McCormick Place Achieves Platinum Level Certification from Events Industry Council

North America's largest convention center earns EIC's highest sustainability distinction

WASHINGTON, D.C. (05 August 2026) – The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced today that Chicago’s McCormick Place has achieved Platinum Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards, advancing from last year’s Gold Level Certification to earn the program's highest distinction. The certification recognises McCormick Place's leadership in integrating environmental stewardship and social responsibility throughout its operations while helping event organisers deliver more sustainable events.

“Achieving Platinum Level Certification from the Events Industry Council is a tremendous honor and reflects the dedication of our employees, clients and partners who help make sustainability part of everything we do,” said Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place. “By working alongside event organisers to achieve their sustainability goals, we are also creating lasting environmental, social and economic impact on our community.”

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 integrated property standard is one of several comprehensive standards for more environmentally sustainable events.

“We are pleased to recognise McCormick Place’s sustainability efforts with Platinum Level Certification,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “Achieving Platinum reflects years of dedication, collaboration and continuous improvement. McCormick Place has demonstrated how sustained commitment can drive meaningful progress and inspire others across the events industry.”

As the largest convention center in North America, McCormick Place has embedded sustainability throughout its operations by developing a dedicated sustainability department that collaborates with clients, exhibitors, service partners and internal teams to deliver measurable environmental impact. Its campus-wide Green Team strengthens this commitment by engaging employees across departments to encourage innovation and advance its sustainability initiatives. The campus also offsets 100% of its electricity usage through certified wind renewable energy certificates and operates the Midwest's largest farm-to-fork rooftop garden, which supplies fresh ingredients for culinary operations while supporting biodiversity through an on-site honeybee program.

A cornerstone of McCormick Place's sustainability strategy is its partnership with Fight2Feed, an on-site nonprofit that works alongside campus teams and clients to recover surplus food and event materials for redistribution to more than 100 community organizations. The venue also advances local economic inclusion through its Business Diversity Program, which led to the investment of nearly $37 million in minority- and women-owned businesses in FY 2025. Together, these initiatives reflect McCormick Place's comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, community impact, and responsible business practices.

The Alliance for Audited Media, a not-for-profit auditing organization, performed the independent third-party certification.

“Achieving Platinum certification is a significant accomplishment and reflects McCormick Place's long-standing commitment to measurable improvement,” said Richard Murphy, CEO, president and managing director of the Alliance for Audited Media. “Congratulations to the entire McCormick Place team on this well-earned recognition and for setting a strong example of leadership for the global events industry.”

Contacts:
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

Brittany Robbins, McCormick Place / Email: brobbins@mccormickplace.com / C: 312-607-0633

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 METROPOLITAN PIER AND EXPOSITION AUTHORITY (MPEA):

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority owns McCormick Place, the largest exhibition and meeting facility in North America, the Wintrust Arena, Arie Crown Theater, and its own Energy Center, as well as Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriot Marquis Chicago. Together, the North, South, and West Buildings and Lakeside Center offer 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space. Located along Chicago's lakefront, McCormick Place features 173 meeting rooms, the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater, and one of the largest ballrooms in the world.

ABOUT MCCORMICK PLACE

McCormick Place is the premier convention facility in North America. Located just minutes from downtown Chicago, approximately 3 million visitors each year attend events at McCormick Place. Home to some of the largest and most attended conventions, meetings, and tradeshows in the world. McCormick Place was designed as one of the first purpose-built convention centers in the United States and is the largest and most flexible convention center in North America. The McCormick Place campus is a convention center campus comprised of the North Building, South Building, East Building “Lakeside Center,” West Building, and the 10,000 seat Wintrust Arena. For more information, please visit: www.mccormickplace.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.