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  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 10/23/2012 • 0 Comments

    Energy Efficiency in Meeting Venues

    By Andrea Schnitzer, national program manager for U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR

    Good for the earth and good for business, green meetings provide an opportunity for event organizers to minimize environmental impact and demonstrate leadership in sustainability. In fact, hotel suppliers surveyed in 2011 noted that nearly half of their meeting clients specify green requirements for their events, and 73 percent of meeting planners indicated that their clients show increasing interest in tracking and reporting green measures.

    With so many components that go into the planning and execution of green meetings, though, where should meeting planners start? Because the meeting venue is the focal point for these events, and because energy consumption is one of the largest components of a building’s environmental footprint, planners seeking to make their meetings “greener” should start by assessing the energy-efficiency activities of the venues under consideration. Since energy efficiency is “the “first step to green,” venues that are serious about reducing environmental impacts should be measuring and tracking their energy consumption over time, seeking opportunities for operations and maintenance improvements, and implementing retrofits where appropriate.

    But how can meeting planners know if a venue is operating at a high level of energy efficiency, or making meaningful strides towards improvement? EPA’s ENERGY STAR program provides a number of resources to help hotels and convention centers improve energy performance and communicate their commitment to energy management. One key resource is Portfolio Manager, an online tool used to measure and track facility energy performance. Many building types, including hotels, can receive a 1-100 score in Portfolio Manager, which shows how each building performs relative to similar buildings nationwide. Hotels scoring above a 75 on this scale are eligible to earn the prestigious ENERGY STAR certification, indicating that the building achieved superior energy performance. While convention centers cannot receive a 1-100 score, they can still use the tool to track progress over time and compare performance against a national average. Tracking performance in Portfolio Manager allows hotel and convention center operators to quantify the impact of their efficiency activities, and to communicate achievements to guests, visitors, conference attendees, and meeting planners.

    In addition to Portfolio Manager, ENERGY STAR provides resources such as the Guidelines for Energy Management and the Building Upgrade Manual, which hotels and convention centers can use to develop and implement best practice strategies for improving energy efficiency in their facilities. Venues can also choose to become ENERGY STAR partners, making a formal commitment to protect the environment through the continuous improvement of energy performance. When selecting a venue for a green meeting, planners are encouraged to ask candidate properties about their energy efficiency activities, including whether they have partnered with ENERGY STAR, whether they are leveraging ENERGY STAR resources to pursue improvements and promote achievements, and whether they have recently earned ENERGY STAR certification for their property (look up ENERGY STAR partners). With more than 85 percent of U.S. households recognizing the ENERGY STAR logo as the symbol for superior energy performance, selecting a venue that is actively engaged with ENERGY STAR can help planners to validate and promote a meeting’s “green credentials.”

    For more information on energy efficiency in hotels and convention centers, see ENERGY STAR for Hospitality and ENERGY STAR for Entertainment.

    The Virginia Beach Convention Center (shown in the photo for this post) is leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources to improve its energy performance. See this ENERGY STAR success story and the convention center’s sustainability website to learn more.



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 10/04/2012 • 0 Comments

    SXSW Eco, Take 2

    This year’s SXSW Eco has turned out to be marvelous and compelling from content, planning and situational perspectives. I hope to go into much more detail in an upcoming One+ piece, but here are some of my initial thoughts/considerations/brain rumblings 1.5 days into the event.

    What could have been a severely distracting situation turned into an anecdote of coincidence and a well-behaved crowd. You see, on Day 1 of SXSW Eco, an oil executives group was meeting at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in Austin—yeah, that’s the venue for Eco. A handful of protestors gathered, some holding signs to notify passersby that the CEO behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline was “in the building.” I’m proud to say the Eco group (the majority of whom are opposed to the Keystone XL project) went on with their business of healing the world (and ourselves) without getting dragged into any nastiness.

    From a content POV, Eco delivered/is delivering impressive speakers on the gamut of CSR topics: food, communications, education, energy, climate change, entrepreneurship. One early session matched food journalists and a culinary photographer up with a female farmer from Uganda to discuss culture and food, including such thoughts as “Is the Instagram/Pinterest culture perhaps causing connected humanity to more openly discuss what we’re eating?” As much as people are getting sick of seeing photos of food on their social networks, the fact of the matter may be that this potentially self-involved behavior is driving the conversation of food and sustainability, cultural norms and more.

