SHELTON, CONN.—VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, has become the first convention and visitors bureau in the world certified in a new international sustainability standard designed to promote responsible environmental and social practices in the events industry. VISIT DENVER achieved Level One certification with the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Destinations for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences (abbreviated as “E2741-11” and commonly known as the APEX Standard).
iCompli, a not-for-profit international auditing organization, developed the certification protocols for the new standards and performed the independent third-party certification of VISIT DENVER’s compliance with the destination standard. iCompli is the first third-party auditing organization to be endorsed by the Green Meeting Industry Council as a provider of ASTM certification.
In December 2012, the Colorado Convention Center became the first facility to receive the same certification from iCompli in the venues category. In addition, Image Audiovisuals is the first company to receive this certification in the audio visual and production category.
“This certification reinforces the city’s commitment and leadership role as a sustainable conference destination,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “Coming on the heels of the Colorado Convention Center’s certification as the first environmentally sustainable meeting venue, this is further recognition of the event industry’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.”
Honored to Be First
“This distinction reinforces the city’s commitment to sustainable practices, and we are honored to be the first destination, convention center and audio visual company to achieve this new standard,” said Jerry Tinianow, chief sustainability officer for the City and County of Denver.
E2741-11 is one of nine formal, voluntary standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner. The standards were created in partnership with ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials), an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.
The E2741-11 Destination Standard delineates the procedural requirements for destination selection—the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the location for an environmentally sustainable event. The standard specifies specific performance criteria for: staff management; communications; waste management; energy; air quality; water; procurement; and community partners.
Tamara Kennedy, executive director of the Green Meeting and Industry Council (GMIC), the nonprofit professional meetings association that spearheaded the development of the ASTM Sustainable Meeting Standards, said, “VISIT DENVER’s certification shows the city’s strong commitment to green and sustainable practices in the events industry.”
Go to www.visitdenver.com.
