottles, all plastic packaging (for food, welcome products, etc), plastic take-away dishes and tableware, plastic gifts and welcome products (toiletries, slippers, pencils, etc), plastic keycards. Relevant alternatives to plastic will be proposed for each specific item, considering Life Cycle Assessments to ensure better environmental performance for the solution proposed to our hotels.

With more than 200 million single-use plastic items used every year in all areas, hotels are already reducing significantly their impact. Several have deployed effective solutions by choosing more sustainable alternatives. For instance:

  • 94% of Accor’s hotels have eliminated the use of straws, cotton buds and stirrers. The remaining 6% (mostly in China) will do it by end of March 2020
  • 89% of ibis’ hotels are using dispensers for amenities as shampoos…. This means 2087 ibis family hotels have already dropped single use plastic for this equipment. Accor ibis family hotels in Latin America will follow the same initiative this year.
  • Fairmont has used new construction and renovation standards in another example of one of their brands’ efforts. Its hotels incorporate water filtration taps in guest rooms to eliminate bottled water altogether.

To go further, their new brand “Greet” was created to answer their guests’ needs, so it is in the brand’s DNA to be plastic free. There is zero disposable plastic at breakfast and reusable dishes are utilized for butter and jam. In addition, there is zero disposable plastic in rooms and other parts of the hotels.

Accor plans to open 10 more Greet hotels in Europe this year.