    As to the planning: I was thrilled to see the event held at a LEED-certified venue. Most sessions were close to being completely full (and a few were—much more like the regular annual SXSW) but for the most part space was sufficient throughout. A wonderful courtyard in the middle of the venue afforded attendees the best air Austin has experienced in months—perfect for the evening Day 1 reception.

    And yes, Virginia, even SXSW Eco still has a printed conference program…and a vibrant website…and an outstanding mobile app. This event is, however, a harbinger of the future of meetings. Stay tuned.



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 08/17/2012 • 0 Comments

    Broward Co. CC Gets LEED Gold!

    The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Gold certification--the first convention center in Florida to be LEED certified and one of only three in the nation to achieve LEED Gold certification for an Existing Building.

    “This is truly a great day for Broward County as we bring home the gold and celebrate the successful transformation of our Convention Center into a model of sustainability,” said Nicki Grossman, president/CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Thanks to the dedication of the entire Convention Center team and with the unwavering support of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and SMG, we have reached an Olympic goal that no other Florida convention center has attained.”

    Highlights of the new green features at the center include:

    • A revamped landscape design that reduces irrigation needs by using verdant plants and trees indigenous to South Florida and less water-dependent turf grass, all of which are irrigated by an efficient micro-drip system that uses an estimated 65 percent less water than the previous sprinkler system, contributing to an overall goal of reducing the Convention Center's water usage for irrigation from 10 million gallons annually to less than 5 million.
    • A retrofit of the older, less energy-efficient lighting with a combination of new more energy-efficient fluorescents, LEDs, CFLs and induction lighting to reduce both heat and energy, resulting in a savings of 18 percent off the electric bill.
    • A retrofit of all older plumbing fixtures with low-flow kits to reduce water consumption in restrooms, producing a savings in water consumption of more than 45 percent.
    • The replacement of two 19-year-old water-cooled chillers with new, more energy-efficient water-cooled chillers; along with upgrades to the air-handling and ventilation system, including CO2 sensors for enhanced indoor air quality.
    • An upgrade to the building’s energy management system, including temperature and lighting controls, to enhance the comfort of building occupants while maintaining control of energy using systems in the building to achieve high performance.
    • Through staff training and working with clients, the center went from annually recycling a mere 8 percent of its total waste stream to recycling 58 percent of its total waste stream in the past year, including an estimated 150 tons of brochures, wood pallets, cardboard, carpet and padding, clear sheet plastic, plastic table cloths, lamps and bulbs, shrink wrap, twine, landscaping debris and batteries, as well as plastic bottles, glass and cans.
    • The installation of a state-of-the-art, commercial organic waste decomposition machine known as the “Digester,” which turns all organic kitchen waste into “gray water” that is similar to waste water from a sink, which is then recycled at the water treatment plant and returned as potable water.
    • The purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for off-site renewable wind and hydro energy systems. The Convention Center's most recent green power purchase will help keep 20,722,187 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, which can be equated to planting 85,276 fully-grown trees.
    • To improve indoor/outdoor air quality for building occupants, smoking is no longer permitted within 25 feet of any building opening. No-smoking signage has been placed throughout the Convention Center to alert visitors of this policy and specific designated smoking areas have been provided.
    • A touch-screen kiosk has been installed in the building's main lobby, which allows patrons to view the Convention Center's “real-time” energy savings and learn about the improvements made over the past three years.
    • On the culinary front, SAVOR, the Center's creative team of food and beverage professionals, follows sustainable practices in the kitchen, from energy-efficient food preparation, non-toxic cleaning, recycling, and water conservation to purchasing locally produced food and beverages whenever possible. Donations are made to local food banks when appropriate and all other organic waste is disposed of in the “digester,” which means virtually “zero” organic waste is disposed of in landfills.

    A whole lot of green in the Sunshine State!

    In the photo, from left to right: Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzberger, Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Nicki Grossman, and Mark Gatley, Regional General Manager for SMG and the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center

    Source: Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 07/28/2012 • 0 Comments

    Dog Days of Summer

    Just a couple of hours into the 2012 World Education Congress (WEC), conference goers gathered in the America’s Center Convention Complex (ACCC) lobby to partake in the community service project, which benefited Stray Rescue of St. Louis.

