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Are you Asking For It!? The First Step Toward a More Sustainable Events Industry

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“We would offer more sustainable options if our planners were asking for them.” ”We would prefer a more sustainable option if we knew what our suppliers offered.”

These are the two comments often made by suppliers and planners respectively, when asked about their sustainable business practices. And after years and years of hearing this response, the Green Meeting Industry Council has launched a change campaign focused on creating a solution to this seemingly gaping lapse of communication…simply, Ask For It!

What is ‘Ask For It’?

Ask For It is…

•    A call to action for stakeholders in our industry to ask for their suppliers and venues to be certified to the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standard specific to their sector.
•    An empowerment tool for the planners to shift the practices of their suppliers towards more sustainable practices.
•    An opportunity for suppliers to differentiate themselves by meeting the needs of planners

What Tools are Available?

To simplify “the Ask” and speak a common language, GMIC is encouraging planners and suppliers to utilize the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards specific to their sector and the needs of the event as a guide for best practices. To support the use of the standards, GMIC has created Ask For It! RFP language for use by planners during their bid and contract phase. Suppliers are now taking a proactive approach by becoming certified to the standards as an effort to tell planners, “We’ve Got It!”.

At the end of 2012, the Green Meeting Industry Council announced a third party certification to the APEX/ASTM standard by iCompli. Since this launch, numerous suppliers in the industry have become certified to the standard for their particular sector. Denver was a leader with the Colorado Convention Center, VISIT DENVER, and Image A/V to become the first in each of their sectors to earn the certification. However, quick on their heels to get certified were McCormick Place and Choose Chicago, and Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.  Adoption is also being seen internationally with the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Tourism Toronto both having achieved certification. And more have followed suit! To highlight the suppliers who have taken this proactive approach to sustainability, the Green Meeting Industry Council has created a registry on their website that planners can search to better help plan their meeting

Why Focus on the APEX/ASTM Standards?

First, they create a common language that can be used across the various sectors of the industry.  Therefore rather than a separate standard for each of the various suppliers, the APEX/ASTM standards offer consistency in the areas of focus and the “ask”. Second, they are specific to the impacts of our industry. While other standards provide value by focusing on the building envelope or products used, the APEX/ASTM standards are focus on the actions of a supplier and planner to produce a meeting. Therefore communication (a common pitfall in pulling off sustainability initiatives) is a large component of the criteria. Third, they highlight the importance of both planner and supplier working together towards a common goal. Finally, they were developed by members of our industry who understand the real issues and challenges.

The sectors that are covered by the APEX/ASTM Standards include: Accommodations, Audiovisual/Production, Communications, Destination Selection, Exhibits, Food and Beverage, Meeting Venue, Onsite Office, and
Transportation.

By now you must be wondering how to get involved? It’s easy. Take the Ask For It! Pledge. Suppliers click here. Planners click here. You can also join the conversation by liking us on Facebook and participating on LinkedIn by clicking here. Finally, if you are looking for a little inspiration about starting a movement, I highly suggest you watch this video.

Want to learn more about the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards? Contact Lindsay Arell at Lindsay@arellogic.com.

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