The Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau has joined the Convene Green Alliance (CGA), pushing total membership for the organization to over 500 association and industry partners.
As one of eight contributing industry members, the Virginia Beach CVB will receive visibility on the CGA website, contribute case studies, white papers, research and real-world experiences to the resources available to CGA members, and enjoy other benefits.
The CGA membership was announced at the Virginia Beach CVB “Groovy & Green” client event June 5-6, 2009, where meeting planners and national trade media were able to experience the city’s newest products and major initiatives focused on green and sustainability. The event was topped off with “Get Green Already,” a conference aimed at educating the hospitality industry about the advantages of going green, how to budget for it, and how to measure its success.
Now with over 90 Virginia Green certified hospitality businesses, Virginia Beach is the first “Virginia Green Destination.” The Virginia Beach Convention Center is also the first Virginia Green certified convention center. The convention center is actively pursuing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and has a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) on staff to coordinate these efforts.
Virginia Beach’s green initiatives also include a social responsibility partnership with United Way, eco-tourism experiences incorporating the destination’s natural waterways and state parks, an oceanfront recycling program, and hybrid electric buses used as seasonal transportation in the resort area.
“We’re extremely proud of the green programs we have introduced in Virginia Beach, and we know they are making a difference as we all seek to protect the environment,” said Al Hutchinson, vice president of Convention Sales & Marketing for the Virginia Beach CVB. “Joining the Convene Green Alliance will allow us to advance these initiatives even further and give back to the industry by sharing them with many other organizations and associations.”
“The Virginia Beach CVB has taken a real leadership role through its many environmental initiatives, and we are proud to count them as a CGA member,” said CGA executive director Tracey Messina.
The Convene Green Alliance is a nonprofit grassroots industry initiative spearheaded by several high-profile associations that seek to effect positive environmental practices through national, regional, and local outreach and education. This initiative was developed in response to members’ demands that their association (and the meetings and events they sponsor), reflect best environmental practices. Learn more at www.convenegreen.com.
