ICCA & Destination Canada release pioneering global sustainability report

Sunday, January 28, 2024

In a groundbreaking collaboration, ICCA and Destination Canada unveiled a pioneering survey exploring the integration of sustainability into international associations and the global business events industry. The joint webinar held on January 18th brought together key stakeholders to address this crucial industry-wide issue in an online forum.

The comprehensive survey delved into the ways associations and their event partners are embracing sustainability, emphasizing its pivotal role in the formulation and execution of Request For Proposals (RFPs). During the live webinar, prominent figures such as Virginie de Visscher from Destination Canada, Thomas Reiser from the International Committee on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), and Natasha Richards from IMEX discussed key insights from the survey. They explored how these findings indicate the industry’s readiness and eagerness to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Highlighted aspects from the survey included:

1. The willingness of associations/organizations to invest in more sustainable events.
2. Challenges encountered when planning sustainable events.
3. The significance of effectively communicating an event’s sustainability to attendees.

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath expressed the organization’s commitment to sustainability, emphasizing the renewal of their partnership with Destination Canada in 2024. Gopinath stressed the importance of proactive sustainability policies and tangible measures, stating that associations have the power to shape the value proposition for their members globally.

Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director Business Events at Destination Canada, affirmed their dedication to enhancing the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability of the business events industry. She expressed gratitude for the partnership with ICCA and emphasized the belief in forward-thinking research to foster innovative and collaborative solutions for sustainable travel.

Gopinath highlighted the survey as a catalyst for change, urging stakeholders to join the ongoing conversation initiated by the joint report. Both ICCA and Destination Canada envision continued collaboration and discussion as essential for driving positive action and building a more sustainable global business events industry. The webinar is seen as a platform for reflection, marking just the beginning of a journey towards a brighter and more sustainable future for the industry.

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