WIKI FORUM VIDEOS WORKSHOPS PHOTOS
ABOUT
Planeta.com

search the planet


 

Last Updated


EXPLORING ECOTOURISM

Green Events
by Ron Mader

EVENTS WIKI
PLANETA FORUM

As the garden grows so does the gardener.
- Garden Notebook

2010 Responsible Tourism Fair (in colour!)

PHOTO GALLERY: Green Events


YOUR TURN

Evaluate an event in which you have recently participated www.surveymonkey.com/s/2GMJTV9.


Events offer opportunities to make new friends and acquaintances, tackle serious topics and walk the talk. Here are our guidelines in creating effective, green events. The following recommendations have been collected from best practices around the globe:

COMMUNITY RELATIONS
How well locals are included -- from preparation to post event continuity -- should be used in evaluating the success of the event. When locals are treated with respect, everyone wins.

PARALLEL CONFERENCING
Please, no more closed door meetings that do not include an opportunity for a virtual dialogue among interested parties before, during and after the event. As proposed in the Wish List for Responsible, Sustainable Ecotourism, interested constituencies without the money or time to attend in person should have the opportunity to participate.

ACCOMMODATION
When practical, use small hotels and local B&Bs. If the facility has environmental conservation programs, point out the details to guests.

REGISTRATION
Use less paper and offer online registration.

ENERGY
Lighting and energy efficient measures should be incorporated wherever feasible. Conference centers that maximize energy efficiency should communicate the details to their guests.

CULTURE
Feature local culture and entertainment.

FOOD
Serve locally grown products and organic food when possible. Point out such items on a menu. Food can be served in a buffet style in which participants can choose what they do and do not wish to eat. Additionally, many conference centers and restaurants support community food drives. Eco kitchens also find ways to compost.

PAPER
Far too much paper is wasted at events. The good news -- more conferences are going paperless!

RECYCLING
Recycle and explain the process to conference participants.

INFORMATION
Like food, information is best served self-service. Otherwise, brochures end up in the garbage. If you are distributing a conference program or background reading, distribute two-sided copies.

TOURS
Schedule a heritage walk. Local tours promote where the conference takes place and gives visitors a feeling for the neighborhood and a locals a chance to interact with conference participants.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
For those concerned about the environmental impact of international transportation, review the pros and cons of Carbon Emission Offsetting.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Use shuttle services to and from the conference.

WATER
Serve water from pitchers. If using plastic bottles, make sure there is a receptacle for recycling and a means to refill the bottles.

RED FLAGS

What are the red flags of an eco- or people-unfriendly event?

Water is served in individual plastic bottles.

Recycling is not evident.

Locals are treated poorly or even excluded from the meetings.

The event is announced online, but no follow-up or summaries are posted.

Name badge holders are not reused.

Meals are served via paper or plastic disposable containers.

Sadly, such events are common. An academic ecotourism conference in California housed speakers at a chain hotel and served meals in cardboard boxes. A friend complains that an organic trade expo in Chiapas created mountains of trash.

WISH LIST

We would like to see events that weave the stories of the participants. An interactive event is more engaging than a series of monologues or speakers reading at their audience. One solution would be the unconference approach. Evolving from Open Space Technology, events could abandon the traditional agenda and ask participants to self-organize a schedule, goals, and work. Participating in events where opinions matter matters more than ever.

www.flickr.com

 


AUTHOR

Ron Mader is the Latin America correspondent for Transitions Abroad and host of the award-winning Planeta.com website.


FEATURES

g Events Evaluation Survey (2009-2010)
g Events Evaluation Survey (2007)
g Green Events (2006)
g Guide to Open Space Technology

SLIDESHARE

g Responsible Travel Photography
g Storytelling Now
SLIDESHARE

PLANETA FORUM

g Planeta Forum
GUIDELINES

MORE FORUMS

b Is it a good idea to fly or travel far to attend a conference on ecotourism? - TIES
RECOMMENDED FORUMS

FLICKR

g Oaxaca Tourism Fairs 2001-2010
g How is your conference green?
g What is the value of attention?
ONLINE FLICKR

WIKI

g Conferencing in the Virtual and Natural Worlds
g How is your conference green?
g Promoting your event on Planeta.com
g Toward Effective Communication in Responsible Travel and Ecotourism
ONLINE WIKI

VIDEO

g Message for Responsible Tourism Conference
VIDEO

ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB

b Eco-friendly events can leave unfriendly footprints - G. Jeffrey MacDonald/USA Today
b When the festival music's over - The Guardian
b Future of Conferences

QUOTES

Gastamos más tiempo en el transito que en el destino.

QUESTIONS

Do locals have opportunities of participating or creating events?
Should a charter or declaration be made without participation of all stakeholders?
Does the event include a cruise and booze trip?
Does the event include a fashion show (pasarela)?


ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This Planeta guide is part of our professional 'How2' series featuring practical tips on press trips, media releases and media kits. We also coach the tough topics: on greening events and improving signage. It can be easy if you learn a few techniques.


YOUTUBE




SLIDESHARE



PLANETA CONFERENCES

g Tourism and Biodiversity 2010
g Food, Health and Building Communities 2008-2009
g Tourism and Climate Change 2008-2009
g Ecotourism Challenges Dialogue 2007
g Urban Ecotourism September 2004
g Environmental Impact of Transportation October 2003
g Sustainable Development of Ecotourism April 2002
CALENDAR
INDEX

www.flickr.com


MARKETING


Book Book Book Book

PLANETA


EDUCATION

Learning never ends. See if our workshop is right for you.

www.flickr.com
 


seminars



events

mtw

GOOGLE
NEWS

 

 

TA


Copyright © 1994-2010. All rights reserved by individual authors. Link Guidelines