    The group split into two, with one segment staying behind at the ACCC for the “Doggie Treat Baking Workshop,” while the other boarded a bus to Stray Rescue’s nearby animal shelter to help in a “Doggie Day Spa.”

    The second of its kind to happen in St. Louis—the first taking place last year at an ASAE conference—Jason Schipkowski, director of marketing and development, says these types of events are simply incredible for the organization.

    “There are a couple components to it—it gives us general awareness about what we do and responsible pet guardianship,” he said. “As far as [the participant’s] direct contact with the dogs—they get socialized and get lots of attention—it helps them become more adoptable.”

    Schipkowski added that the quicker the dogs are able to become fully adoptable, the quicker the organization is able to rescue other stray dogs within the city. He says Stray Rescue holds more than 500 dogs in its locations.

    Back at the ACCC commercial kitchen, participants learned from experienced bakers who specialize in making tasty dog treats.

    At the Stray Rescue headquarters, WEC volunteers manned three different stations—bathing, drying and grooming—to essentially spoil the dogs with a spa day. One-by-one, dogs were brought from their kennels, in the air-conditioned shelter, to the yards outside to receive their pampering.

    Stray Rescue of St. Louis

    “It’s important to get shelter dogs ready for adoption,” said Sarah Ferreira, senior corporate event specialist for SVB Financial Group. “I’ve always had shelter dogs, so for me, this is kind of a perfect fit to give back and get the dogs clean and ready for adoption.”

    For Megan McGuire, event specialist for Express Services Inc., it was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up as an avid animal lover.

    “Being able to come here and do this while I’m here to learn about my industry is a really great incentive,” McGuire said. “The things that [Stray Rescue] does here is really amazing, and for 63 people on staff to take care of these wonderful animals is pretty cool.”

    At the conclusion of the project, the group that stayed at the ACCC met with the other volunteers at the shelter to bring the freshly baked doggie treats to complete the dogs’ day spa.

    If you missed the CSR project and the first day of Puppy Cuddling, there are ample opportunities at WEC to give some love to energetic puppies at the Level 2 plaza atrium from 3:30-6:30 p.m. today, 9:30-11 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday and 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday.



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 06/04/2012 • 0 Comments

    Business Value of Casual

    There’s value beyond morale when permitting casual work attire. Just ask Japan.

    The Super Cool Biz campaign (an effort to reduce energy usage), from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE), helped the country avoid widespread brownouts and blackouts last summer. The challenge was especially severe as the nation dealt with diminished nuclear energy output following the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis.

    Super Cool Biz builds on the MOE’s Cool Biz campaign for the reduction of energy usage (originally launched in 2005). The campaign includes recommendations to set air conditioners to 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit), encouraging employees to take more summer vacation than usual and wear super-cool attire (including, at times, Hawaiian shirts and sandals).

    As far as many are concerned, that’s green to an extreme. Next up, we need to apply these lessons to the meeting and event industry—but innovate, as we always do.

    Image (CC) Peter E. Lee – Donald Duck at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 05/22/2012 • 0 Comments

    Save the Green Planet

    Two awesome pieces of news that appear to conflict:

    1) Elon Musk, the most interesting man in the world (co-founder of PayPal, Tesla Motors), and his SpaceX team (yeah, he founded that, too) successfully launched their first rocket for NASA.

    2) Earlier this month, the Green Meeting Industry Council debuted Meeting the Future, “the world’s first guide to aligning meeting and event industry planning practices with the scientific principles of sustainable development.”


    These two stories cross paths in my mind as I attempt to reconcile my love of space travel (and related dreams) with the potential environmental damage from space travel (and related industries). I remember watching countless shuttle launches from my backyard, and giggled to myself as I realized how many people on the Space Coast were likely woken up abruptly by the 3:44 a.m. launch. ☺

    Space tourism via SpaceX is still years away; affordable space tourism is a lifetime away. What about sustainable space tourism?

    Image (CC) uskids



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 05/02/2012 • 0 Comments

    Packing Matters

    There are the stories about colleagues during the Cold War bringing extra blue jeans when traveling to the former USSR. Or candies and comics for children in Mexico. And all over the industry, we're already donating used hotel soap to be given a new life with those in need.

