Monday, September 29, 2008

Turning Our Communities Green and Stainless Steel Water Bottles and Water Cooler Covers

A few days ago, I attended an event hosted by Bethesda Green, an organization that works to sustain the current and future development of Bethesda, Maryland by reducing the community's environmental footprint, attracting environmentally-conscious consumers, and promoting an environmental ethic.

The event, called the "Be Green" Showcase, was open to everyone in the community and showcased local initiatives, partners and ideas and featured over 25 information tables from local, green businesses and organizations.

Baltimore and Washington, DC have also hopped on the green bandwagon. What about your community? If it hasn't started a green movement, why don't you start it for them?

Green Tip:
Stainless Steel Water Bottles and Water Cooler Covers

CynerGreen, a member of Meeting Professionals International and the Green Meeting Industry Council, offers stainless steel water bottles that can be branded for your meeting, provide sponsorship opportunities and act as a take away gift for your attendees. They also offer 5-gallon water cooler covers that can share your message and logo during your meetings and events. These are high quality cooler covers that may be used event after event sharing your green message or company's logo.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Educating Your Guests about Green Initiatives and Fuel Efficient Vehicles for Your VIP Clients

A few weeks back, I attended Eventworld, the annual ISES (International Special Events Society) conference in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Building upon last year, we had a list of green initiatives that we engaged in - or should I say "planned" to engage in? One initiative was to eliminate the use of "to go" coffee cups and utilize good old ceramic coffee mugs instead. There was a minor mutiny on the first day, and the ISES staff, being the customer oriented crew that they are, immediately had the banquet staff bring out the "to go" cups.

I was disgusted that my fellow event professionals put up such a stink in order to have their precious "to go" cups. Was it a status symbol to have one or did they really think they couldn't take their ceramic mugs into the meeting rooms? I would have thought they knew better.

I was also upset that we caved so easily; however, I can understand the need to keep the customer happy. But when incidents like this happen, should we give in so easily? This made me realize that not only do we need to train ALL of our staff to utilize the same party line when implementing new green initiatives, we also need to educate our attendees. Had we provided a sign in place of the "to go" cups that read "In consideration of the environment, we have eliminated the use of 'to go' cups. Please feel free to take a ceramic mug to your meeting room." the ISES staff would have had some ammunition to fight back. Citing statistics such as how much money and resources will be saved stresses your efforts even more.

Green Tip:
Fuel Efficient Vehicles for Your VIP Clients

If you normally book sedans or limos for transporting guests, use a company that offers fuel efficient vehicles.

Here in the Baltimore/DC area, Enviroride offers Toyota Camry Hybrids, Toyota Hylander hybrids and the Mercedes E320 for very reasonable prices.

Nationally, All Occasion Transportation offers Prius Hybrids. In fact, I had the opportunity to utilize one myself and it was a very pleasant ride.