Meetings, Expositions,

Events, and Conventions

An Introduction to the Industry
Fourth Edition, Global Edition

CHAPTER 13
Green Meetings and
Social Responsibility

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
Why Go Green – The Bottom Line

• Economic reasons
 Higher gross margins, return on sales,
return on assets and stronger cash flow
 Switch from bottled water to pitcher
water saves money
 Reusing badge holders / reducing
paperwork

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
Why Go Green – The Bottom Line
• Social reasons
 Businesses should contribute to the welfare of the
community.
 Employees happier and healthier / employee retention
increases
 More appealing image for potential employees
 Recycling helps underprivileged.

• Social reasons
 Triple bottom line – people, planet and
profit
Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:
Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Opportunities to Go Green

• Create standards.
• Use technology.
• Choose a local destination.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Volume up.

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Opportunities to Go Green

• Eat local.
• Decorate with nature.
• Use paper wisely.
• Save energy.
• Inform everyone.

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Green Meeting Standards

• Industry Certifications
 Accommodations
 Catering / food and beverage
 Décor / trade show rentals
 Event logistics
 Printing / promotions / gifts
 Transportation / tours
 Venues

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Going Green vs. Sustainability
• Going Green
 An action to curb harmful effects on the
environment through consumer habits,
behavior and lifestyle
• Sustainability
 More encompassing term that includes
implementing and executing plan to save
resources while improving performance
• Going green can be considered as a part of,
or a by-product of sustainability
Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:
Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Future Trends

• Green meetings and social

responsibility are the future of MEEC
and will be incorporated into increasing
numbers of events.
• Many national governments are likely
to demand that meetings and events
incorporate green elements that are
measureable.

continued on next slide

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:
Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich
 Future Trends

• Increased accountability and

requirement that planners prove their
meetings and events are green.
• Increased focus on cost versus benefits
of going green.
• Being able to document and calculate
the true cost of going green versus the
true benefits is crucial.

Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions:

Copyright © 2016, Pearson Education, Ltd.
An Introduction to the Industry, 4e, GE
All Rights Reserved
George G. Fenich