event:decision at Reset Connect

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event:decision presented at Reset Connect, part of London Climate Action Week.

The AEV (Association of Event Venues), AEO (Association of Event Organisers) and ESSA (Event Suppliers and Services Association) invited event:decision to update members on the State of Sustainability. As part of the Reset Connect show at London ExCel this was an excellent opportunity for Association members to understand and benchmark their organisations in wider event sustainability.

Members also had the opportunity in working groups to define areas of sustainability that the industry performs well, alongside elements that we can work together on to improve. Collated content will be made available to members shortly.

As requested, the deck delivered is here.

For more details on how event:decision can help meet your sustainability goals, get in touch.

Groundbreaking partnership in event sustainability announced

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Groundbreaking partnership between event:decision and the travel demand management platform You.Smart.Thing.

The collaboration will provide event organisers with the tools to facilitate personalised low-carbon journeys for event delegates, nudging them towards net-zero travel, and integrating comprehensive planning, delivery, and tracking of event environmental impacts.

Addressing the sustainability challenge of event travel

One of the most challenging aspects of event sustainability has traditionally been the accurate reporting and mitigation of travel impacts associated with delegate and visitor journeys. The sustainable event travel partnership between event:decision and You.Smart.Thing specifically addresses this issue within the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. Our new solution allows both B2B and B2C event planners to seamlessly include their audience’s travel patterns and the corresponding environmental impact in their sustainability reports, achieving an unprecedented level of accuracy through event:decisions’s Track reporting tool.

Innovative integration for sustainable travel

The integration of You.Smart.Thing’s platform into Track represents a significant advancement in the measurement and management of event travel impacts. Every Track report can now incorporate sustainable door-to-door travel planning powered by You.Smart.Thing. This global system recommends personalised low-carbon journey options, records mode choices, accounts for multimodal routes, and curates a visitor experience that encourages sustainable travel behaviours. With over 200 event brands already utilising event:decision’s  Track reporting service, this enhancement will enable event organisers to better understand and mitigate their events’ travel impacts.

Our commitment to sustainable event planning

Both partners are dedicated to providing formalised processes for planning, delivering, and tracking the environmental impacts of events. Matt Grey, Director at event:decision said:

“Whilst we’re delighted to be recognised as market leaders in event impact measurement and mitigation, automatically adding the capabilities of ‘You.Smart.Thing.’ into Track reporting takes our service to a completely new level. Now organisers of events, conferences, congresses, and exhibitions can both measure visitor travel impact and start to nudge visitors onto more sustainable modes of transport.”

Chris Thompson, CEO at You.Smart.Thing, added

“Partnering with event:decision is an important way for us to extend our commitment and reach into the corporate and agency-led market. We know that our large event and public sector clients already benefit hugely from our sustainable travel planning platform. We’re delighted to be able to bring this unique new product to the MICE market alongside event:decision.”

Case Study: The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

An excellent example of the effectiveness of You.Smart.Thing’s platform was seen in the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham. The platform played a crucial role in managing the travel demand and ensuring that the event’s transportation logistics were as sustainable as possible.

During the Games, You.Smart.Thing provided tailored travel advice to attendees, offering multimodal journey options that prioritised low-carbon transport methods. This included public transport, walking, cycling, and shared mobility services. The platform’s ability to provide real-time updates and personalised recommendations helped reduce the overall carbon footprint of the event.

Moreover, the data collected during the event enabled organisers to gain deep insights into travel behaviours and the effectiveness of various interventions. This data was invaluable in planning for future events, ensuring that sustainable travel options could be optimised and more widely adopted.

Enhancing the MICE sector

We expect the integration of You.Smart.Thing’s platform into our services to have a substantial impact on the MICE sector. By automating the measurement of audience travel patterns and their environmental impacts, event organisers can make more informed decisions that align with sustainability goals. This integration not only simplifies the process of collecting and analysing travel data but also provides actionable insights that can lead to tangible reductions in carbon emissions.

This sustainable event travel partnership sets a new standard for sustainability in events. As more event organisers adopt these advanced tools, the collective impact on reducing carbon emissions could be significant. The collaboration highlights the importance of innovation and cooperation in addressing global sustainability challenges.

For more details on how event:decision can help meet your sustainability goals, get in touch.

the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies UK

Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies UK Launches

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event:decision and micebook bring you the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies UK, the top 50 most sustainable event agencies in the UK market.

A new partnership between event:decision and micebook to create the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies, UK recognises the increasing importance of sustainability in the events industry. By highlighting agencies that excel, the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies, UK will not only reward those who are leading the way, but also set the benchmark for others to aspire to.

Clients are more than ever before seeking to collaborate with agencies and third-party suppliers that demonstrate strong sustainability credentials, given the intense pressure they are under to meet ambitious published carbon reduction targets. The events industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, given the travel, logistics, accommodation and waste often involved. So, ESG (Environmental, Social Governance) credentials and capabilities have become essential parts of the event buying decision-making process. As a result, our sector has seen a growing push towards more sustainable practices, including the use of renewable energy, waste reduction strategies, and sustainable travel initiatives.

Agencies that succeed in these areas not only help mitigate their own environmental impact but also meet the increasing demand from their clients for more responsible event solutions. But, sustainability in events goes beyond environmental considerations. It also encompasses social and economic dimensions, such as ensuring fair working practices, supporting local communities, and promoting inclusivity and diversity. Agencies that adopt a holistic approach to sustainability are likely to be more successful in the long term, as they address the full spectrum of ESG criteria.

The Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies, UK will identify and celebrate UK event agencies that exemplify sustainability in their internal business practices as well as demonstrating an ability to deliver sustainable outcomes for events. Unlike subjective assessments, the ranking will be based on pre-published credentials, ensuring a qualified, scored, and benchmarked list of top performers in sustainability. It will highlight real capabilities and tangible proof points for responsible events.

“We anticipate great engagement from the agency community, many of whom are already working very hard to understand and deliver more sustainably across a wide range of events. Whether full-service agencies, event management, build & production, logistics, experiential, destination management companies, incentive houses, sporting agencies, venue-sourcing, exhibition design & build, or creative production, those who can provide proof points of sustainable event-business practice will now have the chance to demonstrate this publicly.”

Matt Grey, event:decision

The Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies is open to all UK-based event agencies, with a small entry fee.  As the formal launch approaches in mid-Jul, agencies across the UK are encouraged to prepare applications and showcase their sustainability credentials. It’s an ideal opportunity for event agencies to gain recognition for their efforts and to inspire others within the industry to adopt more sustainable practices.

“Building on the already successful series of events with a sustainable focus, including micebook Ventures and Power 50 Green Champions in 2024, we are delighted to partner with event:decision for the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies UK. This list will feature the most sustainable event agencies in the UK, with plans to expand to a wider geography in 2025-6.”

Chetan Shah, CEO & Founder of micebook

Looking ahead, the expansion of the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies to a wider geography in 2026 reflects the global nature of the sustainability challenge. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, initiatives such as the Power 50 Most Sustainable Agencies play a crucial role in driving change and encouraging the adoption of more sustainable practices.

As Matt Grey neatly put it, this is a chance for agencies to publicly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and to contribute to a more sustainable future for the events industry.

Applications are set to open next month, so register your interest now.

And for more details on how event:decision can help meet your sustainability goals, get in touch.