Sustainable Practices in Meetings and Conventions

This paper aims to examine research on the connection of sustainability and the meeting and convention industry. Specifically, this paper closely examines research of the perceptions of meeting planners, venues, and meeting attendees to determine the importance that sustainability has when planning and attending an event. While sustainability has gained importance, it has not proven to be high on the list of priorities for most people involved in the industry; the cost and convenience of an event still takes precedence. It is hypothesized that further education of sustainability in general as well as how it relates to the meeting and event industry will increase the likelihood of someone to plan and conduct a sustainable event. Although the research is limited to a small sample size, education can help in the effort to encourage sustainable practices in the meeting and convention industry