From setting environmental standards to certification, marketing and providing on-site reports on how hotel operations can reduce energy, water and waste, green convention and lodging efforts are becoming standard operation throughout the U.S.
The average hotel purchases more products in one week than one hundred families typically do in a year, according to Green Seal, which is one of a handful of environmental certification programs for lodging. Further, both hotel guests and staff may be exposed to many environmental toxins from products ranging from cleaners to paint to floor coverings. These all represent opportunities to reduce impact and improve sustainability as well as a facility's bottom line.
If Cleveland is seeking a competitive edge in its bid to host conferences with a green theme or with environmental plans, it will engage the business community and elected officials in the dialog that has started to green its convention and lodging industry.
The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions (CERC) in Boston recently contacted GreenCityBlueLake about how Cleveland can showcase its sustainable businesses, establish a permanent green lodging effort and reduce the environmental impact of conventions. The conversation started around Cleveland's (failed) bid to host the 2008 GOP convention — because CERC managed to green the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the GOP convention in 2004 in New York City — and it continues today with a local effort (more about that to come).
CERC's founders established the following mission statement:
- Promote environmental best practices for large conventions, starting with the 2004 national political conventions in Boston and New York.
- Showcase these best practices to inform the public and assembled political leaders about challenges to global sustainability - particularly climate change - and demonstrate sound solutions for long-term vitality.
- Establish a legacy of energy, transportation, waste, and purchasing practices for future large meetings and commerce.
The coalition included organizations and individuals representing the commercial, government and non-profit sectors; and included professionals in the fields of energy, transportation, waste management, hotels, green buildings, and local agriculture. Committees focused on greening the following aspects of the convention:
- Energy
- Waste Management
- Buildings & Operations
- Transportation.
If you would like to be part of the conversation to organize a coalition to green the convention and lodging industry in Northeast Ohio (with a goal of achieving an energy neutral, green convention), leave a comment here.
Questions for consideration
- What aspects of environmental best practices should Cleveland add to its efforts to green conventions?
- Can the city of Cleveland offer commercial recycling to operations such as Quicken Loans Arena?
- Are there existing state certification programs for waste management, recycling or energy conservation for meeting organizers?
- Who should be part of our coalition?
Resources
Greening the 2004 GOP and Democratic conventions case study
Green Meeting Industry Council
Ten easy tips for greening conventions
Green Seal certification for the lodging industry
Green Lodging News
