2017 Green Venue Report Highlights the State of Global Convention and Exhibition Sustainability

August 17, 2017

The 2017 Green Venue Report: The State of Convention and Exhibition Center Sustainability has been released.

In its fourth year, the GVR is an industry-wide initiative designed to provide benchmarking data, catalyze best practices and stimulate competition around global convention and exhibition center sustainability.

The project is the brainchild of Greenview, a sustainability consulting and research firm based in the U.S. and Singapore that provides strategy, programs, measurement and reporting for hospitality, travel and tourism organizations.

Sponsored by Freeman, the comprehensive report not only evaluates a collective environmental footprint of industry meeting and events, but also highlights best practices and innovative programs going on at convention venues throughout the globe.

This year, the GVR compiled data from 66 convention and exhibition centers across 16 countries and four continents (a 50 percent increase in participation compared to 2016) via a 131-question survey conducted last spring through the Greenview Portal system, an online tool used to consolidate, track, measure and obtain actionable guidance on sustainability.

The resulting report compares green venue performance over a wide-range of areas, including energy efficiency; waste management; water usage; food and beverage services; cleaning practices; staff involvement; communications and certifications.

This year, the GVR includes an easy-to-understand graphical representation of three-year trends of many of the surveyed practices, ranging from common to emerging to innovative sustainable practices.

Key findings of 2017 GVR include:

  • Venues are saving millions of dollars with sustainability upgrades. Venues that invest in energy, water and/or waste technologies receive returns on their investments ranging from a few hundred dollars by converting street lights to LED bulbs, to millions of dollars of savings by implementing venue wide energy programs. 

  • Health and Wellbeing of staff are of growing importance. Sixty-two percent of venues reported to having a health and wellbeing policy in place that applies to all staff. Policies and programs include health and fitness facilities with free personal trainers to help promote healthy living and exercise, to weekly onsite doctor visits. 

  • Venues continue to value sustainable food and remain committed to purchasing from local producers. Eighty-nine percent of venues procure food and beverage products with at least one sustainability-focused certification or accreditation. This trend shows a jump from 85 percent last year. 

  • Venues continue to reduce food waste. Seventy-seven percent of venues practice active food waste management (the tracking and monitoring of food production waste, overage and spoilage) using either manual or automated tracking. Over half of venues (56 percent) donate food on a regular basis at no additional expense to event organizers. 

  • Venues are procuring more renewable energy and incorporating more renewable energy technologies into onsite operations. Twenty-three percent of venues purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), representing a total of approximately, 248 million kWh purchased. Twenty-five percent of venues responded to having at least 50 percent of the venue’s purchased energy obtained from utilities or other parties using renewable sources.
  • Venues are starting to offer additional resources on sustainable events to organizers. Eighty-three percent of responding venues have sales staff that consistently and proactively make organizers aware of a venue’s sustainability practices or “greening meetings.” In addition, several venues also indicated that they distributed a sustainable meetings pamphlet, manual or sales kit to meeting organizers.

As the GVR continues to grow, the project intends to provide critical analysis, while documenting the tools and best practices required to move the meeting and events industry in a more sustainable direction.

For more information about how to sign up for the 2018 survey and to download a free copy of the 2017 Green Venue Report, go here.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact