Green Globe grants certification to Convention Bureau in Hamburg

LOS ANGELES, California – Green Globe today announced the successful certification of the Hamburg Convention Bureau. The City of Hamburg has been declared the European Green Capital for 2011, and the certification of the Hamburg Convention Bureau is a key initiative in enhancing the sustainability of the entire city.

Accepting the certification award, Hamburg City Senator and Minister of Economy Mr. Frank Horch said, “Hamburg Convention Bureau is dynamic in bringing MICE business to our city and can now use the international recognition from its Green Globe certification to promote the sustainability credentials of our meeting facilities and all the local companies supporting conventions and other meetings and events.”

“The Hamburg Convention Bureau is setting a leading example on how environmental awareness can be introduced at all levels of the tourism and meetings industry and across the city,” added Senator Horch.

Hamburg Convention Bureau is a one-stop office for event planners that wish to hold events in Hamburg. To ensure their success, the Bureau offers individual services from one source, and supports event planners with organizing a range of conference services, including hotel accommodation, catering, PCO, and event assistance.

Hamburg Convention Bureau General Manager Matthias Rieger said, “The Green Globe certification of the Hamburg Convention Bureau shows that the congress and event sector is truly supporting Hamburg’s designation as Green Capital of Europe 2011.”

“From our experience we now know that large international conventions and other meetings and events, which are working with the Hamburg Convention Bureau, are always looking for suppliers and other support companies who have an active sustainable management plan,” added Mr. Rieger.

Green Globe Preferred Partner Dr. Peter Zimmer, who was central to the Bureau’s successful certification, said, “Hamburg city and its Convention Bureau are demonstrating how all businesses, now and into the future, are only able to maintain their success if they are committed to operating ‘green.'”

“It’s clear to all that companies, not just in the European Green Capital Hamburg, but everywhere, will be left behind if they do not adopt sustainability and have certification to prove their green credentials,” added Dr. Zimmer.

ABOUT HAMBURG CONVENTION BUREAU

The Hamburg Convention Bureau (HCB) is a limited liability company (GmbH) and was officially founded on April 28, 2008 and entered into the register of companies on June 25, 2009. The HCB’s guiding principle is to make Hamburg a key meeting destination in Germany, Europe, and throughout the world so that it becomes one of Europe’s leading meeting destinations.

For more information, contact: Hamburg Convention Bureau, Steinstraße 7, 20095 Hamburg, Phone: 0049 (0) 40 300 51- 610, Fax: 0049 (0) 40 300 51- 618, Email: [email protected] , Web: www.hamburg-convention.com

ABOUT GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION

Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification brand to be an affiliate member of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). For information visit www.greenglobe.com .