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>Marketing Outlook Forum >Sustainability Commitment
Commitment to Sustainability
For the past several years, the Travel Industry Association has been incorporating measures that reduce the impact of its meetings and events on the environment. This year's Marketing Outlook Forum reflects the high value placed on sustainability by TIA and its member organizations. We want to share with you the following list of actions that have been taken for this year's conference, and ask that you pass along your own practices to us for future use, as we strive to continually improve.
The sustainability practices of the 2008 Marketing Outlook Forum team include:
Selection of a hotel and/or convention center committed to Sustainable Business Practices
- The Oregon Convention Center is LEED® -EB certified, has aggressive recycling programs and makes extensive use of natural light and low emission fixtures. The center was also acknowledged for its forward thinking design when it received a BEST Award (Business for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow by the City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development) for water conservation and its innovative "rain garden".
- The Doubletree Hotel Portland – Lloyd Center recently received the American Hotel and Lodging Association's Good Earthkeeping Award. It also earned Oregon's First Green Seal GS-33 Lodging Certification in 2004 and is a two-time winner of the annual Environmental CARE Award from Doubletree Hotels. The hotel's environmental programs have led to a 30 percent reduction in its electricity, gas, and water consumption.
Education about Sustainability issues in travel
As part of TIA's commitment to ensuring that the industry is well informed and has the most up-to-date environmental information, a major portion of this year's conference is dedicated to sustainability issues, which will be featured in a general session and throughout a number of concurrent sessions. Also, during MOF, TIA will debut www.travelgreen.org, a new website developed in partnership with American Express, which will serve as the industry's only comprehensive clearing house on sustainability issues and case studies.
Reduction of Waste
At every step of the way, opportunities were sought to reduce all types of onsite waste. As such you will notice:
- Reusable name tag envelopes, tent cards and signs
- Badges printed on recycled paper
- Reliance of recyclable or biodegradable goods throughout the meeting, such as recyclable paper cups, reusable and biodegradable cutlery, dishware and linens
- Distribution of a reusable registration bag
- Encouragement of sponsors to also rely on digital practices
- Culinary offerings featuring local foods and beverages
- Decorations with reusable plants
- Donation of unserved meals and food to Portland's Blanchet Shelter
Reliance on digital communication and Registration
Behind the scenes preparations to eliminate paper waste included:
- Use of electronic promotion and marketing messages
- Implementation of an online registration practice with electronic confirmations
- Communication of conference updates online
- Distribution of white papers via online
- Communications with speakers via e-mail and online
Transportation
Promotion of energy efficient transportation included encouraging use of Portland's Airport MAX light rail links to the Oregon Convention Center and downtown Portland's hotel core and use of bio-diesel for motorcoaches for the opening event at the Portland Art Museum.
Additionally, the Program and other conference materials have been printed using paper products carrying the Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) label. These products are independently certified to assure consumers the products come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations. FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. To learn more about FSC certification visit www.fsc.org.
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