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Professional Development
  • Posted by Jessie States at
    12:00AM 11/19/2012 • 0 Comments

    Female Board Members Equate to Sustainable Companies

    Want to be more socially and environmentally responsible? We'll be coming out with a new tool kit soon. In the meantime, appoint a couple more women to your board. New research shows that the number of female board members correlates with sustainability performance. The more women, the more sustainable, says corporate responsibility consultant Kellie McElhaney, who recently criticized Apple’s appointment of another man to an already all-male executive team. 

    McElhaney’s new research goes one step further. Companies with one or more women on their boards are significantly more likely to have improved sustainability practices. 

    “This is not a women’s or men’s issue, it’s a collective and business opportunity,” says McElhaney who is also faculty director for the Center for Responsible Business at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. The study, “Women Create A Sustainable Future,” was sponsored by Women Corporate Directors and KPMG—which shouldn't be a surprise seeing as how the company has already steeped its business in social responsibility (case study). 

    “We also found, like researchers before us, that the sweet spot is three. Companies with at least three female board members had a better ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance, but we’re talking about very few companies who meet this threshold—just three of the 1,500 we studied—Kimberly-Clark, General Motors and Walmart."

    McElhaney interviewed several female directors to learn more about their personal experiences on a board. “Women and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Corporations build better societies if they have balanced boards,” says interviewee Halla Tomadottir, executive chairwoman and co-founder of Audur Capital. 

    The study’s authors also spoke with former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, who serves on the board at Nestle. “The voices of women are critical in advancing the goals of corporate shared value,” says Veneman in the study. Other female directors told McElhaney that they evaluate invitations to sit on boards based on the organizations’ ESG factors. 

    Dina Dublon, former executive vice president and chief financial officer of JP Morgan Chase, is a director at PepsiCo, Accenture and Microsoft. “There is an element of self-selection for me,” she says. “I choose to serve on boards who have openness to ESG issues because I care deeply about these issues.” 

    McElhaney points out that “causality” remains problematic. “Is a company that’s not managing risk like ESG going to realize that it’s a risk not to have more women in senior leadership. Which happens first, adding more women to a board or improving sustainability initiatives?”



  • 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 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 Jessie States at
    12:00AM 11/22/2011 • 1 Comments

    Sharked

    Hongkong and Shanghai  Hotels will stop serving shark fin at all its group operations effective Jan. 1, in recognition of the threat facing the global shark population and in line with its sustainability vision. However, the company will honour banquet bookings involving shark fin soup made prior to Nov. 21, but taking place after the new year. 

    HSH CEO Clement K.M. Kwok said: “By removing shark fin from our menus, we hope that our decision can contribute to preserving the marine ecosystem for the world’s future generations. As Asia’s oldest hotel company, we also hope that our decision will inspire other hospitality companies to do the same and that our industry will play a role in helping to preserve the bio-diversity of our oceans.” 



  • Posted by Christa Schelter at
    12:00AM 11/04/2011 • 0 Comments

    Green Meeting Standards Nearly Complete

    The meeting industry is one step closer to the introduction of the very first green meetings and event standards. The Convention Industry Council (CIC) recently announced that eight of the nine APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting standards are complete.

    "This is a major accomplishment for the collective conventions, meetings, events and exhibitions industry," stated Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Industry Council. "Sustainability is a strategic concern for planners, suppliers and the organizations they represent. These standards are much anticipated so this is a great moment for the volunteers who put such effort to this project.”

    The standards were conceptualized and initiated by the Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Development has taken place through a partnership between CIC’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative that focuses on industry best practices and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. The standards have been in intense development since 2007.

    The APEX/ASTM standards will be comprised of nine individual "sector" standards, covering all facets of event planning and management. The eight standards that have been ratified cover:

    Audio-Visual
    Communication & Marketing Materials
    Destinations
    Exhibits
    Food & Beverage
    Meeting Venue
    On-Site Office

    Transportation

    Much of the work and research behind the standards was a result of the work done by the APEX Green Meetings and Events Practice Panel, consisting of 300 planners, suppliers and sustainability experts from across nine time zones. ASTM International provided the formal standards development environment and process including comprehensive input, review and technical expertise from its members across the globe.

    “None of this work would have happened without the passion, dedication and conviction of the volunteer force that spans across North America and Europe,” said Amy Spatrisano, Chair of the APEX Green Meetings and Events Panel and Principal at MeetGreen®. The level of specificity required and accountability of both the planner and supplier that is built into these standards is unprecedented. It’s a game changer.”

    The completed standards will be published in November as both electronic and paper documents. Information on publication date and availability will be announced and posted on www.conventionindustry.org when the standards are available.

    Source: Convention Industry Council

    To learn more about sustainable event standards, check out The Full Monty: Standards Exposed.



  • Posted by Veleisa Patton at
    12:00AM 09/21/2011 • 0 Comments

    [AUDIO] The Latest on Industry Sustainability


    I recently caught up with Roger Simons, MPI Manager, CSR & Sustainable Events via Skype. Although he gave himself a hard time for his last appearance on Engage, the conversation was lively, informative and showed the commitment from MPI to delving into the acronyms and international bodies that shape, inform and influence CSR in meetings and events.

    We discussed the recent CSR projects designed for WEC Orlando, the GRI Event Sector Supplement and the evolution of the SEMT and more. The resulting discussion is below. Have a listen and find out what you as an industry professional can expect in the upcoming months. 

    LISTEN: Industry Sustainability and What It Means for You



  • Posted by Christa Schelter at
    12:00AM 09/13/2011 • 0 Comments

    Create a "Future City"

    See how you respond to pressing urban challenges by playing Urbanology Online, an interactive game in which players "create" a city through a series of questions.

    The game serves as the online companion to an interactive installation at the BMW Guggenheim Lab, currently in New York’s East Village.

    By answering scenario-based questions involving education, housing, health care, infrastructure and mobility—players role-play for city transformation to build a city that matches their specific desires and needs. Based on their personal responses, the player's "Future City" is created and compared with other cities around the world.

    It would be interesting to see a "Plan Your 'Future Meeting'" game. Do you know of any interactive meeting planning games?



  • Posted by Christa Schelter at
    12:00AM 06/29/2011 • 0 Comments

    SXSW Launches Eco Conference

    SXSW Conferences and Festivals announced it will host its first eco-conference October 4-6 in Austin.

    The three-day event will feature "top-level programming for executive decision makers from the public, private and academic sectors," according to a press release.

    “Just as SXSW Music, Film and Interactive emerged as a vibrant space for the creative and entrepreneurial communities, we hope SXSW Eco will foster a similar, productive environment for policy makers, academics, and professionals to build meaningful relationships and develop tangible solutions,” said Roland Swenson, SXSW Managing Director. “We are eager to apply our successful event experience to provide a new forum that will address these timely, complicated and interdependent issues of sustainability.”



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