Social and environmental mega forces are creating change globally. How does this effect the events industry and what does this mean for your next event or meeting: Understand some key opportunities to improve your brand experience at your next event and make a difference sustainably.

1. SUSTAINABILITY MEGA TREENDS
Risks and opportunities for the events industry
Guy Bigwood, MCI Group Sustainability Director

2. Objectives
By the end of the session we
aim for you to:
1. Be able to articulate the mega
sustainability trends affecting
global business
2. Understand the key risks and
opportunities for the events
and meetings industry
3. Learn 3 things you can do at
your next event
Guy Bigwood
Group
Sustainability
Director
Roger Simons
Group
Sustainability
Manager
Pranav Sethaputra
Group
Sustainability
Consultant

3. WE FACE MAJOR
ENVIRONMENTAL AND
SOCIAL CHALLENGES

4. 4
And these CREATE
BIG OPPORTUNITIES

5. It is NOT A FAD. We Are Moving Towards
A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

6. What are key drivers of
change in the event world

7. 2050100005 000 bef. JC10 000 bef. JC
5 million
250 million in 1
1 billion in 1800
3 billion in 1960
5 billion in 1987
7 billion in 2011
2 billion in 1930
9 billion in 20501. The world
is getting
crowded
and old

8. The number of people over 65
will double by 2035

9. Middle Class to grow by over 1 Billion
in next 15 years
70% in Asia

10. 2. The World is getting
more unequal

11. 3. The scales have
tipped on global
climate change
action

12. Solar can become the
dominant source of
electricity by 2050.
Predicted by the International
Energy Agency

13. 733% growth in renewable
since 1990 vs 51% for fossil
fuels
733% growth in renewable
since 1990 vs 51% for fossil
fuels
Wind and Solar are at parity cost in many countries

14. A million new electric
cars to hit the streets
of U.S. cities annually
by 2024

15. 15
THE PRESSURE IS RISING

16. City
Pressure
Consumer
Pressure
Brand
Pressure

17. Rise of SMART Cities
Leading cities now
understand that their
competitiveness is directly
linked to their capacity to
bring social, economic
and environmental
wellbeing

18. COPENHAGEN
.
SINGAPORE
ORLANDO,
UNITED STATES
BANGKOK
TAIPAI
SEOUL
CVBs and DMOs are seizing the moment and starting to
become SMART sustainable destinations
SAN FRANCISCO

19. What does a sustainable destination look like?:
Example of a global leader:
100% venues certified
98% hotels certified
50% taxis certified
30% restaurants certified

20. Government Pressure
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
SEOUL
HONG KONG
MELBOURNE
BERLIN
TAIPEI
BARCELONA
SINGAPORE
BANGKOK
PORTLAND
STOCKHOLM
VANCOUVER
ORLANDO
COPENHAGEN
MCI GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DESTINATIONS INDEX:
To be launched Oct 2015

21. 22
2. CONSUMER PRESSURE

22. Today 2% of the
consumers are very
interested in a
sustainable lifestyle
Brands predict in 5 years
98% will be interested in a
sustainable lifestyle

23. OF CONSUMERS WANT TO SEE THE BRANDS
THEY USE SUPPORT WORTHY SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
93%
SOURCE: FUTERRA & BSR

24. 93%OF TRAVELLERS BELIEVE TRAVEL COMPANIES
SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT
SOURCE CONDE NAST TRAVELER

25. 58%TRAVELLERS WHO SAID THEIR HOTEL CHOICE IS
INFLUENCED BY THE SUPPORT THE HOTEL
GIVES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
SOURCE CONDE NAST TRAVELER

26. 28%THE PERCENTAGE FESTIVAL ATTENDEES ARE
PREPARED TO PAY MORE FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD
OPTIONS IF AN EVENT OFFERS GREEN VALUES
SOURCE JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

27. BRAND PRESSURE
BRANDS RECOGNISE THAT
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS, BEHAVIOURS
AND SERVICES ARE THE FUTURE.
We are seeing the acceleration of
brands with a purpose.

31. SUSTAINABLE BRANDS
are learning that EVENTS are a POWERFUL
WAY TO MAKE their SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITMENTS COME TO LIFE

32. 79%Of MCI clients have increased their
focus on event sustainability over
the last 3 years

33. 68%of MCIs clients ask their suppliers to comply with a
sustainability policy and evaluate it
In 2013 it was 51% - in 2011 only 25%!

34. 60%
Of European Travel Managers are
now assessing sustainability
performance of their suppliers
Source: GBTA

35. $150 million in client events at Las Vegas
Sands Corporation wanting sustainability:
• Environmental policy
• Recycling program
• Sustainable food
• Reuse and donation
• Water & Energy conservation efforts
• Sustainable procurement policy: cleaning
products, paints and sealants, paper products etc.
• Event Impact Statement (carbon, utility
consumption and waste recycling data)
• Community engagement activities
• Health and safety audits and measures
Trending; Increasing
Client Requests

36. ClientsPerceive that cost, time and complexity
are the key barriers to implementing
sustainability
Source MCI 2015 Client Survey

37. So is Green just a FAD?

38. “WE’RE NEVER GOING TO SCARE PEOPLE INTO
LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY! WE HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW DYNAMIC
AND ASPIRATIONAL SUCH A WORLD COULD
BE”.
JONATHON PORRITT

39. ROADSHOW
4 COUNTRIES
2,757 DELEGATES
SUSTAINABLE
BRAND
CASE STUDY

40. GOAL
INTEGRATE SUSTAINABILITY and USE
TO TRANSFORM THE BRAND EXPERIENCE

41. AUDIO VISUAL
WASTE
EXHIBITION & SIGNAGE
BRAND EXPERIENCE #1

42. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
90%
DIVERTION OF WASTE (RECYCLE / REUSE )
89%
REDUCTION OF WASTE
88%

43. REIMAGINE THE FOOD EXPERIENCE
BRAND EXPERIENCE #2

44. FRESH
LOCAL
ORGANIC
SEASONAL
SUSTAINABLE

45. RETHINKING
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
BRAND EXPERIENCE #3

46. INCREASE IN
AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF
SYMANTEC AS A BRAND THAT
IS COMMITTED TO
SUSTAINABILITY
49%
SOURCE: MCI & SYMANTEC
37,000 SGD Saving

47. Sustainability from an executive
perspective
48
“Symantec is among a too small group of
leaders who are active in pursuit of
sustainable event innovation. The size and
attendance at these type of events represents
a tremendous opportunity to influence
change in corporations, destinations and
venues around the world.”

48. IT’S TIME TO REIMAGINE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AROUND SUSTAINABILITY.
LIVE EXPERIENCES HAVE THE POWER TO DRIVE CHANGE
So is it a FAD?

49. WE ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
CREATING CHANGE
CONCLUSIONS

50. YOU - ME– WE NEED TO
INTEGRATE AND COLLABORATE

51. Email: Guy.Bigwood@mci-group.com
Website: www.mcisustainability.com
Blog: lessconversationmoreaction.com