Maritz’s Activate Achieves Second Sustainability Certification from the Events Industry Council

2026 event advances to SILVER level certification for environmental and social responsibility

WASHINGTON, D.C. (29 October 2026) – The Events Industry Council announced today that Maritz’s Activate 2026, an annual event for Maritz supplier partners and team members, has achieved SILVER level certification to the EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards. Maritz previously achieved BRONZE level certification for Activate 2025, which was the first EIC certification for the event.

“We're incredibly proud to achieve Silver certification just one year after earning Bronze,” says Jim Russell, Global Head, Business Events Solutions at Maritz. “It reflects the many small, intentional changes the team has implemented to make sustainability a bigger part of the Activate experience. Credit also goes to our partners, who share in our commitment and helped turn those efforts into real progress. Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and this achievement shows what's possible when everyone works toward the same goal.”

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 event organiser standard is one of several comprehensive standards for more environmentally sustainable events.

“Maritz’s achievement demonstrates the value of continued progress and collaboration in creating more sustainable events,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “By building on the practices established through its first certification, Maritz is showing how event organisers can continue to strengthen their approach, measure their progress and raise the bar for environmental and social responsibility.”

Maritz also recognizes the event partners and sponsors whose collaboration contributed to Activate 2026’s achievement: Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Visit Orlando; Experience Kissimmee; Cohera; Hello! Destination Management; PRA Events, Inc.; Fern Expo and Encore. Their support through the entire design and planning process helped Maritz implement many sustainable practices throughout the event.

The Alliance for Audited Media, a not-for-profit auditing organisation, performed the independent third-party certification of the event’s compliance with the Event Organiser standard.

“Maritz’s certification reflects a strong commitment to implementing sustainability standards and demonstrating measurable progress,” said Richard Murphy, CEO, President and Managing Director of the Alliance for Audited Media. “We congratulate Maritz and its event partners on this achievement.”

Contact:

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

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

For all Maritz media inquiries, please contact: Deborah Cohen, CMP at deborah.cohen@maritz.com.

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 MARITZ

Maritz is a 132-year-old leader in business and human performance that elevates human potential through tailored solutions in channel partnerships, loyalty, employee rewards, sales incentives, automotive and meetings & events. We use our deep knowledge of behavioral science, combined with data insights and analytics, to solve business challenges for our Fortune 500 clients. For more information, visit maritz.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.