OTTAWA, Ontario—Green Key Global, in partnership with MPI Foundation Canada, announces the release of version 2.0 of the Green Key Meetings Program, a comprehensive environmental assessment tool for facilities, both lodging and non-lodging, that host meetings of any scale. Developed with the assistance of senior meeting planner professionals, the program has been updated to ensure incorporation of current meeting practice elements as well as to complement the well-known APEX/ASTM Green Meetings Standards.
“The MPI Foundation is proud to continue its support of the Green Key Meetings Program as it embraces the importance of corporate social responsibility within our industry,” said Shelley Williams, chair of MPI Foundation Canada. “The program revision now also allows for non-lodging facilities to participate, delivering a more valuable resource for environmentally-conscious meeting planners.”
Green Key Meetings v2.0 includes a greater focus on a facility’s activities as they relate to sustainable meeting and event practices, ultimately helping them to align and move forward with ASTM/APEX standards. These activities include written reduction plans, numeric targets and baselines, the use of technology to assist with reduction, training policies and programs, and communication of activities. User-friendly features within the assessment, such as downloadable templates and resource links, will assist members as they work through the program.
Green Key Meetings is a comprehensive assessment evaluating participants in six key areas of sustainable performance and management: core areas (energy, water, waste); communication (information, training, policies, and management); activities (community, procurement, auditing); exhibitions; and audiovisual and production. The program, as with its predecessor, is also designed to accommodate limited-service facilities enabling them to opt out of areas that do not apply to their facility. Upon completion, the facility is awarded a ranking of 1 to 5 Keys and provided with a thorough performance report that includes recommendations, best practices, and potential areas for improvement and savings. Participating properties are listed on the www.greenkeyglobal.com website, a valuable resource for meeting planners.
“The International Centre was pleased to have been part of the consultation process for the revised Green Key Meetings Program,” said Trevor Lui, director of operations and sustainability at The International Centre and member of MPI Foundation Canada Council. “As a program participant we also see great value in the assessment’s focus on leading facilities towards the creation of a stronger sustainable program through policy development and quantifiable results. It also echoes the growing demand of sustainable-minded events for industry professionals seeking guidance to reduce the environmental and social footprint of their business events.”
