Meeting Consultants’ employees help turn the industry green.

When Meeting Consultants’ employees Alison Wagner and Kerry Smithwick became charter members of the Atlanta chapter of the new Green Meeting Industry Council, they put themselves and their company at the forefront of their industry. But that’s not why they did it. They joined because they believe adopting sustainable, environmentally sound practices is the right thing to do.

The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is a non-profit organization made up of professionals from the meeting and events industry. The Council’s goal is to transform the global meetings industry through sustainable practices that minimize the industry’s impact on the environment.

It’s an idea whose time has come.

“More and more clients want to know how they can go about holding green events, and they’re looking for green venues in which to hold those events,” Wagner said.

Hotels have been at the forefront of the green meeting movement and Meeting Consultants found Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas a good option for its large “greener” events in 2008. The hotel has adopted environmentally sound practices in several areas of its facility, including grey water, linen reuse, and food composting. Menu options include local and organically produced food.

“Because of their awareness and commitment, we were able to work with Mandalay Bay to make our client’s event more environmentally friendly. But the hotel and the client can only do so much, and we at Meeting Consultants can only do so much. Even GMIC can’t do it all. It’s when we coordinate our efforts that we can really make a difference,” Smithwick said.

Meeting Consultants helps make a difference through the use of technology. For example, conference brochures and agendas are distributed digitally at Meeting Consultants events. Attendees access materials through kiosks located at the event or they can download them onto phones and laptops.

“We make them available in a variety of formats, with the exception of hard copy,” Smithwick said.

During its 30-year history, Meeting Consultants has also integrated environmentally aware practices into its daily business processes. The company routinely recycles and is working hard toward becoming a paperless office. Half of the employees now work from home to cut back on driving and help downsize the corporate carbon footprint.

Through their work with Meeting Consultants and now with the Green Meeting Industry Council, Smithwick and Wagner are able to bring their personal commitment to make the planet a little greener into their professional lives.

“As the mother of three kids, I have a vested interested in the future of the planet. I am always looking at what the world will be like for them as they grow up,” Wagner said.

Wagner said her role as recording secretary of the new Atlanta chapter of GMIC gives her license to merge her tree-hugging persona with her professional life.

“It feels good to know we are helping our industry do the right thing, and that our company supports those efforts,” she said.


Contact us today and find out more.