Shawna McKinley

Mistake #1: Starting Too Late Budget is approved. Venue is booked. Agenda is set. Now what about the “green” stuff? Because sustainability is still a new idea for events, it’s common to add it into our process late, after most critical decisions have been made. The drawback of this approach is that it reduces the […]

Event planners are used to “Triple A” site selection: looking for accessibility, availability and affordability. But what do you look for when you want to host an event that prioritizes sustainability? The following blog post provides a few steps you can consider to integrate sustainability into hotel site selection.

Seeing nature:

Using green transport for events is a bit like eating your vegetables. You know you should, but taking your own car and having a cookie at the break just sounds SO much better! Green transportation ideas like taking transit, ridesharing and walking routes do not work for all events and audiences. However, when planned well […]

Event sustainability is easiest where you can find a venue that is already responsibility-minded. So what to look for? In years past we might be satisfied with a basic paragraph in the event venue specs that confirms “recycling happens”. But today our expectations are evolving, urged on by those who are setting a new example […]

Nothing brightens up a day, or an event space, like beautiful floral. But does a rose by any name smell just as sweet? Not necessarily! In this blog post we share tips on how to buy better event florals. Live and Reusable? While everyone loves the bright splash of cut flowers, live arrangements can be […]

- Show knowledge of what attendees do, as well as their interests.

Starved for green menu ideas this Spring? The period between Earth Day (April 22) and Environment Day (June 5) is a great time of year to serve up planet-conscious food experiences. Here are nine creative ideas to celebrate the planet in tasty style. Food Saver Supper Awkward asparagus, bulbous beets, and crooked carrots: challenge your […]

The typical event attendee produces 1.89 Kg of waste per day, 85% of which can be landfill, depending on where and what type of event it is. One of the best ways to reduce waste is to audit your waste stream, which can create many benefits. But what if you don’t have time for the […]

From saving money to reducing risk and helping the planet, there are many benefits to conducting an event waste audit. But how do you go about conducting your own? The following post outlines eight basic steps to conducting an event waste audit. 1. Identify the Goal Waste audits can do many things, including identifying redundant, […]