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Green Meetings Interest Increases
By Kori
Gassaway
Visit Pittsburgh
Green…has a color ever meant so much
to our lives? Green has become a trendy
aspect of our lifestyles (and truly necessary
to sustain our precious natural resources)
and a best practice that leading
Fortune 500 businesses are incorporating
into their company values and operations
globally.
It was so exciting to learn that our meeting
on March 11 featuring Green Meetings
was sold out! Just a couple years ago
when Green Meetings was the featured
topic the interest was not nearly as high.
Green Meetings have been featured on
the cover of every magazine in our industry
and here are a few other facts that
demonstrate that hospitality has continued
to become more green! GMIC (Green
Meeting Industry Council) was invited to
be a member of the Convention Industry
Council, APEX is currently establishing
“green” best practices and the EPA now
has a green planning guide.
Green Meetings have been a personal
passion since I started representing Pittsburgh
five years ago. I saw the opportunity
for us as a destination (going from a steel
mill town when I was growing up there to a
thriving city of innovation and technology)
and for planners and our clients.
I have attended the Green Meeting Industry
Council’s annual conference the last
two years where I have seen many people
speak on the topic and Amy Spatrisano,
CMP, of Meeting Strategies Worldwide, is
definitely one of the leading Green Meetings
experts in the world and she shared
many helpful tips when she presented to
us at the Peninsula in March.
Why should you care about making your
next meeting green? It will save you
money and anything that will save your
company or client money will give you a
competitive advantage and increase your
personal value!
A ton of resources and tools exist online...
I would be glad to email you a list
of them if you contact me at
kori.gassaway@visitpittsburgh.com.
Complimentary reception is free for first hour of event only. Available to group bookings contracted by 6/30/08 to be consumed before 12/31/09. Winner must be present
at time of the prize presentation. All prizes may be exchanged for cash equivalent as outlined by resort. Prizes are not transferable. Resort reserves the right to award a
prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All taxes and other expenses related to any prize are the
responsibility of the prize winners. Amount of room revenue produced by group determines prize awarded. Prizes to be awarded at the conclusion of the event and only
after final billing has been paid. Actual prizes may differ from the items shown. Other restrictions may apply. Available for group bookings only. Not available to previously
contracted groups. Cannot be combined with other offers.
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endless recreation, we ensure much-needed tropical down-time, so THEY can enjoy the
rewards. Rio Mar Beach Resort. Be Inspired. Be Accomplished. Be Well.
Visit www.wyndhamriomar.com/grandprize for more information.
24 news & views | may-june 2008 www.mpicac.org