McCormick Place Earns Gold Level Certification from Events Industry Council

Recognition highlights the convention center’s commitment to sustainability

WASHINGTON, D.C. (26 June 2025) – The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced today that Chicago’s McCormick Place has achieved Gold Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards. The certification recognizes McCormick Place’s continued leadership in environmental and social responsibility. Last year, the center—managed by Oak View Group—achieved Silver Level in its first EIC certification.

“We are honored to receive Gold Level Certification from the Events Industry Council,” said Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place. “Our enduring commitment to sustainability is rooted in our values, and our commitment to our customers. This important recognition reaffirms the important work of our dedicated team and partners. We will continue to raise the bar and lead our industry toward a more sustainable future.”

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 the support needed to implement and measure sustainable practices.

The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organizational 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 environmentally sustainable events.

“We are thrilled to recognize McCormick Place with Gold Level Certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards,” said Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council. “This milestone reflects not only the venue’s ongoing commitment to sustainability but also the impact of strategic partnerships and a shared vision for a more responsible events industry.”

Oak View Group—the global leader in sustainable venue operations—partnered with EIC to deepen its commitment to sustainability and better support the green meeting and exhibition aspirations of its clients and partners. Co-founded by OVG, the GOAL platform (Green Operations & Advanced Learning) played a key role in helping each venue reach their sustainability objectives, through best practice sharing, data collection, measurement tools, and on-site consulting and analysis.

“McCormick Place is proud to play a leading role in the certification of sustainable event spaces,” said Samuel Thomas, Senior Vice President and General Manager at McCormick Place. “This certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the McCormick Place team, OVG Hospitality and our collective mission to create world-class, sustainable venues.”

As the largest convention center in North America, McCormick Place Convention Center takes pride in being at the forefront of green meetings and events with many firsts in innovative strategies for sustainable event management. Reducing environmental impact requires collaboration and cooperation with partners and the community, including ongoing efforts between the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (MPEA), Oak View Group, OVG Hospitality, and sub-contractors to design and implement a robust sustainability program that supports the convention center and the events it hosts.

"These achievements reflect a strong collaborative effort across our sustainability initiatives," said Jackie Tauber, McCormick Place's Director of Sustainability. "We've implemented impactful practices across departments and are constantly innovating to meet the needs of our clients.

Current McCormick Place sustainability focus areas include operating the largest farm-to-fork rooftop garden in the Midwest; an onsite non-profit partnership committed to food rescue; offsetting 100% of electricity usage with certified wind renewable energy certificates; protecting migratory birds; and creating custom programs to meet the specific needs of clients, including areas like e-waste and booth furnishings. OVG Hospitality demonstrates a commitment to sustainability by incorporating eco-friendly packaging, prioritizing local sourcing, and implementing sustainable practices within their food and beverage services.

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

“The certification reflects McCormick Place’s commitment to continuous improvement and sustainability excellence,” said Richard Murphy, CEO, president and managing director of the Alliance for Audited Media. “We are proud to support EIC and OVG in advancing sustainable business practices throughout the 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

Julia Yob, McCormick Place / Email: jyob@mccormickplace.com

ABOUT EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL 

The Events Industry Council’s global federation includes more than 30 Association Members representing 103,500 individuals and 19,500 entities, and more than Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world.

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) program and signature program activities. The CMP credential is recognized 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 OAK VIEW GROUP
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class-owned venues and a client roster of arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA
As the largest not-for-profit media assurance organization, the Alliance for Audited Media delivers impartial, credible data to help media buyers buy and sellers sell. AAM works alongside the media and advertising industry to establish standards that can be verified independently, ensuring the legitimacy of the businesses that drive media's progress. AAM also provides verification for compliance programs including brand safety, privacy, sustainability and tech assurance. Learn more at auditedmedia.com.