Events Industry Council Recognizes VISIT DENVER for Achieving the Sustainability Event Standards Certification

Colorado destination reaches PLATINUM Level of global standards for environmental and social responsibility

WASHINGTON, DC, USA (November 28, 2023) – The Events Industry Council recently announced that VISIT DENVER has achieved PLATINUM Level certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. Denver is the first destination to achieve the highest level of certification.

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards are specific standards for environmental and social responsibility within the events industry. Created by the EIC Sustainability Committee in partnership with industry professionals and leading sustainability practitioners, the requirements provide event planners and suppliers with prescriptive actions for producing and delivering sustainable events.

The standard specifies 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. The destination standard is one of seven comprehensive standards for environmentally sustainable meetings.

“This is a milestone achievement for VISIT DENVER and all of us working to make Denver the sustainable destination of choice for convention planners,” said Richard W. Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER. “It is a great honor to be the first to earn such a vitally important certification while making a significant contribution toward our city’s long-term vision for sustainability.”

EIC CEO Amy Calvert lauded VISIT Denver for their accomplishment. "The Events Industry Council congratulates VISIT Denver on their Platinum Level Certification,” she said. “This demonstrates a strong commitment to the environmentally and socially responsible practices that are needed to support long-term sustainability in our industry."

BPA iCompli Sustainability, a nonprofit international auditing organization and an Alliance for Audited Media brand, developed the certification protocols for EIC Sustainable Event Standards and performed the independent third-party certification of VISIT DENVER’s compliance with the Destination standard.

"Our certification to the event sustainability standards created by EIC, and now adopted by VISIT DENVER continues our long-standing commitment to promote transparency in the events industry,” said Richard Murphy, president, Alliance for Audited Media.

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 30+ member organisations represent more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the events industry. The Events Industry Council’s vision is to be 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. The four signature programmes – Sustainability and Social Impact, Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), Knowledge and Leadership – represent the key initiatives, assets, services and products for the Events Industry Council. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org.

ABOUT BPA ICOMPLI SUSTAINABILITY. BPA Worldwide, an Alliance for Audited Media brand, is a not-for-profit auditing organization established in 1931 to verify audience metrics for publishers, advertisers and their agencies. Today, BPA’s audit services have expanded to include external assurance of government and industry standards and independent verification of technology and service claims. BPA iCompli Sustainability provides third-party certification to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Sustainable Events Standards (SES), sustainability framework services, and verification of sustainability data including GHG emissions, waste diversion, water withdrawal, safety performance and more. Learn more at www.bpaww.com.

ABOUT VISIT DENVER. Celebrating 114 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 36 million visitors in 2022, generating $9.4 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city’s largest industries. Learn more at www.denver.org.