    It's now a good deal easier to determine which specific items you could bring along on your next trip to donate with the most impact. Howso?

    Step 1. Visit Pack For a Purpose

    Step 2. Select your destination

    Step 3. Learn about local organizations and items needed that you can bring along--y'know, since you're already headed that way and have 10 pounds of extra weight allowance in your luggage.

    Step 4. Scale the program to fill out all of your meeting/convention/trade show shipments with supplies that will change the lives of those in your host destination.

    Image (CC) CharlesFred



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 05/01/2012 • 0 Comments

    SXSW Eco 2012 Announced

    Following an overwhelmingly positive inaugural endeavor, SXSW Eco dates have been announced for 2012, so book for flights to Austin for Oct. 3-5.

    I met many unparalleled sources for eco-smarts and innovativeness at SXSW Eco 2011--check out this month's One+ feature on Employee Engagement and Sustainability to hear from some of them (story will be live online later this week).

    So back to this year's SXSW Eco. Only one keynote speaker has been announced (director Annie Leonard), but considering how the event was pulled off last year, I'm not concerned about their speaker quality.

    Now, about curating the event...that's your task:

    Programming proposals are now being accepted through the popular PanelPicker interface, an innovative online tool that allows the SXSW Eco community to have a significant voice in programming the upcoming conference activities. PanelPicker is a two-step online system. Step one encourages the community to submit proposals for programming through the online interface. Submissions will be accepted from May 1 - June 1. Step two allows the community to browse all of the ideas and rate which of the proposals will best fit the October event. Voting will begin on June. 11. The major themes for SXSW Eco 2012 will be "Replicating Success: Solutions that Scale;" "The Social Sphere: Activating Cultures and Institutions;" "Engineering Advancement: Technology and Design;" "People, Planet, Profit: Economies that Work;" and "A Better Future: Vision and Opportunity."



  • Posted by Michael Pinchera at
    12:00AM 04/16/2012 • 0 Comments

    Hilton New York Gets Greener

    One day away from the start of the Sustainable Operations Summit, the Hilton New York has completed a new green roof set up and a co-generation system to cut back on the carbon footprint of the property and events held there.

    In fact, the "cogeneration system...will provide in excess of 50 percent of the hotel’s electrical power and over 40 percent of its steam consumption for heating and hot water requirements."



  • Posted by Blair Potter at
    12:00AM 03/06/2012 • 0 Comments

    It’s Time to Get Involved in ECOS

    Guest Blog By Susan Prophet, chair of the MPI Foundation Canada Council

    Events for Communities of Sustainability, or ECOS, began in 2009 as a collective project with MPI, the MPI Foundation and our sponsor, AVW-TELAV. All eight Canadian chapters embraced the mission of building human connections in their communities and focusing on significant areas of food, water, shelter and education.

    Through the diligence of the volunteers’ countless hours, more than 37,000 pounds of food were distributed in 2011. Already this year, four of the Canadian chapters distributed more than 11,000 pounds and others have helped more than 100 families, whose main income was impacted from a local resort fire.

    There are also breakfast programs in place at local schools, helping children get a good start to their day. More than CAD$25,000 was raised in mid-February to support 160 school breakfast programs.

    We have more sustainable events supporting ECOS in the spring…so stay tuned.

    In the second year of the project, from 2010 to 2011, there was an uptick of 8.8 percent more food collected, which helped to increase the total value of goods by 24 percent.

    ECOS is thriving this year across Canada, and with the help of the MPI chapter members and AVW-TELAV, there is a lot being done. We have captured the essence of ECOS by connecting to the local marketplaces in which we do business.

    Our hopes are to build this into a global ECOS mission and engage MPI chapters around the world to embrace this vision by creating a positive community profile that facilitates both acceptance and recognition of our industry and helping others in need.

    We are now adding our ‘ECOS Local Hero’ award to the project this year, and we encourage each chapter to choose a local individual who has gone above and beyond. Chapters will present this award to a deserving individual at spring meetings. My organization, Tourisme Québec, will be donating the awards.

    ECOS is a framework to support sustainability in the communities where our members live and where we do business. It is a guide to help us focus specifically on building elements, which have a direct relationship to the meeting and event industry.

    Let’s all do our share and support this great initiative. I am reaching out to all the MPI chapter leaders to join us on this mission.



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