DC Event

The meetings industry is one step closer to having standards for green meetings. A final draft of standards for green meetings and events, developed by the Convention Industry Council's Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Green Meetings and Events Practices Panel, is ready for your consideration.

The APEX Green Meeting and Events Voluntary Standard covers nine areas: accommodations, AV, communication, destinations, food and beverage, exhibits, meeting venue, on-site office, and transportation. The Standard is available online at the APEX blog, where visitors can comment on each section.

In addition to providing online feedback, APEX is also hosting another round of City Discussion Groups in major cities across the country. These CDGs allow industry members to publicly participate in the discussion of the Voluntary Standard. So far the schedule is as follows:

• August 16, 2009: Atlanta event at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia
• September 1, 2009: Denver event at The Ritz-Carlton Denver
• September 3, 2009: Baltimore event at the Baltimore Convention Center
• September 9, 2009: San Antonio event at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
• September 11, 2009: Washington, DC event at the U.S. Green Building Council Board Room

You can register online, and don't forget to keep checking as more dates are announced.