Green Meetings

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Event Planners are becoming more aware that we need to make in effort in lowering the carbon foot-print of our meetings or in "lay-mans" terms--GO GREEN.  At Capitol Event Firm we are constantly trying to establish vendor relationships that not only have green initiatives in place but are trying to go above and beyond the norm for their "go green" campaign.  Here are some GREEN meeting ideas and tips we have picked up along the way.
1.  Stay close to home-hosting your meeting in a destination that limits travel times and layovers not only makes it less of a hassle for your attendees, but it lowers your over all carbon-foot print of your meeting.  If you do choose to have your conference off-site try to limit your traveling at your location.
2.  Seek out "green" hotels and venues.  More and more hotels and special event venues are trying to implement green initiatives and attempting to pursue LEED-Certification.  Important questions to ask are: Does the venue have an environmental policy?  How do you conserve energy?  Do you use environmentally friendly products?  How is your staff trained to implement these "go-green" strategies?  Do you use local food products in your menu?
3.  Pick a walkable city when planning your meetings.  How close is the hotel to the conference center...can your attendees feasibly walk from one destination or the next...is their a public transit option nearby?  Planning your conference logistics ahead will really help your over all green meeting rating.
4.  Recycling-ditch all the disposables, use china, glassware, and flatware when possible.  Recycle your name-badge holders something so simple will not only help the environment but will help with your event costs as well.  Provide recycling bins in easy accessibility--you may think that brochure your past out will be an event keeper but the reality is most people throw them out, make sure they recycle the materials they won't want to keep instead of putting them in the trash.
5.  Don't push paper--have a thumb drive with all event documents ready to go on it.  This is not only a cute take-away idea (put your logo on it and expand your marketing efforts as well) but it will save in not only printing costs but paper as well.
For more ideas on green planning visit:  Green Meeting Initiatives.
Call us today to ask how we can plan your next GREEN meeting.
Have an eventful day.
Zaiba