Jun 17, 2019
Creating a sustainable food and beverage plan for your events isn’t just about reducing your carbon footprint. Ultimately, it’s about taking on the responsibility for making safe and healthy food choices for a number of people, says Tracy Stuckrath, president and chief connecting officer of thrive! meetings & events.
Stuckrath discussed sustainability and the ways that event menu choices can impact the well-being of attendees, budget and the planet in PCMA’s Bites and Sites webinar “Creating A Sustainable Menu for Your Event,” held live on June 6. Here are some key takeaways to consider… more
Jun 17, 2019
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, the certification requires a four-step process: registration; a comprehensive certification application; review with Green Business Certification Inc.; and finally, if all checks out, certification (followed by celebration).
While we hear a lot about LEED-certified buildings these days, the certification hasn’t gone fully mainstream in the world of convention centers, at least not yet. According to the USGBC, about 60… more
Jun 17, 2019
Attendees wanting to quench their thirst with bottled water at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Summer Market will have to look elsewhere this year. The annual trade show for the outdoor recreation industry, which runs June 18-20 at Colorado Convention Center in Denver, has partnered with Nalgene to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles at the event.
The reusable water bottle manufacturer will provide the first 25,000 attendees with a 32-ounce custom Summer Market Nalgene bottle to use at 170 water refill stations located throughout the event, including in all education zones and lounges… more
Jun 12, 2019
Just in time for Global Exhibitions Day on June 6, UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry – launched a new report and online database designed to track global exhibitions industry sustainability initiatives and projects in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Initiated by UFI’s working group on sustainability and put together in collaboration with sustainability consulting and research firm Greenview, this first-of-its-kind resource showcases the environmental efforts of global event organizers, venues and service providers while inspiring… more
Apr 18, 2019
Feeling powerless to make your events more sustainable? Want to make your events greener without having to ask your boss for permission or spending more money?
In her recent webinar, “5 No-Cost Ways to Green Your Events,” Julia Spangler, sustainable events consultant, offered tips for accomplishing just that, providing actions that event planners can implement right away to create more Earth-friendly events.
“Sustainable, zero-waste event planning can provide unexpected cost savings related to printing, event supplies, catering orders and more,” Spangler said in the webinar. “They may… more
Apr 09, 2019
Denver native Lindsay Arell always knew she wanted to pursue a career helping the environment. A longtime ski bum with a passion for nature, it was her work in event production after college that began to shape what would become the main focus of her career: making the trade show, meetings and events industry a less wasteful and more sustainable one.
This inspired path led Arell to become Colorado Convention Center’s first-ever sustainability coordinator, and eight years later, president of Honeycomb Strategies. In this role, she’s worked with some of the biggest names in sustainably minded… more
Mar 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.… more
Mar 21, 2019
Messe Frankfurt will be powered completely by green energy starting next year. The world’s largest trade fair organizer is planning to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy, including solar from its own solar power system, and hydropower or wind energy from its energy service provider, Mainova AG.
These clean energy sources will power the facility’s trade show booths, halls and exhibition grounds at the company’s base in Frankfurt, Germany.
With average energy needs comparable with those of a 40,000-person town, Messe Frankfurt’s switch from conventional to green… more
Feb 18, 2019
Caesars Entertainment is an acknowledged industry leader in corporate social responsibility through its People Planet Play framework. In the past few months, the company has made headlines for being named as a leader by the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for its efforts in reducing emissions and lowering climate-related risk; making a global commitment to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children; launching The Shared Future Fund in conjunction with ImpactNV, to solve for social and economic inequality that underscore Nevada’s most vulnerable populations, and more.
The… more
Feb 18, 2019
Implementing sustainable practices isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also good for business, as many convention centers have discovered. According to the 2017 Green Venue Report (the 2018 report has not yet been released), event venues are saving millions of dollars each year thanks to sustainability upgrades through energy, waste or water conservation programs.
Energy tracking for events is also improving, with 88 percent of venues surveyed reporting doing so. Yet technology is constantly changing, and what was good (or good enough) a few years ago is likely behind the times now.… more
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.