It wasn't much different from planning a green meeting. The APEX standards are out, but here are the top three things any meeting planner who wants to execute a green event should have.
- A priority list: Make sure that you've written out both your desires and your expectations, from soup to nuts. It sounds obvious, but it's not always so: If the facility at which you are hosting your meeting donates food and beverage leftovers but only provides water in plastic bottles, will that be a deal breaker for you? You need to know ahead of time which parts of a green meeting are most important. Every little bit helps, but not every facility will be able to provide everything.
- Buy-in from all of the key players: If you're committed to planning green meetings, you will need a strong narrative thread that runs all the way through, from your client's end to your end. Make sure everyone on both teams understands not only the how of a green event, but also the why. Don't let anyone go into this blindly.
- A clear understanding of the facility's capabilities: This one's a no-brainer. You can't say you're going to plan a green meeting and not know what you're working with.
Start here, and you won't go wrong.
What about everyone else? Do you have planning tips for laying the groundwork of a green meeting?
