Environmental preservation has been a major focus for many in the travel industry over the past year as companies have strived to “go green,” and NBTA is committed to providing tools to help its members in these efforts. 
”As the collective voice of the business travel community, NBTA is dedicated to enhancing the image of the industry and our members, and we provide the education and resources to do just that,” said NBTA President and CEO Kevin Maguire, CCTE.
In July 2007 NBTA formed a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee to provide members with resources and best practices to help them take greater responsibility in minimizing the environmental impact of their business travel programs. At the 2007 NBTA International Convention & Exposition in Boston, the CSR Committee offered an education session on what some top business travel companies are doing and how industry professionals can become more environmentally responsible. (See presentation handouts.)
The CSR Committee also worked with the NBTA Hotel Committee last year to update the Modular Hotel RFP with environmental questions to meet industry needs for the 2009 bid season. The changes include the addition of six questions to help travel buyers and hotels reach common understanding of the hotels’ environmental programs. (See Hotel RFP.)
This year, NBTA has adopted a “green” policy for meetings and events. Beginning with Crossroads Milan, a Paragon business travel conference and exposition in Milan, Italy, May 15-16, NBTA will take a number of steps to make its meetings and conventions, no matter the size, more environmentally friendly.
“NBTA is going to do all that we can at our meetings to minimize negative environmental affects and encourage our members and partners to do the same.”
NBTA plans to reduce as much printed promotional materials as possible, and materials that must be printed will be done so on recycled paper and with environmentally friendly inks. Printed promotional materials will also be targeted to key prospects so that only those most likely to attend will receive them.
Onsite printed materials will also be reduced. Some options include providing education session handouts on a CD or thumb drive, allowing attendees to download specific presentations from on-site workstations, or making handouts available for download via the NBTA web site in advance of the meeting.
NBTA also intends to examine and publish environmental policies and practices of all contacted third-party vendors, including hotels, convention centers, transportation, exhibit decorators and production companies, especially for the annual NBTA International Convention & Expo. The organization will require that all future Convention locations be registered with the U.S. Green Buildings Council. The Los Angeles Conference Center, the location of the 2008 NBTA Convention, is a registrant.
“We’re collecting ideas and thinking of as many methods as we can to reduce waste at our meetings and shows, including minor efforts that would go unnoticed,” said Maguire. “We’re looking at proving water coolers rather than individual water bottles and will even ask that our caterers donate all unused food from NBTA functions.”
Return to Connecting News March 2008