Events Industry Council Recognises Pennsylvania Convention Center for Continued Focus on Sustainability

Philadelphia venue recertified at the Gold level of global standards for environmental and social responsibility

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2026) – The Events Industry Council is pleased to announce that the Pennsylvania Convention Center has achieved recertification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. This is the center’s third consecutive EIC certification at the Gold level.

“This achievement reflects the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s continued emphasis on incorporating sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship into our daily operations and providing resources to event organizers,” said John J. McNichol, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “From energy-efficient building upgrades and expanded recycling programs to water conservation initiatives and sustainable event planning support, we are proud to provide event organizers with a venue that aligns with their sustainability goals.”

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards were created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration and a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey have support to implement and measure sustainable practices.

The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organisational management; marketing; communications and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. The venue standard is one of several comprehensive standards for more environmentally sustainable events.

“The Pennsylvania Convention Center’s recertification demonstrates a sustained commitment to integrating sustainability into venue operations and event delivery,” said Amy Calvert, president and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “Their focus on measurable performance and continuous improvement exemplifies the leadership needed to strengthen sustainability across the global business events industry.”

The Pennsylvania Convention Center has developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy focused on measuring, tracking and improving environmental performance across its operations. Recent initiatives include facility-wide LED lighting upgrades, enhanced energy management and HVAC systems, low-flow water fixtures, expanded recycling and composting programs, electronic waste recycling and materials recovery efforts. The Center also works closely with event organizers to help incorporate sustainable practices into meetings and events held at the facility.

The Alliance for Audited Media, an independent not-for-profit assurance organisation, conducted the third-party certification evaluation of the Pennsylvania Convention Center's compliance with the venue standard.

"By achieving recertification, the Pennsylvania Convention Center is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to implementing and maintaining practices that support environmental and social responsibility," said Richard Murphy, president, CEO and managing director of the Alliance for Audited Media. "We congratulate the center on this accomplishment and its continued leadership in advancing sustainable practices within the events industry."

Contact:

For all EIC media enquiries, additional comment and request for interviews, please contact Steve Dobbins, Events Industry Council.

Tel: +1 323 578 2671 / Email: media@eventscouncil.org

ABOUT EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL

The Events Industry Council’s worldwide federation includes 30+ Association Members and 30+ Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world. EIC’s collective network touches an estimated half a million event professionals and more than 70,000 organisations across the global business events ecosystem.

EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) programme and signature programme activities. The CMP credential is recognised globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org.

ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia at the heart of the city's many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. Proudly managed by Legends Global, the Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation and features one of the largest exhibit spaces and ballrooms in the Northeastern U.S. The meetings, conventions, trade shows, and other events hosted by the Center attract attendees from across the country and around the world to Philadelphia, making the facility the largest economic driver of the region’s hospitality industry. For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA

As the leading global not-for-profit media assurance organization, the Alliance for Audited Media advances transparency, accountability and trust across media and advertising. From cross-media audits and data verification to industry certifications in areas such as brand safety, measurement, retail media and ethical AI, AAM validates the data and processes that power today’s media. Through impartial assurance and forward-thinking frameworks, AAM helps organizations demonstrate credibility and authenticity in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem. Learn more at auditedmedia.com.