German Convention Bureau Completes Green Accreditation

The German Convention Bureau (GCB) has successfully completed the Green Globe Certification process.
Green Globe is a certification system for sustainability that is recognised world-wide and assesses companies from an ecological, social and economic viewpoint. In this context, special audit procedures have also been developed for conference and congress centres, hotels, meetings & events and other tourism sectors, such as spas, golf resort or cruises.

Pursuant to the certifier’s guidelines the GCB was audited according to 24 criteria and 207 indicators, of which it had to meet at least 51 per cent. In addition, the GCB is obliged to provide annual evidence of improvement or of new indicators which were fulfilled. Green Globe analyses and up dates its criteria twice a year, which means that the system itself is continuously improving and it is a dynamic management tool. “Due to the Green Globe certification procedure the GCB has improved its own sustainability performance and now sets a good example for the industry. Germany is already a leader in the field of green meetings world-wide. A recognised label like Green Globe helps emphasise this major competitive advantage on an international scale. The important thing is that sustainability is understood not just from the purely ecological viewpoint but also includes social and economic aspects,” says Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB.

In 2011 the German Convention Bureau, the European Association of Event Venues (EVVC) and the Federation of German Event Organisers (VDVO) had already agreed to cooperate with Green Globe Certification (GGC). Both GCB and EVVC members benefit from this agreement with advantages such as reduced certification and auditor fees.

Further measures of the GCB to reinforce sustainability in the meetings industry include the implementation of the greenmeetings and events conference together with the EVVC, which will take place from 26 to 27 February 2013 at darmstadtium in Darmstadt. In addition, the GCB is organising seminars for event planners on the organisation and implementation of green conventions, meetings and events with the support of the German Environment Foundation (DBU) this year.

The GCB is also represented in the DIN committee for sustainable event management and its website www.germany-meetings.com features a separate section on this topic with a CO2 calculator for events, among other things.