Meet Virtually Staff - April 3, 2023
What is a Sustainable Meeting and Event and How to Plan for a Greener Future, Better ROI, and Budget Management:
Introduction
Events have become a significant component of modern-day society. Not only are events important for making long-lasting connections between people, but they also have the potential to help lessen our environmental impact while creating a successful return on investment (ROI). The key to planning sustainable events lies in understanding the elements associated with creating green meetings and events, such as energy & resource conservation, waste management, eco-friendly transportation, and budget management. Implementing green initiatives when running any event is essential to reduce our overall environmental impact.
We understand the challenges of planning an event that is mindful of both the environment and budget. That’s why we use our expertise from Meet Virtually and Source in the City to help you create a successful green event efficiently with minimal cost and maximum impact.
Understanding the Basics
When planning a successful green event, it is essential to research various options available when selecting vendors, develop creative solutions for minimizing energy usage, and establish aggressive recycling & composting practices. Evaluating the total cost/impact associated with each element included within an event’s agenda enables informed decision-making regarding which elements are most important from both an environmental and financial perspective.A great resource you can learn from is from the Global Business Travel Association
Julie Novak is a powerhouse entrepreneur. She is the CEO and co-founder of Party Slate.
Avital Ungar is a self-described “quirky, classy entrepneuress” and we think that description fits aptly. Her company Avital Tours hosts experiential F&B programs for corporate groups both in-person and virtually.
Curating the Perfect Green Experience
When creating a green meeting or event guidelines, several key criteria should be outlined, such as utilizing digital rather than printed materials, offering locally sourced food items, and encouraging public transportation use by attendees whenever applicable. Additionally, expectations surrounding green events must be managed carefully from both an environmental and financial perspective by considering that sustainability needs to be approached holistically to bring about meaningful change over time while also achieving desired ROI goals established before the start of the planning process. Investing resources into creating sustainable practices helps our environment and can benefit businesses monetarily through reduced expenses achieved through increased efficiency gains throughout the life cycle of any event.
Implementing Sustainable Solutions
Developing policies & procedures related to sustainability before launching your event is essential in ensuring success. Proper planning & research into eco-friendly vendors should always occur while simultaneously working directly with them to ensure they uphold high standards when it comes to producing their services or products. To get the most out of every dollar spent, it can be beneficial to negotiate with external businesses offering coveted services at reasonable prices or using creativity instead of costly investments.The following resources will help you find your carbon footprint:
Sarah Tracey is quite possibly the most approachable sommelier you’ll ever meet. She is the founder of her blog, The Lush Life, hosts corporate groups for private wine tastings (both live and virtual) and is a Martha Stewart Resident wine expert.
Conclusion
It is essential to consider long-term effects across the entire life cycle of any event, whether it is an intimate retreat or a large convention center gathering, before committing resources towards production or implementation processes. Investing resources into creating sustainable practices helps our environment and businesses monetarily by reducing expenses associated with production while yielding better overall ROI due to increased efficiency gains achieved throughout the life cycle of any event. With proper preparation and thoughtful execution, successful events can achieve immense benefits from embracing sustainability best practices — both financially and environmentally.
Does this sound complicated? If so, let us know and we can help you reach your impact goals.
