MPI backs first European meetings forum on sustainability in Bruges

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Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is here to stay. That was the clear message to come out of the first European Forum on Sustainability in the Meetings Industry (EFSMI 2010), held in Bruges, 27-28 June.

The forum was supported by Meetings Professionals International (MPI) and Chairman-Elect, Eric Rozenberg, told delegates that all stakeholders in the meetings industry were responsible for maintaining sustainability standards. “Sustainable events make good business sense,” said Rozenburg, who noted measurement is key.

The forum heard MD of global catering company Compass Group Belgium, Marc Van Handenhove, stress that “clients have the power to change the way planners run events but meeting planners, suppliers and venues should be in the forefront, leading the way for the industry. A business is not going to be durable if it is not sustainable itself”. 

Ovation Global DMC MD Patrick Delaney made the point that “sustainability shouldn’t cost you money”.

Among the 114 delegates present from 10 countries was MCI Group sustainability director, Guy Bigwood, Visit Manchester’s conference services manager Lisa Owen and incoming president of the MPI UK and Ireland Chapter, Sustainable Events’ Fiona Pelham.

MPI’s CSR and sustainable events manager Roger Simons lent his support to a new online measurement tool, the Global Reporting Initiative, designed for meeting planners. “An industry-wide reporting system will allow the industry to measure, report and benchmark,” he said. 

The conference heard several case studies highlighting sustainable initiatives already implemented. Delegates also got to hear how things can sometimes go wrong. 

Last year’s Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in Denmark, has been hailed for its trailblazing green credentials. It hosted 22,000 delegates and 8,000 staff and Jan-Christoph Napierski of COP 15 organiser, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “Sustainability is not expensive but does include a great deal of man hours.”

Picture: L-R - Meetings, incentives and conferences manager for Belgium Convention Bureau for Flanders and Brussels, Tourism Flanders-Brussels, Sarah Mathews; President of MPI Belgium and director of Meeting in Bruges Congress Bureau, Kathleen Bertier; and Charles-Eric Vilain XIIII.

30 June 10

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