PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) announced the theme for its annual Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference scheduled for February 24 to 26, 2009 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The theme is “action=sustainability.” The 2009 GMIC programs committee identified global and tactical concerns facing the meetings industry based on the audience sectors of corporate and association meeting planners, industry suppliers, government and the global meetings industry.
The 2009 conference will offer tiered educational tracks for meeting planners and industry suppliers. The participants’ learning experiences will range from “Future leaders” 101 tracks, to hands-on experiential learning, to an expert “Leaders” track in the field of green meeting management. The Leader’s track is a new advanced learning series that will require participants to present individual projects and then collaborate on an action plan relating to the larger social issues impacting the meetings industry.
“The GMIC annual conference is the pivotal point of convergence for thought leaders seeking to move the meetings industry toward implementing change through sustainability,” says GMIC executive director Tamara Kennedy-Hill.
In addition to the educational tracks, the conference will also feature exhibits showcasing green products for the industry, community legacy projects and an industry call to action.
“The theme of ‘action=sustainability’ seeks to provide clarity and industry collaboration about incorporating sustainable best practices within the meetings industry,” Kennedy-Hill adds.
For conference session details and registration information, visit the GMIC website at www.greenmeetings.info/conference.htm. GMIC is dedicated to improving meeting management practices by promoting environmentally responsible strategies through the collaborative efforts of meeting industry stakeholders. For further information contact Tamara Kennedy-Hill at tamara@greenmeetings.info.
