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ROI

What’s the ROI on Green Meetings?

Having a green meeting is more than just environmentally responsible: it makes good business sense, too.

Economic advantage is the primary business argument for eco-friendly meeting practices. But two other factors show the return on green investment: employee/delegate support, and growing external recognition for organizations that consider environmental impact.

Green Cost Savings

Over and over, planners are seeing their green practices pay off — literally.

The October 2009 edition of Meetings and Conventions features "Affordable and Green," an article highlighting the significant savings realized through green initiatives.

From hotel energy and water conservation to local food sourcing, reducing transportation costs to waste reduction, organizations as diverse as Microsoft and the Humane Society of the United States are discovering that green equals cost-effective. In fact, the same issue reported research results that 59 percent of surveyed planners who had implemented green meeting initiatives had realized or were projecting cost savings.

Employee/Delegate Support

These days, meeting-goers not only appreciate eco-consciousness; many are making attendance decisions based on it. MeetGreen reports:

"Participants today have had their travel and conference budgets slashed. They may only be able to attend one or two conferences per year.

"Planners are finding green efforts stand out and add value and convenience for attendees. 'First-class service' can include fresh, healthy, local food; china service instead of plastic; thoughtful and reusable conference giveaways; and convenient online registration, check-in and program scheduling. High-quality service is a byproduct of the environmental practices implemented by the sponsoring organization." *

Keeping meeting locations close to home also adds convenience for attendees and reduces the conference carbon footprint. Smaller regional conferences, biannual rather than annual large gatherings, and use of supplemental technology to enhance face-to-face meetings are all emerging trends.

When planners make sustainable practices visible, attendees recognize and support the effort. One recent conference evaluation cited by MeetGreen read, “Thanks for making it possible to recycle while at this conference. … I recycle at home and it’s nice to do it on the road.” At another event, the opening speaker announced, “Nine hundred sixty-five trees were saved by reducing the size of our conference program,” to a round of applause.*

*The Economy and the Environment: One Solution for Two Meeting and Event Industry Issues," MeetGreen

STAY IN THE BLACK BY MEETING GREEN
Going green is ecological and economical. See why saving the earth is also your best strategy for saving money.

GET THE BOOK … FREE
Meeting planners, let us send you Saving Green by Going Green, a guide to saving money while producing a sustainable event.

RUN THE NUMBERS
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TALK TO AN EXPERT
Connect with nationally recognized green meeting consultants the Travel Portland and Oregon Convention Center green teams.